Haynes Boone is this year’s recipient of the prestigious W. Frank Newton Award on behalf of the State Bar of Texas and its Legal Services to the Poor in Civil Matters Committee.
This award honors the dedicated members of the legal profession who are committed to providing legal services to the less fortunate in Texas. The firm was honored at the Bar Leaders Recognition Luncheon at the State Bar Annual Meeting in Dallas on Thursday, June 20.
In 2023, Haynes Boone devoted 16,000-plus hours to pro bono work across the firm, equaling $12.6 million in legal fees donated.
“Haynes Boone prides itself in facilitating all of its lawyers’ participation in the widest range of Pro Bono work,” said Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair David Taubenfeld. “We truly appreciate the State Bar of Texas’ recognition that Haynes Boone lawyers are making a difference when it comes to helping the disadvantaged members of our community get the legal assistance they need.”
To support the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP), a branch of the Dallas Bar Association that facilitates the provision of law services to those who cannot afford them, Haynes Boone hosts a monthly law clinic for those without access to legal services.
In addition to the firm’s monthly clinics, Haynes Boone lawyers handle cases from the lists of potential cases that DVAP releases regularly. Haynes Boone has also partnered with Genesis Women’s Shelter, SMU Child Advocacy Clinic and other entities that either need or provide legal services and could use assistance.
Haynes Boone’s pro bono committee is representative of all 19 global offices and allows attorneys to collaborate, celebrate pro bono victories, communicate needs and schedule clinics and services. Additionally, Haynes Boone includes pro bono work in its summer associate program, providing all participating law students with the opportunity to contribute to a pro bono matter while with the firm. Haynes Boone also sets an annual goal for each new incoming associate classes to achieve100% participation in the firm’s pro bono work.
“Our early emphasis on pro bono work instills its importance from the start,” said Pro Bono Committee Co-Chair Kelli Norfleet. “The firm’s focus on serving communities encourages associates to pursue a wide variety of opportunities to assist those in need.”
Among some of the recent pro bono accomplishments the firm has earned on behalf of the underserved are:
- Helping transportation leader First Transit Inc. increase its diversity, equity and inclusion objectives by working with the employer to change its background check policy. (Associates Greg Van Houten and Michael Freyberg)
- The asylum of a persecuted Honduran family (Counsel Tania Khatibifar and Associate Fernando Mendez)
- The successful assistance of a mother and child escaping domestic violence (Associates Caylee Phillips, Joe Pinto and Lyric Stephenson in coordination with the Genesis Women’s Shelter).
In addition to this recognition, the firm also received the 2023 Outstanding Achievement Award from The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, the 2023 Law Firm of the Year award from DVAP and Khatibifar received the 2023 Outstanding Young Lawyer Award from The Young Lawyers Section of the New York State Bar Association for her pro bono efforts.
