New York Legal Assistance Group Raises $1.2M at 2026 “Justice Forward” Gala

NYLAG honors Joseph Salama, Chief Compliance Officer for Coinbase, and Jill L. Rosenberg, Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

NEW YORK - May 14, the New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) hosted its annual Justice Forward Gala, during which the organization raised nearly $1.2 million to support its comprehensive programming, including free civil legal services, financial empowerment services, impact litigation, policy advocacy and community partnerships. NYLAG is a leading civil legal services organization combating economic, racial and social injustice by advocating for people experiencing poverty or in crisis.

"NYLAG is proud to partner with New Yorkers as they assert their rights, reclaim their voices and achieve justice on their terms," said NYLAG President & CEO Lisa Rivera. "Justice is not abstract-it lives on in families who are safer, healthier and able to imagine a future that once felt out of reach. Every day, NYLAG attorneys open doors for people who have too often been shut out of opportunity, stability and protection. Achieving justice for every client-no matter their immigration status, age, race or gender- is the path to keep justice moving forward and ensuring that hope is still alive."

NYLAG honored the following individuals for their leadership and contributions to their fields (see bios below): 

• Corporate Leadership Award: Joseph (Joe) Salama, Chief Compliance Officer, Coinbase

• Visionary of Justice Award: Jill L. Rosenberg, Partner, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

"At Coinbase, our mission is to increase economic freedom," said Coinbase Chief Compliance Officer and Corporate Leadership Award honoree Joe Salama. "Freedom isn't the absence of rules. It's the presence of the right ones, fairly enforced. That's what gives life to our most basic rights - the right to practice your religion, the right to be free of discrimination and oppression, the right to an education, the right to secure the benefits promised to you. NYLAG is that champion of freedom for more than 100,000 New Yorkers every year whose rights are under attack. It is an honor to support the work of NYLAG's 400 professionals standing between them and that loss."

"Supporting NYLAG's work has been a passion of mine for most of my professional career," said Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Partner, NYLAG Board Member and Visionary of Justice Award honoree Jill L. Rosenberg. "It has been my privilege as a board member and pro bono volunteer to help NYLAG grow and flourish from its early days. Every time New Yorkers in need have faced a crisis, NYLAG has stepped up and met the challenge. In 2008, NYLAG launched its LGBTQ Law Project, the first of its kind to provide holistic legal services to low-income individuals in the LGBTQ community. My firm, Orrick, provided financial support to hire the project's first attorney and has been a proud financial and pro bono supporter of the LGBTQ Project since then."

The Justice Forward gala, hosted at SECOND Floor in Midtown Manhattan, welcomed more than 250 guests and NYLAG supporters, bringing diverse representation from across public, private and non-profit sectors, including law, finance, business, government, private philanthropy and more. The event also united NYLAG program participants, dedicated volunteers, esteemed board and committee members, longstanding supporters and community members in a celebration of a shared commitment to justice and empowerment.

For a full list of the event's sponsors, see NYLAG's 2026 Gala event page. 

HONOREE BIOS 

Corporate Leadership Award Recipient: Joseph Salama, Chief Compliance Officer at Coinbase
Joseph (Joe) Salama serves as the Chief Compliance Officer at Coinbase, where he leads the global strategy for regulatory engagement, anti-money laundering and financial integrity. A veteran of the global financial system, Joe is at the forefront of bridging the gap between traditional finance and the digital asset economy. Before joining Coinbase in 2025, he spent 15 years at Deutsche Bank in several high-stakes leadership roles, including Global Head of Anti-Financial Crime and General Counsel for the Americas, where he navigated the most complex legal and regulatory landscapes in international banking. 

A globally recognized authority on financial crime prevention, Joe previously served as the Co-Chair of the Wolfsberg Group, an association of the world's largest banks dedicated to setting global AML standards. He began his career at the elite law firms Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP and Latham & Watkins LLP after earning his Juris Doctor from the New York University School of Law. Today, he is a leading voice on how robust compliance frameworks can act as a catalyst for innovation and trust in the evolving digital frontier. 

Visionary of Justice Award Recipient: Jill L. Rosenberg, Partner at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Jill L. Rosenberg, a New York employment law partner, is a nationally recognized employment litigator and counselor. Jill has significant experience defending and advising employers in discrimination, sexual harassment, whistleblowing, wrongful discharge, affirmative action, wage-and-hour and traditional labor matters. In recognition of Jill's practice, Chambers USA and Chambers Global awarded her a Band 1 ranking, with clients calling Jill "a terrific lawyer," noting her "stellar reputation for her representation of clients in employment litigation and internal investigations," and her "smart, responsive and practical approach to advice and litigation." 

She handles complex individual cases, as well as class actions and systemic government investigations. She represents a broad range of companies, including employers in the securities industry, banks and financial institutions, accounting firms, law firms, and employers in the technology and media industries. Jill also has particular proficiency in the representation of nonprofit entities, including colleges, universities, hospitals, foundations and cultural institutions. 

She designs and conducts training programs for clients and frequently speaks on employment law issues for employer and bar association groups such as National Employment Law Institute, Practising Law Institute, National Association of College and University Attorneys and the New York State Bar Association.

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