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 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. Justice Zelon is a long-time member and has served as Chair of the California Commission on Access to Justice, and she is an active member of several statewide judicial committees addressing administration of justice issues. PBI presents this award annually at the PBI Annual Conference.

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 

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
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