Building on 2007 Pro Bono Success, McDermott Hires Pro Bono Counsel
CHICAGO (February 11, 2008) — McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to welcome Latonia Haney Keith, who will be the Firm's first Pro Bono & Community Service Counsel. Ms. Keith will lead the Firm’s pro bono, community service and charitable giving initiatives along with H. Guy Collier, the recently appointed Chair of the Firm's Pro Bono & Community Service Committee. Mr. Collier, a health law partner based in the Firm's Washington, D.C. office, succeeds Donald Hilliker who recently retired.
"Together, Guy and Latonia will lead the Firm’s initiatives in pro bono and community service, building further on the strong culture of service that has developed throughout our global operation in recent years," commented Chairman Harvey W. Freishtat.
Ms. Keith will work to further the Firm’s relationships with pro bono referral agencies. She will develop, encourage and facilitate community service initiatives, as well as work to identify pro bono and community service partnership opportunities with Firm clients.
Ms. Keith, most recently an associate in the Chicago office of Sidley Austin LLP, is a Harvard Law School graduate where she was a member of the Harvard Law Review. Prior to private practice, she clerked for the Honorable Judith W. Rogers of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. She has also served as an adjunct professor at Northwestern University School of Law. Her undergraduate degree is from the University of Iowa, from which she graduated summa cum laude.
"We have made very significant strides over the past several years in terms of our devotion to pro bono across the Firm and the impact we are having on the lives of the less fortunate in our communities around the world," commented Mr. Collier. "We know that Latonia will help advance these efforts."
"I have always enjoyed pro bono and this position gives me the opportunity to focus on pro bono and encourage others to get involved as well," commented Ms. Keith, who will be based in the Firm’s Chicago office. "I am excited to be joining the Firm at this time and to be challenged with continuing to build on the momentum of this excellent pro bono program."
Currently, Ms. Keith is involved in the Step Up Women's Network, the Fairygodmother Foundation and the Montessori Academy of Chicago's Scholarship Foundation. She has also previously been actively involved with the Community Economic Development Law Project in Chicago, the Chicago Coalition for Law-Related Education, the Southern Center for Human Rights in Atlanta, the Africa Summit in Kenya, Partners for Youth with Disabilities in Boston, Street Law in Boston, Court-Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), Inc. in Kansas and Kids' Voice in Kansas.
