National Institute for Workers' Rights

Advancing workers’ rights through research, thought leadership, and education for policymakers, advocates, and the public.

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The Power of Cy Pres to Advance Workers’Rights

“We often work on complex wage and hour class and collective actions, and when possible, we like to ensure that money not claimed by class members goes to a good cause in line with the underlying legal rights we were trying to protect in the case. We often look to the Institute as our choice for where we like to send unclaimed money in our wage and hour class and collective action settlements on behalf of workers. The values of the Institute center around protecting workers, including ensuring they receive all the wages they are due, and the Institute’s mission aligns with the values that our courageous plaintiffs are protecting when they bring wage and hour class and collective actions. By sending money as a cy pres award to the Institute, we help ensure the settlement furthers the rights of workers like those we fight for in our wage and hour cases.”

Ty Frankel & Patti Syverson

Frankel Syverson PLLC
“I recommend The Institute as a cy pres recipient because of the Institute’s commitment to advancing workers’ rights. The Institute’s work is closely aligned with the underlying purpose of employment class actions, which is to ensure that workers can avail themselves of the protection of our labor laws.”

Carolyn H. Cottrell

Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP

When it is not possible in class and collective actions to distribute all of the money awarded to the class members or unclaimed funds remain after the case has concluded, the legal doctrine of cy pres is invoked to further the underlying purpose of the lawsuit. Rather than returning the funds back to the wrongdoing defendant, the cy pres doctrine, which means “as nearly as possible,” permits the court or parties by agreement to designate the residual funds to a non-profit charitable organization whose work has a close connection to the claims in the litigation and that advance the public interest.

The National Institute for Workers’ Rights has a strong track record as a cy pres beneficiary and has been awarded more than $1.5 million in cy pres funds from 64 cases since the organization was founded in 2008. The Institute is a compelling cy pres recipient in employment discrimination, wage and hour, and other cases involving workplace violations.

By designating the Institute for a cy pres award, you too can help bring about a future in which all workers are treated with dignity and respect; workplaces are equitable, diverse, and inclusive; and the wellbeing of workers is a priority in business practices.

The Institute provides free technical assistance on securing and structuring cy pres awards. For more information, please contact

Leah A. Hofkin, Director of Development
(415) 625-5421

We extend our gratitude to the following attorneys and law firms for using the power of cy pres to advance workers’ rights.

  • Abbey Spanier, LLP
  • Altshuler Berzon, LLP
  • Beaumont Costales
  • Berger Montague
  • Betz + Blevins
  • Blanchard & Walker PLLC
  • Burr & Smith, LLP
  • Chavez Law Firm
  • Cummins & Cummins, LLP
  • Donati Law, PLLC
  • Donelon, PC
  • Dworken & Bernstein Co., Ltd.
  • Eisenberg & Schnell, LLP
  • Fish Potter Bolaños, PC (formerly Potter Bolaños LLC)
  • FMCO Law
  • Bruce C. Fox
  • Ty Frankel & Patti Syverson
  • Jamie S. Franklin
  • Suzanne Garrow
  • Getman, Sweeney & Dunn, PLLC
  • Goldstein, Borgen, Dardarian & Ho
  • Law Offices of Janice Goodman
  • Law Offices of Geoffrey L. Gross, LLC
  • Haines Law Group
  • Hawks Quindel, SC
  • Hayber, McKenna & Dinsmore, LLC
  • Hersh Law Firm, PC
  • Hua Gallai & Gonzales LLP
  • Johnson Becker, PLLC
  • Kern Law Firm, PC
  • Tuvia Korobkin
  • Labor Law, PC
  • Leventhal Lewis Kuhn Taylor Swan PC
  • McGuinn, Hillsman & Palefsky
  • Law Offices of Colleen M. McLaughlin
  • Rowdy Meeks Legal Group, LLC
  • Meizlish & Grayson
  • Miller O’Brien Jensen, PA
  • Nichols Kaster, PLLP
  • Law Office of Thomas D. Rutledge
  • Sanford Heisler Sharp, LLP
  • Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP
  • Law Offices of James M. Sitkin
  • Soderstrom Law PC
  • Sprenger & Lang, PLLC
  • Stephan Zouras, LLC
  • Teske Law PLLC
  • Thomas & Solomon LLP
  • Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
  • Rob Wiley, PC
  • Woodall Law Offices

(As of September 15, 2024)

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