Pro Bono | Bilzin Sumberg

Our communities face a myriad of opportunities and challenges, and it is our pleasure to place our profession at the service of those in need. Through our Matters of the Heart Program, Bilzin Sumberg identifies opportunities to assist organizations, individuals, and communities through pro bono work. The program works closely with several prominent non-profits that serve vulnerable and at-risk individuals and groups, including Lawyers for Children, Habitat for Humanity, Dade County Legal Aid, and Legal Services of Greater Miami.

Every year, Bilzin Sumberg recognizes the commitment and dedication of its attorneys to pro bono work through its Matters of the Heart Pro Bono Award. Recent awardees and honorees have ranged from those who have worked on the guardianship of vulnerable minors, to working for a local non-profit that houses homeless women and children in its building redevelopment, to participating in a law firm coalition that works for gun control and against gun violence.

Bilzin Sumberg will continue to make pro bono work an important part of its service to the community.

"Pro bono work is truly a Matter of the Heart. "Pro bono" means 'for the good' in Latin, and there are many different types of pro bono services that our attorneys provide for the good of our community to those who cannot otherwise afford legal representation."
- Raquel M. Fernandez, Litigation Partner and Head of the Matters of the Heart pro bono program

Press Release
October 2023

Fourth Annual Matters of the Heart Pro Bono Awards

Bilzin Sumberg continued its long-standing tradition of putting community service at the center of firm culture as it hosted its fourth annual Matters of the Heart Pro Bono Awards, which took place at the firm’s Miami office on October 24th. The Awards recognized pro bono services provided during 2022 by Bilzin Sumberg attorneys.

Pictured (left to right): Francesca De Quesada Covey (Chief Innovation and Economic Development Officer for Miami-Dade County); Diana C. Mendez; Sara Barli Herald, Leigh-Ann A. Buchanan (President & CEO of Miami-Dade Innovation Authority); Mayolis Romero; and Lauren O. Cankaya.

Press Release | June 20, 2023

Sara Barli Herald Shortlisted for Chambers Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year

Bilzin Sumberg is pleased to announce that Real Estate Partner Sara Barli Herald was selected as a finalist for Chambers Diversity & Inclusion’s Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year award. The highly competitive award recognizes a U.S. attorney who demonstrates an extraordinary degree of dedication to pro bono work locally or globally.

Bilzin Sumberg Announces Winners of Third Annual Matters of the Heart Pro Bono Awards

On October 13, 2022, Bilzin Sumberg continued its long-standing tradition of putting community service at the center of firm culture by hosting its third annual Matters of the Heart Pro Bono Awards. The Awards recognized attorneys whose pro bono work touched the lives of individuals in need of legal services and whose representation assisted organizations that have an impact on the wider community.

People in the photo from left to right: Nicolas Noto, Javier Aviño, Tina Brown (CEO of Overtown Youth Center), Albert E. Dotson Jr., Sara Herald, and Alonzo Mourning. The group were the winners of the One-To-Many award for their work with the Overtown Youth Center.