An ethic of public service is deeply rooted in Pierce Atwood’s history and culture. The firm also has a long and proud history of supporting a wide range of nonprofit and charitable organizations in the various communities in which we live and work. We are proud that so many of our attorneys and staff devote their time to important causes and organizations.

It is our goal that each of our attorneys will dedicate at least 50 hours each year to pro bono and community service, and many of our attorneys meet and exceed that goal by supporting a wide range of organizations across the U.S. and internationally. In 2014, we launched the Janet D. Eustis Memorial Staff Volunteer Time-Off Program, to empower our staff to get even more involved in their communities. Staff members are given one paid day off each year to volunteer for a nonprofit organization of their choice. As a firm, we hold an annual Day of Community Service. Since 2004, our attorneys and staff leave the office together to work on a service project for a deserving charitable organization.

As we have grown, and to better manage and coordinate the various fundraising efforts, we have established a Charitable Giving Committee. The committee’s mission is to identify a special charity or nonprofit to be the beneficiary of the firm’s yearlong, firmwide fundraising programs. We are pleased to also support nonprofit and charitable organizations in our local communities, and will direct a portion of our fundraising efforts there as well.

And in an effort to recognize outstanding pro bono and community service contributions, and encourage all employees to become involved in their communities, we created an annual Pro Bono and Community Service Awards program. Our 2022 “Pro Bono Attorney of the Year,” tax attorney Olga Goldberg, provided 147 hours of pro bono service to assist Peace Ridge Sanctuary, an 800-acre nonprofit animal rescue in Maine, in a case where the town refused to grant the property tax exemption to which they were entitled. Following a five-day trial, the Maine Superior Court ruled that most of the property should have received the tax exemption going back to 2016. The large tax refund will make a huge difference in the Sanctuary’s ability to care for Maine’s abused and neglected animals.

Pierce Atwood's Commitment to the Community

 

Pierce Atwood Pro Bono Leadership Team

Emily L. Cooke: Pro Bono partner & Portland office pro bono leader
207.791.1396
ecooke@pierceatwood.com

Nicholas Brown: Boston office pro bono leader
617.488.8145
nbrown@pierceatwood.com

Michele Kenney: Portsmouth office pro bono leader
603.373.2043
mkenney@pierceatwood.com

Brooks Magratten: Providence office pro bono leader
401.588.5113
bmagratten@pierceatwood.com

Randall Rich: Washington, DC office pro bono leader
202.530.6424
rrich@pierceatwood.com 

Pierce Atwood Pro Bono Team Members

Robert Abrahamsen Lisa Gilbreath Kathleen McCormack
Newell Augur Natalie Huddleston Michelle Pottle
Bonnie Ball Wahrer Ryan Kelley Nolan Reichl
Nick Brown Michele Kenney Randall Rich
Emily Cooke Kellie MacDonald Cynthia Shove
Jared des Rosiers Brooks Magratten  

Pierce Atwood is pleased to represent numerous individuals and organizations ona pro bono basis, and has formed a particularly close relationship with these organizations. Click here to read more about our pro bono partners.

In addition to supporting the efforts of attorneys to provide pro bono legal services, Pierce Atwood also recognizes the many meaningful volunteer contributions made by our staff. In 2014, the firm announced the Janet D. Eustis Memorial Volunteer Time Off Program. Through the VTO program, staff members receive one paid day off each year to volunteer their time to organizations that positively impact the lives of others. Janet Eustis was a Pierce Atwood legal assistant for 15 years whose commitment to her community inspired everyone who knew her, and whose selflessness reflected the best of our firm’s tradition of service.