John H. Pickering Award

The John H. Pickering Award is given in honor of John H. Pickering, a distinguished appellate attorney and leader of the legal profession who was equally well-known for his extraordinary commitment to pro bono and public interest law. It is presented in conjunction with his law firm, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP (now WilmerHale), and the Pickering family to honor a law firm for its outstanding commitment to pro bono legal services.

John H. Pickering served on the PBI Law Firm Pro Bono Project^®Advisory Committee from its inception in 1989 until his death in March 2005. PBI presents this award annually at the PBI Annual Dinner.

Recognized law firms have:

Signed the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge^® initiative, committing to contribute either 3% or 5% of total billable hours to pro bono legal services;
Met or exceeded the Challenge performance goals, including participation by partners and senior-level lawyers in pro bono legal services;
Devoted a majority of their pro bono time to serving low-income individuals and the families;
Engaged in time-intensive, high-impact pro bono work;
Created or expanded new pro bono opportunities within their community;
Cultivated meaningful relationships with legal services providers and pro bono organizations; and
Achieved active and visible support of firm leaders for pro bono.

2024
Munger, Tolles & Olson LLP

2023
Hogan Lovells

2022
Debevoise & Plimpton

2021
O’Melveny & Myers

2020
Ropes & Gray

2019
Goodwin LLP

2018
Covington & Burling

2017
Kirkland & Ellis

2016
White & Case

2015
Sidley Austin

2014
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom

2013
Alston & Bird