Pro Bono Institute hosted its 2018 Annual Dinner, themed “Transforming Pro Bono — Together,” on October 4 at Gotham Hall in New York. What a fantastic evening! Dinner Co-Chairs David G. Leitch, Global General Counsel, Bank of America*†, and David R. McAtee II, Senior Executive Vice President and General Counsel, AT&T Inc.†, welcomed 400 pro bono leaders to celebrate and recognize the tremendous pro bono efforts and accomplishments of law firms and legal departments.

Regina M. Pisa, Partner and Chairman Emeritus, Goodwin Procter, welcomed guests to Gotham Hall and introduced the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, which provides high-quality music instruction and music therapy to New Yorkers regardless of age, income, or level of ability. An ensemble of students and faculty presented a dynamic and energetic West African drumming performance to launch the festivities.

Dinner Co-Chair David Leitch then introduced the John H. Pickering Award presentation. Reginald J. Brown, Partner, WilmerHale*†, presented the Pickering Award to Covington & Burling LLP* for demonstrating Mr. Pickering’s core values: a meaningful commitment to pro bono from the most senior lawyers and associates alike. Timothy C. Hester, Partner and Chair, Covington & Burling, accepted the award and introduced Brian Ferguson, a pro bono client of the firm, to share the impact of the firm’s pro bono efforts in his case.

In 2002, Ferguson was wrongfully accused and convicted of a homicide he did not commit. He was sentenced to life in a maximum-security penitentiary without the possibility of parole. After Ferguson’s unsuccessful appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, Covington & Burling stepped in as habeas counsel and developed new evidence demonstrating that Ferguson’s trial counsel had been constitutionally deficient due to his failure to investigate a report that another individual had confessed in front of three people to the murder. After 10 years of investigation, motions, and oral arguments, Covington’s team of lawyers secured a new trial. Ultimately, Ferguson’s conviction was vacated, and he was released in 2013. Ferguson said, “I promise you there is a person sitting in a cell today whose life will be changed by someone sitting in this room. Thank you for what you will do tomorrow.”

After another rousing and entertaining performance by the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Dinner Co-Chair David McAtee introduced the CPBO Pro Bono Partner Awards. Elisa D. Garcia, Chief Legal Officer, Macy’s, Inc., presented the CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award: Smaller Law to Vania Wit, Vice President and Deputy General Counsel, United Airlines†, who accepted on behalf of General Counsel Brett J. Hart and United Airlines’ Legal Department in partnership with Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Cabrini Green Legal Aid for their project to help low-income individuals recover vehicles and assets seized by the police.

Marianne D. Short, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, UnitedHealth Group†, presented the CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award: Large Law to Michael O’Connor, General Counsel, Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company, who accepted on behalf of MassMutual’s Law Department in partnership with the Hampden County Bar Association Legal Clinic for their strategic collaboration to expand pro bono programs that improve access to justice for the underserved residents of Hampden County.

Throughout the evening, guests heard inspiring stories that highlighted PBI’s work to transform access to justice – together, and underscored the reason we provide pro bono legal services: to serve those in need and make a meaningful impact on their lives.

* Denotes Charter Signatories to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge^®
*Indicates CPBO Challenge^® Charter Signatory
†Indicates CPBO Challenge 100 Signatory