In the latest edition of Pro Bono Innovators, Bloomberg Law has honored 10 exemplary law firms that have significantly impacted the practice of pro bono legal work worldwide. The annual listing, now in its third year, recognizes efforts in navigating complex legal challenges for underrepresented communities and securing notable legal victories.
This year, the inclusion of Arnold & Porter stands out as it successfully argued before the US Supreme Court in the case of Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County v. Talevski. The decision affirms that approximately 87 million Medicaid recipients can seek redress when denied services. According to Andrew Tutt from Arnold & Porter, the strategy was to both win the case and preserve broader rights under federal benefit programs, addressing the erosion of individuals’ rights to litigation under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.
Another notable mention is Willkie Farr & Gallagher, which achieved a $148.1 million jury verdict for Fulton County election workers Wandrea “Shaye” Moss and Ruby Freeman. The case addressed defamatory allegations made by Rudy Giuliani about the 2020 presidential election, marking a tangible accountability measure for misinformation. Meryl Governski, a litigation partner at Willkie, emphasized the case’s impact in signaling that victims of political disinformation will not be silent.
In another significant development, Skadden, collaborating with the Innocence Project, secured a victory for Texas death-row inmate Rodney Reed in Reed v. Goertz. The Supreme Court’s decision addressed when a statute of limitations begins for procedural due process claims under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 in state post-conviction DNA testing cases. According to Parker Rider-Longmaid of Skadden, DNA testing plays a crucial role in capital conviction cases like Mr. Reed’s.
Other honored firms include Reed Smith, Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, Lowenstein Sandler, Linklaters, Latham & Watkins, K&L Gates, and DLA Piper. These firms continue to demonstrate commitment to impactful legal work through their innovative strategies and dedication to justice.