The City Bar Justice Center Honors 2025 Outstanding Pro Bono Service Awardees

The City Bar Justice Center held its 2025 Celebrate Pro Bono Awards on Tuesday, October 21 at the New York City Bar Association. The ceremony is hosted annually during the American Bar Association’s National Celebration of Pro Bono Week. Each year, the Justice Center recognizes volunteers from our dozen civil justice projects who demonstrate an exemplary commitment to our clients and embody our team’s mission to advance access to justice. This year, ten awards were presented at the ceremony by Timothy C. Nash, Jr., Co-Chair of the Justice Center’s Pro Bono Leadership Council.

Cancer Advocacy and Elderlaw Projects:
Marie Hopkins, Assistant General Counsel at AIG

Consumer Bankruptcy Project:
Schuyler Carroll, Partner at Manatt, Phelps & Phillips LLP

Federal Pro Se Legal Assistance Project (EDNY):
Sarah Park, Senior Counsel at the Hearst Corporation

Immigrant Justice Project:
Amanda B. Asaro, Associate at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.
Elizabeth Platonova, Associate at Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Poepo, P.C.

Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project:
Jonathan Kim, Partner at Dechert LLP

Shelter Advocacy Project:
Esther Lutaya Mafouta March, Legal Analyst

Veterans Assistance Project:
Joe Marshall, Associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP

Homeowner Stability Project – Latham & Watkins LLP Team Award:
Blake Denton, Partner
Herman Yue, Partner
Amanda Kurzydlowski, Associate
Bradley Puffenbarger, Associate
Chloe Kim, Associate
Elizabeth Cangialosi, Associate
Kendall Krumme, Associate
Melange Gavin, Associate
Ryan Schachne, Associate

Monday Night Law – Lifetime Achievement Award:
Russ Bleemer, Consultant Editor at the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution

Opening remarks were delivered by Cassandra Celestin, the City Bar Justice Center’s Director of Pro Bono Initiatives. Her speech addressed the theme of Pro Bono Week 2025: Supporting Our Communities Through Pro Bono Work. “Every time one of us takes on a pro bono case, we are doing more than providing legal services,” Ms. Celestin said. “We are empowering individuals, and assisting one person can create a ripple effect that benefits, uplifts, and strengthens the fabric of our communities. This year’s honorees are zealous advocates who have, without a doubt, positively impacted the communities we serve.”

The Honorable Karen Lin, Justice of the New York State Supreme Court, Civil Term – Queens County, delivered a keynote address that illustrated the influence of skills built through pro bono work on positive legal outcomes. “The justice system works best when lawyers bring empathy into the room,” Justice Lin said. “Pro bono work sharpens that empathy, because justice depends on us to be able to bridge the gap between those who know the system and those who don’t.”

In his closing remarks, the Justice Center’s Executive Director Kurt M. Denk encouraged lawyers in the room to volunteer time to pro bono cases.

Thank you to everyone who attended, including friends, family, and colleagues, for an uplifting and meaningful evening. To our 2025 award recipients, the City Bar Justice Center offers our heartfelt congratulations!

For information on volunteer opportunities, please visit the City Bar Justice Center’s “Do Pro Bono” webpage.