Washington, DC (June 22, 2026) — Venable LLP has announced this year's Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Awards. The award was presented to three individuals who demonstrated an outstanding commitment to pro bono service last year.
Additionally, a cross-practice team of four attorneys was highlighted for their unwavering dedication to a public interest project addressing systemic failures in Faulkner County, Arkansas, resulting in a form of modern-day debtors' prison. The team has advanced equity in the courts by advocating for proper consideration of defendants' ability to pay before incarceration for unpaid fines and fees.
The firm also recognized attorneys and firm personnel who provided 100 hours or more or 50 hours or more of pro bono service.
"I'm so grateful for the firm to for supporting such a robust pro bono commitment ," said Warren Hamel, chair of the firm's Pro Bono program and co-chair of the firm's Investigations and White-Collar Defense Practice. "The firm established the Benjamin R. Civiletti Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year Awards to recognize and honor the spirit of public service of Ben Civiletti, our former firm chair."
The following personnel are this year's individual Pro Bono of the Year Awardees:
- Sarah Brooks, Partner, Los Angeles
- Jared Boone, Associate, Chicago
- John McCauley, Retired Partner, Baltimore
The following personnel were highlighted for their contributions as a cross-practice team:
- AJ Lynn, Partner, Baltimore
- Alexander Belman, Associate, Baltimore
- Thomas Naatz, Associate, Baltimore
- Evan Suval, Associate, Baltimore
The following personnel donated 50 or more pro bono hours in 2025:
|
Loren K. Aho |
Megan L. Algya |
Matthew J. Allman |
Claude E. Bailey |
|
Angelique J. Ball |
Marcella Ballard |
Megan Barbero |
Anne-Therese Bechamps |
|
Meredith K. Boram |
Patrick W. Boynton |
Patrick J. Brogan |
Brian J. Clark |
|
Jean Y. Crews |
Gianna E. Cricco-Lizza |
Andrew J. Currie |
Joyce A. Delgado |
|
Ralph A. Dengler |
Jonathan D. Eisner |
David E. Fink |
Allison D. Foley |
|
Sean J.B. Franzblau |
Eva-Maria Ghelardi |
Era O. Gjonbalaj |
Guy G. Graney |
|
Joseph R. Hicks |
Ronald M. Jacobs |
Christine F.V. Jonglertham |
Oluwatobiloba A. Kalejaiye |
|
Adel A. Kelifa |
Kyle H. Keraga |
Audrey Y. Kim |
Nicole N. King |
|
Daniel D. Lynch |
Ethan B. Mackey |
Lea C. Mano |
Jahmel J. Martin |
|
Karel Mazanec |
Kaidyn P. McClure |
Douglas B. McDonald |
Melissa C. McLaughlin |
|
Christopher D. Mudd |
Brae N. Nee |
Halena H. Ngo |
Keith S. Olsen |
|
Grace C. O'Malley |
Lawrence S. Perry |
Taylor Petrie |
Jacob J. Polce |
|
Eric A. Prager |
Amit Rana |
Lindsay M. Reed |
Janice Roberts |
|
Stephen Schiermeyer |
Christopher K. Serrano |
Evan T. Shea |
Daniel S. Silverman |
|
Andrew L. Steinberg |
Bart Stupak |
William W. Weaver |
Matthew W. J. Webb |
The following personnel donated 100 or more pro bono hours in 2025:
|
Taskeen Aman |
Peter W. Bellas |
Nathaniel S. Berry |
Jacob L. Blevins |
|
James Y. Boland |
Jared A. Boone |
Sarah S. Brooks |
Dimitrije Canic |
|
Allison M. Cunneen |
Ronn S. Davids |
Allison R. Day |
J. Daniel Everson |
|
Andrew C. Frailer |
Christina L. Gaarder |
Julie L. Galbo-Moyes |
Zoe E. Gallagher |
|
Tina Goldy |
David S. Gray |
Josephine C. Hall |
W. Warren Hamel |
|
Brian J. Healy |
Sarah M. Hoffman |
Kristy Hsi |
Ana L. Jara |
|
Patrick T. Kalbac |
Justine A. Kawa |
Thomas C. Klanderman |
Steven C. Kline |
|
Jonathan L. Ko |
Yvette Lopez |
A.J. Lynn |
Erin M. Maus |
|
Imani T. Menard |
Mitchell Y. Mirviss |
John D. Murnane |
Sophia F. Porotsky |
|
Adam G. Possidente |
Tara Sugiyama Potashnik |
Matthew L. Raber |
Theresa A. Rosendale |
|
Alexander S. Rubel |
Carlos H. Salguero, Jr. |
Christian R. Schreiber |
Daniel L. Schwartz |
|
Sarah L. Scott |
Claire F. Serruto |
Joanna R. Steele |
Evan I. Suval |
|
Kenneth L. Thompson |
Jaden C. Thornton |
Theresa M. Van Vliet |
Belinda M. Vega |
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