FLORHAM PARK, NJ, July 7, 2014 -- BASF Corporation's legal department was recognized by the New Jersey Law Journal as a "Legal Department of the Year."

The Law Journal selects five in-house legal staffs that stand out based on how well they serve internal clients, manage outside counsel, make innovative use of technology, foster diversity and a sense of teamwork among their staff and put a premium on pro bono work and community service. BASF was named the winner in the pro bono work and community service category.

"We selected BASF for this award because last year, 23 of BASF's 30 NJ attorneys handled 49 matters for the New Jersey Pro Bono Partnership for a total of 147 volunteer hours," said Ronald J. Fleury, Editor in Chief of the New Jersey Law Journal. "Making the department's public interest work stand out is its 'Smorgasbono' events, in which its attorneys and those from other companies and law firms meet with non-profit clients to help them get legal advice."

BASF will be honored at a November dinner sponsored by the New Jersey Law Journal, along with the other corporations that received "Legal Department of the Year" awards.

"BASF adds value to the communities in which we operate, and one of the opportunities we have as attorneys to do this is to volunteer our time and services to non-profit organizations that cannot afford legal counsel," said Matt Lepore, Senior Vice President and General Counsel for BASF in North America.

BASF formalized its pro bono services activities in 2009 in cooperation with Pro Bono Partnership , which provides services by recruiting and supporting the pro bono efforts of in-house counsel from major corporations and business attorneys from law firms. In 2013, BASF attorneys handled more than 49 different projects, reviewing/drafting contracts, leases, trust agreements, and assisting with obtaining trademarks. In addition, BASF lawyers provided guidance on nonprofit mergers and a range of employment issues, such as navigating employee leaves of absences and reasonable accommodations.

BASF has 31 attorneys on its staff in New Jersey, and more than half have provided pro bono services during the past several years. Melanie L. Brown, Assistant General Counsel for BASF in North America, a 2011 Pro Bono Partnership Volunteer of the Year, cited some of the types of projects in which BASF attorneys have participated:

  • Intellectual Property basic training provided by Anna-Lisa Gallo for several nonprofits

  • Lease review and land preservation advice for the Great Swamp Watershed provided by Catherine Trinkle

  • Trademark application for Meals on Wheels provided by Laura DiLorenzo

  • BASF Kids' Lab provided for BRICK Academy by Tyler Stevenson, Sonny Nkansa, Myrna Fonseca and Heather Yoshioka.

For a press photo, please click on the following link:

http://www.basf.us/pressphotos/07-16-14_ProBonoTeam.jpg

Suggested Caption: BASF's in-house legal counsel was recognized for their outstanding Pro Bono work by the New Jersey Law Journal. Pictured (from left) are Debra Goldsmith, Senior Counsel, BASF; Richard Reid, Senior Counsel, BASF; Matthew Lepore, SVP / General Counsel NA, BASF; Sonny Nkansa, Legal Assistant III, BASF; Julie Wong, Assistant General Counsel, BASF; Tyler Stevenson, Intellectual Property Manager, BASF; and Melanie Brown, Assistant General Counsel, BASF. Photo courtesy of New Jersey Law Journal.

BASF - The Chemical Company

BASF Corporation, headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, is the North American affiliate of BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany. BASF has nearly 17,000 employees in North America, and had sales of $19.3 billion in 2013. For more information about BASF's North American operations, visit www.basf.us .

BASF is the world's leading chemical company: The Chemical Company. Its portfolio ranges from chemicals, plastics, performance products and crop protection products to oil and gas. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Through science and innovation, we enable our customers in nearly every industry to meet the current and future needs of society. Our products and solutions contribute to conserving resources, ensuring nutrition and improving quality of life. We have summed up this contribution in our corporate purpose: We create chemistry for a sustainable future. BASF had sales of about €74 billion in 2013 and over 112,000 employees as of the end of the year. Further information on BASF is available on the Internet at www.basf.com.

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