The Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley honored McManis Faulkner as Philanthropist of the Year at its annual Lady Justice Innovates Benefit Dinner. The Pro Bono Project is a nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to low-income individuals through attorney volunteers, working to make justice accessible to all. The annual Lady Justice Innovates Benefit Dinner celebrates Silicon Valley innovation bringing legal assistance to everyone, regardless of their socioeconomic standing.
McManis Faulkner was honored for its commitment to providing pro bono legal services and its active civic and community volunteering, a practice the entire firm believes fosters compassion and helps provide justice for the underrepresented. The firm routinely supports nonprofit organizations that advocate for minority community members who lack the resources to fund their own legal representation, as well as supporting – both financially and with hundreds of volunteered hours – a variety of the South Bay region’s professional, community and civic organizations that advance education, promote advocacy and encourage growth. Among the beneficiaries are The Pajama Program, California Women Lawyers, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, United Way Silicon Valley and La Raza Lawyers of Santa Clara County.
“We are honored to be recognized by the Pro Bono Project Silicon Valley. McManis Faulkner has long been dedicated to improving access to justice by taking on unique and novel cases that other lawyers might not accept due to the level of difficulty, uncertainty, and the high cost of litigating all the way to a final judgment. The Philanthropist of the Year Award is recognition of the steadfast commitment demonstrated by the entire McManis Faulkner team,” said James McManis, head of the firm.
Overall, the firm has invested thousands of pro bono legal service hours, recently handling several high-profile pro bono cases, including representation of Dr. Rahinah Ibrahim in the first successful challenge to the U.S. government’s post-9/11 terrorist watch list system.