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Legal Services of Greater Miami (Legal Services) recently recognized the volunteer services of over 325 attorneys and professional partners at its 2021 annual Pro Bono Celebration.
This year’s event, livestreamed on Oct. 28, and generously sponsored by Jacqueline Simkin LLB, LLM, was a great success drawing hundreds in the legal community.
“Pro bono attorneys provide access to justice which resonates into the community by empowering individuals, families, and neighborhoods impacted by COVID,” said Legal Services Pro Bono Advocacy director Jayme Cassidy. “With the help of our pro bono champions, we provided housing stability for families during the eviction crisis, created neighborhood stabilization by assisting small businesses and nonprofits, paved equal access to education for special needs children, and secured public benefits to ensure financial stability for families.”
Highlighting the evening was the presentation of the 2021 Equal Justice Awards to the following in recognition of their extraordinary commitment to equal justice:
• Small/Solo Firm Award: Ryan C. Tyler, Esq.;
• Collaborative Partnership Award: Restaurant Brands International US Services LLC and McDermott Will & Emery LLP;
• Impact Award: Steven Kellough, Esq.;
• Professional Partner Award: Gerson, Preston, Klein, Lips, Eisenberg & Gelber, PA;
• Clinic Partner Award: Rob Collins, Esq., and
• Partners for Equal Justice Award: Alvaro A. Acevedo Jr., Esq., CPA, LLM.
Neki Mohan co-hosted the event along with Legal Services Board treasurer and chair of the Pro Bono Committee, Karen Lapekas. Legal Services welcomed the night’s special guest speaker, The Hon. Laurel Myerson Isicoff, Chief Judge of the United States Bankruptcy Court, who encouraged pro bono service and addressed the pro bono honorees commending them for their dedication and time helping low-income members of the community especially as COVID continued.
“The need for legal services in our community cannot be met without pro bono volunteers,” said Monica Vigues-Pitan, Legal Services executive director. “Our impact for the last 55 years has only been possible because of the ongoing support of so many dedicated pro bono professionals, and we were delighted to shine a light on their achievements and service.”
To view the Pro Bono Celebration on demand, visit bit.ly/LegalServicesProBono2021.
