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CHICAGO - Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that the firm is the recipient of a 2007 Golden Gavel Award Coordinated Advice and Referral Program for Legal Services (CARPLS) in recognition of its financial and organizational support. For more than a decade, Brinks has provided hands-on participation at CARPLS, including a commitment of time, resources and problem-solving skills in support of CARPLS. The award ceremony, held on May 23, 2007, was emceed by investigative sportswriter, Lester Munson, and hosted by the Northern Trust Company of Chicago.

The Golden Gavel Awards are presented annually to individuals, law firms or corporations that make significant contributions to further the CARPLS mission of providing expanded access to legal services to those in need through the use of innovation, collaboration and technology.

In receiving the award, Gary M. Ropski, president of Brinks, said, "We are proud to be recognized for sharing CARPLS' dedication to providing legal services to those in need of legal representation and who are unable to afford it."

"We also want to recognize our partner, Ralph J. Gabric, who has dedicated himself to giving back to the community through CARPLS," continued Mr. Ropski. "Ralph has been an officer of the Governance Board since 2006 and currently serves as Vice President."

Also honored were the Brunswick Corporation and attorney Sheldon H. Roodman, Executive Director of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago, who was the recipient of this year's Ralph A. Gabric Award in recognition of Mr. Roodman's ongoing service to the greater Chicago legal aid community.

Pictured from left to right: Wit Davis, Deputy General Counsel, Brunswick Corporation; Lester Munson, Journalist and Golden Gavel Master of Ceremonies; Gary M. Ropski, President, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione; Allen C. Schwartz, Executive Director, CARPLS; and, Sheldon H. Roodman, Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago.

About CARPLS
CARPLS is an innovative legal aid service that offers an immediate response to the every day legal problems confronting low-income residents of Cook County. CARPLS Legal Aid Hotline and court-based Advice Desk give low-income clients direct access to experienced attorneys who are trained to quickly assess and respond to a wide range of civil legal problems. CARPLS attorneys resolve over 85% of all cases in-house by providing information, advice and brief services including the preparation and review of
legal documents. Clients with more complex needs are referred by CARPLS to a network of specialized legal and social service providers. Since its inception in 1993, CARPLS has helped over 260,000 clients find solutions for their basic legal problems at an average cost to CARPLS of $35 per case. For more information on CARPLS, visit http://www.carpls.org/Home.aspx.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services.