National law firm Husch Blackwell presented its annual Pro Bono Impact Award to attorneys Karin Jacoby and Sammy Rajaratnam as part of National Pro Bono Week observances today.
"Pro Bono Week provides a great opportunity to recognize the significant pro bono efforts undertaken by our legal and business professionals throughout our firm’s national reach, and to encourage others to join in," said Margaret Richards, Husch Blackwell’s director of pro bono services. "Karin and Sammy continue to demonstrate the enduring impact of this commitment through their generous pro bono work."
Established in 2018, the firm’s Pro Bono Impact Award is presented annually to an attorney who has made a significant pro bono impact on behalf of those unable to afford legal representation and who made a special contribution to the establishment or enhancement of pro bono programs at Husch Blackwell.
Prior recipients of Husch Blackwell’s Pro Bono Impact Award are:
During Pro Bono Week observances October 22-28, 2023, Husch Blackwell is celebrating the ways the firm has put justice in action lifting the less fortunate and bridging gaps in our communities through pro bono service. In recognition of over 600 attorneys and other professionals who individually contributed pro bono hours from October 2022 through September 2023, the firm has issued Pro Bono Badges that distinguish the various levels of pro bono contributions:
- Contributor (up to 24 hours)
- Achiever (24-49 hours)
- Champion (50 or more hours)
In 2022, Husch Blackwell donated approximately 24,000 pro bono hours equaling $10.37 million of legal services to important pro bono causes with every industry group and practice participating in the firm’s pro bono efforts. This year, Husch Blackwell professionals have donated thousands of pro bono hours to help meet a wide variety of needs across the country, including, but not limited to:
- Fighting for justice for the wrongfully convicted
- Assisting with rent and lease issues for tenants unable to make their monthly payments
- Taking on legal work in association with the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance
- Providing advice to small businesses, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits facing various legal challenges
- Bringing families together through adoption
View a listing of our pro bono successes.