Philadelphia, Pa. – LAWFUEL – Legal Newswire – February 28, 2008 – Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter has appointed Michael A. Schwartz, a partner with Pepper Hamilton LLP, chairman of a newly formed assessment team that is evaluating the status of Philadelphia Safe and Sound, a city-funded nonprofit organization responsible for contracting out protective services for children that has come under public scrutiny in recent weeks, including being the subject of hearings conducted by Philadelphia City Council.
The assessment team will be reviewing, among other things, Safe and Sound’s operations and finances and a program evaluation currently being conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, and then will be making recommendations to the Mayor.
The six-member assessment team will be supported by staff from the Philadelphia Department of Human Services, the Philadelphia Department of Finance, the City Law Department, the Philadelphia Inspector General’s Office and Philadelphia City Council.
Mr. Schwartz focuses his law practice in the areas of internal corporate investigations, corporate compliance programs, criminal defense and counseling, and First Amendment matters.
Before joining Pepper Hamilton earlier this week, on February 25, Mr. Schwartz headed the Corruption, Civil Rights, Labor and Tax Fraud unit of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. He successfully prosecuted some of the region’s highest-profile corruption cases, including the electronic surveillance investigation during former Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street’s administration and the corruption prosecutions of former City Treasurer Corey Kemp and former City Councilman Richard Mariano.
About Pepper Hamilton
Pepper Hamilton LLP (www.pepperlaw.com) is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers in seven states and the District of Columbia. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.