Taft Honors 2026 Pro Bono Award Winners

Taft is pleased to recognize the following attorneys for their impactful contributions through their pro bono service efforts with its 2026 Pro Bono Awards:

Kristiana P. Boutell / Domestic Relations / Detroit led an intensive post-judgment domestic relations litigation matter, where she represented a mother of two young children who fled a relationship of domestic violence and removed her children from a household of abuse. Boutell secured a lawyer guardian ad litem for the minor children via motion practice, which ultimately changed the trajectory of the case. The lawyer guardian ad litem issued a comprehensive report favorable to the minor children and client and aligning with her theory of the case. Ultimately, after preparing for a multi-day evidentiary hearing with several expert and lay witnesses, the opposing party agreed to settle on the eve of the hearing, with an overall positive result for the client to give her children greater stability and safety.

Emily R. Cashell / Employment & Labor Relations / Cincinnati serves on the Board for the Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC). Drawing on her immigration practice, Cashell represented vulnerable young people seeking Special Immigrant Juvenile Status. She also built a new partnership with the IRLC, launched a refugee green card project, and trained associate volunteers across Taft offices to serve those refugee clients. At present, Cashell and volunteer attorneys have filed approximately 60 adjustment of status applications.

Jason M. Covert / Litigation, White Collar Defense / DC, Indianapolis established a unique and collaborative project involving Taft, the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), and IU Maurer Law. The project seeks to expand pro bono immigration representation for Indiana residents by having IU Maurer Law students earn academic credit through working on pro bono asylum matters under the supervision of attorneys at Taft and NIJC. In one matter referred from this project, Covert secured asylum for a client from Nicaragua who suffered past persecution by the Nicaraguan government, police, prison guards, and paramilitary group.

The Pro Bono Awards were created to celebrate attorneys who uphold Taft's commitment to invest in our communities. In 2025, Taft attorneys devoted 16,342 hours to providing free legal services to low-income individuals and ensuring they receive exceptional legal representation.

The 2026 Pro Bono recipients were selected by Taft's Pro Bono Committee. The Committee reviews each nominee's pro bono achievements and considers how their work drove positive change within the firm and their community. Each recipient directs a donation by Taft to a charitable organization of their choice. Boutell's donation will go to Lakeshore Legal Aid, Cashell's donation will go to Immigrant and Refugee Law Center (IRLC), and Covert's donation will go to the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC).

Taft attorneys approach pro bono service with the firm's client-first mindset to advocate and guide clients through the necessary legal process. As Taft continues to grow its markets, the Pro Bono Committee has developed new pro bono opportunities to expand our community engagement.