The Chesterfield Smith Award recognizes extraordinary courage and commitment to pro bono by a legal leader. It honors the memory of the late Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Holland & Knight, Chesterfield Smith, who believed, passionately and completely, in equal justice for all, while standing firm in his conviction that public service and pro bono are absolutely essential elements in the lives of lawyers and in the work of great law firms. The award is not given annually; rather only when warranted by outstanding achievement. Typically, the award is presented to a law firm leader. However, other leaders have been recognized by this award. PBI presents this award at the PBI Annual Conference.
Nominations should be submitted to PBI at communications@probonoinst.org. The deadline for nominations is September 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 commitment to pro bono by the legal leader (e.g., press releases, letters of support, and articles).
2025
James L. Volling
Senior Counsel, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP
While serving as a Supreme Court law clerk to Chief Justice Warren E. Burger on the death penalty case Estelle v. Smith and other death penalty appeals, Jim was shocked by the inadequate and inexperienced defense in numerous cases, particularly with life or death at stake, and vowed to do something to rectify that injustice. Since then Jim has dedicated much of his professional life to the development and delivery of pro bono legal services, focusing efforts largely in three areas: children, post-conviction representation, and prisoner reentry. Jim currently serves on and Chairs the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Great North Innocence Project (GNIP) and helps guide that organization in its mission of remedying and preventing wrongful criminal convictions. Working with PBI, Jim serves on the Steering Committee of the Minnesota Collaborative Justice Project, which is focused on prisoner reentry, and the Advisory Committee of the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Project initiative, which supports and enhances the pro bono culture and performance of major law firms in the U.S. and around the world promoting partner and associate participation in pro bono service.
2020
John J. Conroy, Jr.
Principal, Baker & McKenzie LLP
An accomplished international banking and finance lawyer, Conroy has demonstrated a career-long commitment to initiatives that address critical societal issues, including access to justice, human rights, diversity, and environmental stewardship. He has served on the boards of numerous civic, educational, and charitable organizations, including Pro Bono Institute’s Board of Directors since 2011. Other organizations for which John has donated his time and talents are the Law Board of Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, the U.N.-affiliated International Organization for Migration Business Advisory Board, the Thomson Reuters Foundation’s Trust Women Advisory Board, the Midtown Educational Foundation’s Board of Directors, and After School Matters® Board of Directors, a nonprofit organization that provides life-changing after-school and summer program opportunities to nearly 19,000 Chicago high school teens each year.
2013
Judge Jonathan Lippman
Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals
Robert E. Juceam
Of Counsel, Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
2011
The Honorable Robert A. Katzmann
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
2010
The Honorable Eric H. Holder, Jr.
Attorney General of the United States
2007
Thomas A. Gottschalk
Executive Vice President Law and Public Policy, General Motors
2005
John D. Hamilton, Jr.
Of Counsel, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP Co-Chair
