The Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award is given to an individual or organization that has provided exemplary pro bono service. The Award honors the legal leadership of retired Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal Laurie D. Zelon, who was one of the originators of the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge® initiative. This award is given annually, typically to a corporate legal department and its general counsel or chief legal officer and presented at the PBI Annual Conference. However, other leaders have been recognized by this award.
Nominations should be submitted to PBI at communications@probonoinst.org. The deadline for nominations is July 1 each year prior to the next year’s PBI Annual Conference.
There is no form to submit a nomination for this award. Instead, nominees are asked to submit a letter of nomination. Nominations must be limited to six pages.
Nominees are also encouraged to include additional materials to further demonstrate the individual’s or organization’s exemplary pro bono service. (e.g., press releases, letters of support, and articles).
2025
Entergy Corporation and Marcus V. Brown, Executive Vice President and General Counsel
2024
Zurich North America and Laura J. Lazarczyk, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary
2023
Capital One Financial Corporation
2022
David Stern, Executive Director, Equal Justice Works
2020
American International Group, Inc. (AIG) and Lucy Fato, Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Global Head of Communications and Government Affairs
2019
The Legal Division of Freddie Mac and Ricardo A. Anzaldúa, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
2018
Gregory B. Jordan 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
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 of 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, Michael Helfer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary
2006
Jeffrey B. Kindler, Vice Chairman, General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer of 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
Bill McBride, Former Managing Partner, Holland & Knight LLP
Chesterfield Smith Chair Emeritus, Holland & Knight LLP
2001
John H. Pickering, Senior Partner, Wilmer Cutler & Pickering
2000
Laurie D. Zelon, Morrison & Foerster LLP
