Overview
December 1, 2017 – International Law Firm McDermott Will & Emery’s Chicago office was recognized by the Public Interest Law Initiative with the 2017 Pro Bono Initiative Award at PILI’s 40th Anniversary Awards Gala.
McDermott was celebrated for its “longstanding history of dedication to service, fairness and justice,” and praised for its “critical assistance to underprivileged individuals in the areas of family law, housing, education, civil rights, criminal defense and asylum and immigration.”
Last year, McDermott’s Chicago lawyers dedicated more than 13,000 hours to pro bono and volunteer service. The group handled 357 total matters in Chicago and had an 89 percent participation rate in pro bono and community service activities.
Additionally, the Firm was recognized for providing legal services to “nonprofits and entrepreneurs serving disadvantaged communities” and seeking to “alleviate poverty, protect human rights and to effect legal and social change worldwide through collaboration with international nongovernmental organizations and social enterprises.”
McDermott was recently honored with the Pioneering Pro Bono Program of the Year award from Chambers USA at the 2017 Chambers Women in Law Awards. McDermott lawyers were also recognized by the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois with an award for “Excellence in Pro Bono Service” for their diligence in representing the detainees in Cook County Jail.