Good karma.

Local law firms have stepped up to aid the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Latham & Watkins LLP has provided more than $800,000 in legal aid, housing and mental health programs to the Gulf Coast region since the August tragedy.

Shortly after the storm, the firm announced an initial gift of $200,000 and promised to match employee gifts dollar-for-dollar. Latham lawyers and staff drummed up $300,000, which the firm matched.

As part of its gift, Latham provided $75,000 to fund a fellowship to provide legal services for two years. Additionally, the firm will fund a disaster relief fellow to work on the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights.

Manatt Phelps & Phillips LLP, has chipped in, too.

Los Angeles partner Larry Blake led a multi-office pro bono team that worked to line up the rights to a number of musical works that were compiled to create "Hurricane Relief--Come Together Now." The two-disc 35-track compilation features artists including Faith Hill, Coldplay, Louis Armstrong and Bonnie Raitt. It sells for $19.98 and is being distributed through the Recording Industry Association of America on Amazon.com and elsewhere. The net proceeds--about $15 per CD--go to relief organizations. Additionally, 298 Manatt employees gave more than $96,000 to hurricane relief efforts

Gibson Dunn & Cruteher LLP gave $100,000 as a firm.

Staff reporter Emily Bryson York can be reached at [phone], ext. 235, or at [e-mail].