This annual award recognizes an individual or organization’s exceptional commitment to pro bono as demonstrated by exemplary engagement in pro bono legal services. PBI named the award as a tribute to the Honorable Laurie D. Zelon, retired associate justice of the California 2nd District Court of Appeal, who was one of the originators of the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® initiative. Justice Zelon served as chair and was a longtime member of the California Access to Justice Commission. She has been active with several statewide judicial committees addressing justice administration issues.
2023
Capital One Financial Corporation
2022
David Stern
Executive Director | Equal Justice Works
2021
Discover Financial Services Legal Organization
and
Wanji Walcott
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer, and General Counsel
2020
American International Group, Inc. (AIG)
and
Lucy Fato
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Global Head of Communications and Government Affairs
2019
Freddie Mac’s Legal Division
and
Ricardo A. Anzaldúa
Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
2018
Gregory B. Jordan
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Chief Administrative Officer
and
The Legal Department of The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc.
2017
The Legal Department of Exelon Corporation
2016
John Schultz and the Office of the General Counsel of Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company
2015
William J. Casazza and the Law & Regulatory Affairs Department of Aetna Inc.
2014
Brad Smith and the Department of Legal and Corporate Affairs at Microsoft Corporation
2013
Bruce Kuhlik and the legal department of Merck & Co., Inc.
2012
Jane Sherburne and the legal department of BNY Mellon
2011
Intel Corporation
2010
Brackett B. Denniston III
Senior Vice President and General Counsel | General Electric Company
2009
Robert C. Sheehan
Executive Partner | Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP
2008
Legal Department of Bank of America Corporation
and
Timothy J. Mayopoulos
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
2007
Legal Department of CitiGroup
and
Michael Helfer
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
2006
Jeffrey B. Kindler
Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer | Pfizer Inc.
2005
Marc Gary
Executive Vice President and General Counsel | BellSouth Corporation
2004
Judith C. Areen
Dean | Georgetown University Law Center
2003
Kenneth C. Frazier
Senior Vice President and General Counsel | Merck & Co., Inc.
2002
Scott Atlas
Partner | Vinson & Elkins LLP
Chesterfield Smith
Chair Emeritus | Holland & Knight LLP
Bill McBride
Former Managing Partner | Holland & Knight LLP
2001
John H. Pickering
Senior Partner | Wilmer Cutler & Pickering
2000
Laurie D. Zelon
Morrison & Foerster LLP