Reflections from Bob Kapp and Tony Essaye, Founders of ISLP
Back in 2000 when we first came up with the concept that became ISLP, one of the first persons that we enlisted to join us in this venture was Dick Winfield. At the time, Dick was a law partner of Tony’s and one of the foremost media lawyers in the country. Not only did we think the pro bono work that he had been doing to support press freedom around the world would be a good fit, but Tony was aware of the energy and enthusiasm that he would likely bring to our initiative. And Dick’s contributions to ISLP over the ensuing years surpassed even our wildest expectations.
It began with Dick playing a key role in getting us started. He joined us in helping to obtain funding for a pilot study to see if the types of legal assistance in less economically developed countries that we had in mind would likely be practical and desired, and whether there would likely be interest among senior lawyers in the United States in volunteering to provide such assistance. And then, of equal importance, he was able to recruit a young attorney, Barbara Swan, who had just returned from a Justice Department legal assistance project in Kosovo, to carry out the study.
Barbara traveled around the world to meet with government and public interest lawyers and organizations in economically less developed countries, and then around the United States to meet with bar associations and legal organizations. And, with some oversight from Dick, she then produced a compellingly positive analysis of both the importance and feasibility of providing such assistance and the high-level of potential interest on the part of experienced American attorneys in providing such assistance on a voluntary basis. The study thus became both the center-piece of our ensuing fundraising and the basis of our initial programming efforts.
But Dick did not rest there. He soon began the process of reaching out to experienced media lawyers, with whom he either had worked on pro bono press freedom projects or knew of through his own practice, to enlist them as potential volunteers for ISLP. In doing so, he eventually established a cadre of some thirty such attorneys, almost all of whom became ISLP volunteers at some point, including some who took on multiple projects over the years.
At the same time, since our initial ISLP office space was generously provided by Dick and Tony’s firm Clifford Chance, Dick had an office nearby even after his retirement and was able to spend considerable time supporting our Executive Director, including helping to mentor our young staff members. On the occasion of Dick’s death, we heard from one of them, Mia Sussman, who warmly recalled those days, saying: “I can see his face and hear his voice and his laugh as I write this. I’m so sorry for this loss—to you, to us, to the world.”
After Dick retired from Clifford Chance, he was able to devote himself even further to ISLP, which truly became a central part of his life. He formalized his group of pro bono attorneys into ISLP’s Media Law Working Group, and he became personally involved in virtually every press freedom project that ISLP took on, serving sometimes as a principal volunteer and other times in a substantial supporting role.
Often these projects related to criminal prosecution of journalists by authoritarian regimes for their exposure of governmental corruption or other criticism of officials. Dick and his other Working Group volunteers would work closely with local counsel and often provide amicus briefs setting forth international standards for press freedom, including our First Amendment cases in the United States. And they achieved a significant degree of success, under obviously difficult circumstances. While most of this work was in less economically developed countries, we can recall how Dick was delighted by being able to help win several press freedom cases against Russia in the European Court of Human Rights.
As time went on, the ISLP Media Group’s work encompassed other ways to promote media freedom, including capacity building seminars for local counsel, helping in the drafting of laws and regulations protecting journalists, and the introduction of public information requirements comparable to our Freedom of Information laws.
Dick entered into all these activities with a true passion—inspiring others not only with his expertise and determination but also with his warm, ever-positive and out-going personality. He and his wonderful wife Debbie also went beyond the call in hosting dinners and other events for ISLP staff at their apartment, as well as fundraising receptions. It was all a part of the Winfield/ISLP partnership.
So the two of us will miss Dick greatly, as will so many others here and abroad whose lives he has protected or enhanced. But as we look back at Dick’s life and his invaluable contributions to ISLP, we take comfort in knowing that his achievements will always stand as a true service to the world community.
Bob and Tony
