Milwaukee, WI (OCTOBER 23, 2014) – The Milwaukee Bar Association has announced its selection of Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as the winner of the 2014 Pro Bono Publico Award presented to the law firm, organization, business or association with a demonstrated commitment to working for the public good.
“It’s an honor to be recognized by the MBA for providing valuable legal services that improve our community and serve the public good,” states Ed Sarskas, Michael Best pro bono committee Co-Chair. “It only reinforces our long-standing commitment to pro bono service and will drive us to look for bigger and better projects when giving back in the future.”
Among Michael Best’s pro bono portfolio includes a number of non-profits, such as OneHope27, Student Tenant Education & Mediation Program, Medair and a variety of Milwaukee area schools, colleges and arts organizations. Michael Best lawyers also volunteer with the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic (“MVLC”) to provide free, brief legal advice on most civil matters at various locations around the city, including the Milwaukee Justice Center, the House of Peace Community Center, the Milwaukee County Veterans Service Office and the Mobile Legal Clinic. In addition to civil matters, Michael Best works with a wide variety of public interest law firms and agencies that are committed to increasing access to justice, including the Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee, Legal Action of Wisconsin and Kids Matter. Michael Best attorneys have even been appointed to serve as pro bono counsel in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin in matters involving pro se litigants.
In notifying the firm of its selection for the award, Jim Temmer, the Milwaukee Bar Associations’ Executive Director, noted the committee was very impressed with the work done by Michael Best attorneys and the firm’s organizational support for pro bono. He concluded that the award was very well deserved.
Michael Best was honored for this achievement at the MBA’s 11th Annual State of the Court Luncheon on Wednesday, October 22 at the Wisconsin Club.