Los Angeles Partner Recognized for Professional Accomplishments

The Los Angeles Chapter of the American Jewish Committee (AJC) honored partner Manny Abascal with its Learned Hand Award, the organization’s highest honor, at its annual dinner attended by over 300 people. Named after Judge Learned Hand, the award is given to “outstanding members of the legal profession in recognition of their activities and achievements for the betterment of the community.” Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass provided the keynote address at the event.

For over 10 years, Abascal has served as the founding Chairman of the Board of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Healthcare (MLK), a safety net healthcare system serving South Los Angeles. MLK has received multiple accolades for providing quality healthcare to one of the nation’s most underserved areas, including recognition by CNN as an “oasis-of-care in the healthcare desert of South LA.” In addition to serving as Chairman of MLK, Abascal has served on multiple other nonprofit boards and devoted thousands of hours of pro bono legal services across many areas, including representing victims of domestic violence and human trafficking, nonprofit affordable housing developers, and pro bono legal service providers. Abascal is a senior partner in Latham’s Litigation & Trial Department, through which he represents clients in their most sensitive and demanding crises, investigations, and litigations.

“I am honored and humbled to be recognized by the Los Angeles Chapter of the American Jewish Committee,” said Abascal. “It has been a privilege to work with so many different organizations dedicated to improving the lives of people in Los Angeles.”