CBA Record September-October 2021

Chicago Bar Foundation Report

CBA & CBF Pro Bono and Public Service Luncheon Honors Seven Recipients By Bibi Belknap Fernández T he CBA and the CBF honored seven legal professionals at the 23rd annual Pro Bono and Public Service

Awards Luncheon. E. Lynn Grayson of Nijman Franzetti LLP and Cynthia Photos Abbott of Chi- cago Public Media, incoming presidents for the CBA and CBF respectively, hosted the event alongside outgoing presidents Maryam Ahmad of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office for the CBA and Verònica Gòmez of ComEd for the CBF. Andrew Vail began working at Jenner & Block, a firm long recognized for its com- mitment to pro bono, soon after graduating from law school. During his career, he has opened nearly 90 pro bono matters and averaging nearly 400 pro bono hours per year. Working closely with Northwestern Law’s Center on Wrongful Convictions, he has contributed thousands of hours to help exonerate the wrongfully accused and wrongfully convicted. He has also worked on civil rights cases, advocating on behalf of survivors of sexual assault, foreign nationals, asylum seekers, and LGBTQ+ individuals. This past year, Vail transitioned from serving as the Chair of Jenner & Block’s pro bono program to serving as General Counsel of the United Way Met- ropolitan Chicago, where he will continue Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Service Award

Clockwise from left: E. Lynn Grayson, Andrew W. Vail, Verònica Gòmez, Colleen Boraca, Judge Maxwell Griffin Jr., Sarah Grady, Maryam Ahmad, Cynthia Photos Abbott, Michelle Gilbert, and Alyssa Phillips.

to serve people and improve communities by providing advice and legal counsel to UWMC and its partners. He also currently serves on the boards of Legal Aid Society, CWC, and the Mikva Challenge. Kimball R. AndersonandKarenGatsis Anderson Public Interest Fellowship Alyssa K. Phillips, a 2017 graduate of the University of Notre Dame Law School, is already making a remarkable impact in her legal career as an Education Staff Attorney at Chicago Coalition for the Homeless. She

advocates and provides legal assistance for the educational rights of unhoused students in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs through outreach, community education, and direct representation. Her passion was fueled further by the negative impact of Covid-19 on many students experiencing homelessness. During the pandemic, Phil- lips had to think creatively to reach the most vulnerable students. As a result, she facilitated Facebook Live sessions around the rights of homeless families to education and public benefits.

14 September/October 2021