Barclay Damon has been named an Empire State Counsel® law firm honoree by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) for the firm’s pro bono work in 2023. The designation is based on the total number of hours completed by attorneys at the firm, with consideration given to how many attorneys have provided 50-plus hours of pro bono service during the preceding year.
In 2023, Barclay Damon dedicated approximately 2,500 hours valued at more than $960,000 to pro bono efforts, with attorneys and paralegals actively participating in firm-sponsored family court clinics, litigating civil rights violations, drafting wills for veterans, assisting with clemency applications, and providing online legal aid through initiatives such as the American Bar Association’s Free Legal Answers program.
“We’re proud that Barclay Damon continues to live by these foundational values that we’ve held since our inception,” said Jen Leonardi, pro bono partner, “and that these values are reflected collectively and individually through our pro bono service, which has comprised 100-percent participation by our full-time attorneys for each of the last seven years and, in 2023, 100-percent participation by our full-time paralegals.”
Each year, NYSBA acknowledges exemplary pro bono work at its Justice for All Luncheon. This year, Sharon Brown, Barclay Damon’s diversity partner and chair of the firm’s Diversity Partner Committee, accepted the award on behalf of the firm.
Brown said, “Our attorneys and paralegals will always seek ways to offer pro bono services to people and groups requiring access to justice. Every one of our clients, whether receiving pro bono or paid service, deserves and receives respectful, effective, and diligent counsel. It’s part of our DNA.”
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients’ businesses. With nearly 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices located in the Northeastern United States and Toronto. For more information, visit our award-winning website at Homepage | Barclay Damon. Learn more about Barclay Damon’s multi-award-winning pro bono program at Pro Bono | Barclay Damon.