WASHINGTON, D.C. – Pro Bono Institute (PBI) is pleased to honor Koch and its Pro Bono Initiative (Koch) – in partnership with Baker Botts L.L.P. and Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles (OMV) – with the 2025 CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award. PBI will present the award on Monday, October 27, at the PBI Annual Dinner at Gotham Hall in New York. Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO), a project of PBI, created the CPBO Pro Bono Partner Award to recognize innovative pro bono collaborations of in-house legal departments with law firms and public interest organizations. The Awardees demonstrate impactful and innovative pro bono to address a critical legal need for a vulnerable community and take tangible steps toward creating a sustained partnership.
Koch, Baker Botts, and OMV launched their partnership in 2024 to help those facing driver’s license suspensions in St. James Parish, Louisiana. Located midway between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, this predominantly rural parish has limited access to legal services, much less pro bono services. Many low-income residents struggle with mobility and face license suspensions due to unpaid fines and court-imposed penalties, which limit their ability to secure employment, access healthcare, or engage in essential daily activities. The initiative exemplifies a transformative effort to address a critical legal need while delivering measurable benefits to a vulnerable community.
“PBI is proud to present this award to Koch, Baker Botts, and OMV,” said PBI President and CEO Eve Runyon. “This partnership has responded to a critical legal need in rural Louisiana, empowering low-income residents to restore their driver’s licenses through an innovative approach that utilizes private-sector resources, legal expertise, and government collaboration. We are inspired by their impact and the replicability of this model to develop a public-private partnership to expand access to justice.”
At the inaugural clinic at the Koch Methanol St. James (KMSJ) facility on July 17, 2024, the partnership drew almost 300 attendees, including residents from approximately a dozen neighboring parishes, with 150 indigent individuals directly supported. To accommodate the large turnout and serve as many people as possible, the clinic’s hours expanded on July 17 and added new hours on July 18. The clinic enabled 59 people to obtain new licenses the same day, and 90 people left with reinstatement plans.
Building on the first clinic’s achievements, the partnership developed a replicable framework and launched a second clinic at the same KMSJ facility on March 12, 2025, expanding partners and service offerings. In addition to on-site participation from OMV, this clinic also featured on-site participation from the 23rd Judicial District Court, where court-imposed fines and penalties were waived, removing additional financial barriers for low-income residents.
This collaborative approach brought together legal and non-legal professionals from Koch and Baker Botts, OMV officials, and the 23rd Judicial District Court, as well as participation from attorneys at the Kean Miller and Liskow & Lewis law firms and Entergy, a Fortune 500 energy company based in New Orleans. Because of the streamlined clinic model with both public and private sector partners present, attendees could resolve barriers to obtaining their driver’s license and receive fine waivers the same day. The initiative’s partners continue to discuss strategies to replicate and grow the service for future clinics.
“We are honored to receive this award with our partners at Baker Botts and the Louisiana OMV. At Koch, our pro bono initiative is about using our skills and partnerships to help people improve their lives,” said Ray Geoffroy, Koch Senior Vice President & General Counsel. “The driver’s license clinics in St. James gave our team and partners the chance to apply their legal expertise where it mattered most – helping residents regain mobility, access jobs, and support their families. We look forward to building on this effort and growing its impact.”
Thanks to Koch, Baker Botts, and Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles for responding to a local need with an impactful and extensive pro bono partnership, helping those facing driver’s license suspensions in St. James Parish, Louisiana and the surrounding area.
Read the full Koch CPBO Pro Bono Partner Awardee profile.
###
About Koch, Inc.
Based in Wichita, Kansas, Koch, Inc. is one of the largest private companies in America, with annual revenues that have exceeded $125 billion. It owns a diverse group of companies involved in manufacturing, agriculture, pulp and paper, packaging, consumer products, building materials, glass, automotive components, refining, renewable energy, chemicals and polymers, electronics, software, network solutions, health care technology, engineered technology, project services, recycling, supply chain and logistics, commodities trading, real estate, and investments. Since 2003, Koch companies have invested more than $190 billion in growth and improvements. With a presence in more than 50 countries, Koch companies employ about 120,000 people worldwide, with nearly half of those in the United States.
Koch’s Pro Bono Initiative seeks to empower individuals to achieve their true potential. Our approach is guided by principles embodied in our stewardship vision and Principle Based Management™ philosophy as we seek to remove barriers and improve lives. Our work touches several areas where we use our legal expertise to drive positive change: criminal record expungement and record sealing; driver’s license restoration; veterans discharge upgrades; and supporting nonprofit organizations dedicated to making a difference in their communities.
About Baker Botts L.L.P.
Baker Botts L.L.P. provides legal services to a broad range of clients, including multinational corporations, government entities, and individuals, across sectors such as energy, technology, and life sciences. With offices around the globe, Baker Botts is known for its deep industry knowledge, strategic counsel, and commitment to service.
The firm’s pro bono program reflects a longstanding dedication to advancing justice and supporting underserved communities. On average, Baker Botts attorneys dedicate nearly 30,000 hours annually to pro bono causes. This work spans critical areas such as asylum and immigration, veterans’ benefits, civil rights, housing and homelessness, criminal justice reform, and legal support for nonprofit organizations. The firm partners with legal service providers and community organizations nationwide to ensure that individuals and groups without access to legal representation receive high-quality counsel. Guided by a commitment to service and the rule of law, Baker Botts integrates pro bono work into its broader mission to make a positive and lasting impact.
About the Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
The Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles serves people through the administration of motor vehicle registration and driver licensing laws in a professional, compassionate and responsive manner, while maintaining a high standard of quality through our innovative approach to customer service today and in the future.
About Pro Bono Institute
Founded in 1996, Pro Bono Institute (PBI) is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit organization. With an unparalleled depth of knowledge, resources and expertise, PBI is the respected resource for all things pro bono. Through our work with law firms, in-house corporate legal departments, and public interest organizations, PBI is the global thought leader in exploring, identifying, evaluating, catalyzing, and taking to scale new approaches to and resources for the provision of legal services to the poor, disadvantaged, and other individuals or groups unable to secure legal assistance to address critical problems.
About the Corporate Pro Bono project
The Corporate Pro Bono (CPBO) project, launched in 2000, is the initiative of PBI that supports, enhances, and transforms the pro bono efforts of in-house corporate legal departments. Since its inception, the CPBO project has worked with hundreds of legal departments around the globe to strengthen in-house pro bono.