Public Counsel Honors Bill Gates, Sr. With Highest Award

- DIRECTV Receives Top Corporate Citizenship Award -

PAUL, HASTINGS, JANOFSKY & WALKER LLP RECEIVES 2009 LAW FIRM PRO BONO AWARD

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 16 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Tuesday, June 16,
2009 Public Counsel presented Bill Gates, Sr. with its highest honor, the
distinguished William O. Douglas Award. The Award recognizes Mr. Gates for
his extraordinary accomplishments in the fields of law, public policy, and
philanthropy.

Throughout his legal career and public service with local, state, and national
bar associations, Mr. Gates has been an ardent supporter of legal services for
the poor, access to justice programs, pro bono work, and the rule of law. As
Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Gates is a leading
advocate, domestically and abroad, for bridging the gap between the poor and
the privileged, particularly in the areas of healthcare and education.

Mr. Gates said, "I am deeply humbled to receive this Award named after my
fellow Washingtonian, William O. Douglas. It is a special honor to be
recognized by Public Counsel and its attorneys who advocate for those without
access to our justice system. As a former attorney myself, and now as a
Co-Chair of a Foundation that is concerned about combating inequity, I know
very well that improving economic opportunities, whether global or local, will
require that individual rights exist in real life as well as in principle. I
am grateful for Public Counsel's extraordinary mission to ensure that in this
country no barrier shall stand between an individual and his or her right to
equal treatment before the law."

As a lawyer, Mr. Gates has represented many of the Pacific Northwest's leading
computer and biotechnology companies and is the co-founder of Preston Gates &
Ellis LLP, today known as the international law firm of K&L Gates LLP. He is
a graduate of the University of Washington School of Law, which recently
created the William H. Gates Public Service Scholarship Program to encourage
public service in the legal profession. Gates is the author of two books
including the recently released Showing Up For Life: Thoughts on the Gifts of
a Lifetime and, with Chuck Collins, Wealth and Our Commonwealth: Why America
Should Tax Accumulated Fortunes.

Public Counsel Chairperson Martin S. Zohn, a partner with Proskauer Rose LLP
and Chair of its bankruptcy and restructuring practice, noted, "Bill Gates
does not need this honor from Public Counsel at this point in his remarkable
life. But he does need recognition -- recognition for his important message
to each one of us. To me, Bill Gates' core message is clear: Show up to
help. Show up to help a friend. Show up to represent someone who needs a
lawyer. Just show up and see what you can do. Helping people to show up and
then helping them to do the job they have shown up for is the core mission of
Public Counsel."

DIRECTV received Public Counsel's distinguished Corporate Achievement Award
for its exemplary leadership in corporate responsibility. Accepting the Award
was Larry D. Hunter, Executive Vice President of Legal, Human Resources &
Administration and DIRECTV's next CEO "DIRECTV is honored to be recognized
with Public Counsel's 2009 Corporate Achievement Award. We are committed to
making a positive impact on the communities where we do business, and our
partnership with Public Counsel helps us do that by reaching and serving the
people who need our help the most," said Hunter. DIRECTV partners with over
6,000 schools nationwide, helping to improve and enhance the educational
experience of millions of students. In Los Angeles, DIRECTV supports the
Mayor's Partnership for Los Angeles Schools, serving over 18,000 students as
it works to dramatically accelerate student achievement in the LAUSD schools
it serves.

Public Counsel's 2009 Law Firm Pro Bono Award was presented to the law firm of
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP. With great dedication and enthusiasm,
their attorneys have represented vulnerable children and youth, homeless
families, refugees fleeing torture and death threats, veterans, and nonprofit
organizations serving indigent and low-income communities. Their skillful
advocacy, frequently involving highly complex and technical matters, has
increased access to justice for those with nowhere else to turn. The firm's
Chairman, Seth M. Zachary, said, "We are honored to be recognized by Public
Counsel, one of the most respected public interest law firms in the country,
whose mission is reflected in our own commitment to serve the communities in
which we live and work and to assist those with limited access to legal
services."

Public Counsel President and CEO, Hernan Vera, remarked, "No one feels the
pain of the ongoing economic crisis more than the millions of low-income
families struggling to make ends meet. This year's incredible honorees remind
us through their inspiring work that we all share a collective responsibility
to get involved in creating a society that delivers on its promise of equal
opportunity and equal justice. Public Counsel is proud to honor their
extraordinary accomplishments."

About Public Counsel
Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is the largest public interest pro bono law
firm in the world. It is a beacon of hope, justice, and opportunity for those
who have nowhere else to turn. Last year, Public Counsel provided over $83
million worth of free services to over 27,000 people, including abused and
abandoned children; families living in poverty; homeless veterans; the
neglected elderly; and refugees fleeing torture, persecution, and death
threats. With the help of over 3,600 pro bono attorneys, paralegals, law
students, and volunteers, Public Counsel provided more than 174,000 hours of
critical legal services--all of it free of charge.

Nationally, Public Counsel has been a leader in developing model programs and
assisting other pro bono public interest law firms to bring these programs to
their communities. In addition to serving the vast Southern California
metropolitan region, Public Counsel is helping to strengthen pro bono public
interest law internationally. Public Counsel was instrumental in creating the
Instituto Pro Bono in Brazil, that country's first public interest pro bono
law firm, and has played a central role in nurturing other pro bono programs
in Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Europe, Africa, and Australia.

About the William O. Douglas Award Dinner
The Dinner is attended by nearly 1,200 leaders from the legal, business, and
political communities who gather together to support Public Counsel's work.
The William O. Douglas Award Dinner is one of the largest dinners of its kind
in the country, raising approximately $2.5 million annually to support Public
Counsel's nationally recognized legal projects and programs.

SOURCE Public Counsel

John N. Heathcliff of Public Counsel, Cell: +1-323-821-8731