Baker Donelson Recognizes 2026 Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year

Baker Donelson's Firmwide Pro Bono Award is presented annually to an attorney whose commitment to pro bono service has made a meaningful impact on individuals, organizations, and communities. This year, the Firm named Steven R. Press, a shareholder in the Firm's Atlanta office, as its 2026 Firmwide Pro Bono Attorney of the Year, recognizing his longstanding commitment to providing legal services to non-profit organizations and community-focused initiatives through the Pro Bono Partnership of Atlanta (PBPA). He advises PBPA clients on matters involving fundraising and sponsorship agreements, privacy issues, tenancy, intellectual property ownership, liability waivers, and employment arrangements. The organizations he supports through PBPA focus on serving underserved children, survivors of domestic abuse, and the unsheltered. By helping these organizations address legal issues, Mr. Press supports their efforts to serve hundreds, and in some cases thousands, of individuals throughout the Atlanta community. His service extends well beyond the past year, having handled more than 50 pro bono matters through PBPA during his career. In recognition of that commitment, he was inducted into PBPA's inaugural Atlanta's Volunteer Hall of Fame, which honors attorneys who have taken on at least 50 pro bono matters through the organization.

Jonathan Cole, who chairs Baker Donelson's pro bono program, said, "Steven's commitment demonstrates how sustained pro bono service can strengthen organizations that provide critical support throughout the community. His work, along with that of each of this year's honorees, reflects the many ways Baker Donelson attorneys use their legal skills to support individuals, non-profits, and communities in need. Together, they exemplify the Firm's long-standing commitment to expanding access to justice and serving others."

Baker Donelson also recognized attorneys in offices across the Firm's footprint for their pro bono efforts.

• W. Patton Hahn, Birmingham Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Mr. Hahn was recognized for helping launch a veteran-focused pro bono initiative in Baker Donelson's Birmingham office. Working with colleagues Jade E. Sipes, of counsel in the Birmingham office, and Katelyn Dodd, an associate in the Birmingham office, he helped establish partnerships with Alabama Veteran and Cumberland School of Law's C-VETS program, through which he and other Birmingham attorneys assisted veterans with matters ranging from criminal charges and property disputes to family visitation issues. He also provided pro bono legal support to Alabama Veteran on corporate and regulatory matters. In addition, Mr. Hahn devoted time to clinics assisting immigrants with powers of attorney and parental authorization forms, helping families prepare for the possibility of sudden detention or deportation and ensuring arrangements were in place for the care of children and the management of personal affairs.
  
• William M. Starr, Charlotte Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Mr. Starr was recognized for his work with Safe Alliance, a Charlotte organization that supports victims of domestic violence through financial, emotional, and legal services. He represented two survivors seeking protective orders under North Carolina law, a critical step in helping victims establish safety and begin rebuilding their lives. These matters required extensive client interviews, review of law enforcement and supporting documentation, and preparation for trials in Mecklenburg County District Court. Mr. Starr successfully secured protective orders for both clients, preventing their abusers from contacting them and affording them greater security and stability moving forward. Through this work, he helped vulnerable individuals navigate the legal process and obtain protections available under North Carolina law.
  
• Jane H. Downey, Columbia Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Ms. Downey, who chairs the Pro Bono Committee for Baker Donelson's South Carolina offices, was recognized for service spanning financial education, individual representation, and support for aspiring attorneys. She helped establish Credit Abuse Resistance Education as a South Carolina non-profit and develop financial literacy presentations and materials that bankruptcy attorneys can use in schools and community organizations. Ms. Downey also represented a single mother of six in a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, helping resolve issues involving personal property, an abandoned vehicle, and a judicial lien on her home. In another matter, she assisted a senior citizen with a name change needed to align her birth certificate and driver's license and obtain a REAL ID. She also judged a regional American Mock Trial Association tournament hosted by Furman University, providing undergraduate students with feedback on their advocacy skills.
  
• Jason B. Bloom and Samantha Forkel, Fort Lauderdale Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year: Mr. Bloom and Ms. Forkel were recognized for their work on a sensitive matter involving a mother facing the potential re-placement of her biological child following the tragic loss of a foster infant. Working alongside Alexis Girard, a paralegal in the Fort Lauderdale office who was also recognized with an award for her contributions to the matter, they provided representation during a period of significant uncertainty, helping ensure that considerations of fairness, due process, and family preservation remained central to the proceedings. The matter involved significant issues of parental rights and child welfare and required careful advocacy during an exceptionally difficult set of circumstances.
  
• Chelsea N. Hayes, Johnson City Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Ms. Hayes was recognized for her ongoing commitment to serving individuals and non-profit organizations in her community. Building on her prior representation of a terminally ill client in connection with estate planning matters, she continues to assist his widow as she pursues claims against a contractor accused of taking payment for work that was never completed. Ms. Hayes is also helping the client update her own estate planning documents. In addition, she regularly volunteers her time with the local Ronald McDonald House, providing guidance on policies and operational matters that support the organization's mission of serving families facing medical challenges and extended hospital stays.
  
• Zoe L. Doyle and Charles K. Grant, Nashville Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year: Ms. Doyle and Mr. Grant were recognized for their work through Baker Donelson's partnership with the Campaign Legal Center, assisting a young mother in restoring her citizenship rights in Tennessee, including her right to vote. Following changes in Tennessee law, the process now requires extensive investigation, documentation, court filings, and coordination with multiple agencies. Mr. Grant and Ms. Doyle guided their client through each step, from determining eligibility to preparing and filing the necessary petition. Their efforts resulted in the restoration of her rights, helping her fully re-engage in civic life. Their work reflects Baker Donelson's continued commitment to expanding access to justice and assisting individuals in navigating complex legal processes that might otherwise be out of reach.
  
• Thomas H. Barnard, The Connective (Virtual Office) Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Mr. Barnard was recognized for his work on behalf of indigent clients in both appellate and tribal court matters. He currently represents an incarcerated individual seeking relief related to a criminal conviction, a case that has raised unique legal issues and is now on appeal. In addition, after relocating to Michigan, Mr. Barnard was admitted to a nearby tribal court and volunteered to provide legal services after learning that no public defender was available for misdemeanor cases. He has since represented multiple clients in tribal court and gained insight into the distinct legal and community systems that serve reservation communities. Through these efforts, Mr. Barnard has expanded access to legal representation for individuals who might otherwise have limited access to counsel.
  
• Samuel C. Carey, Washington, D.C., Pro Bono Attorney of the Year: Mr. Carey was recognized for his contributions to two pro bono matters involving individual and community advocacy. Working with Sabrina Marquez, an associate in the Firm's Baltimore office, he assisted in the representation of an incarcerated client in a civil rights excessive-force case, helping review evidence, prepare for witness interviews, and support settlement efforts that ultimately resulted in a meaningful recovery for the client. He also assisted with Baker Donelson's representation of the Community for Creative Non-Violence, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization serving individuals experiencing homelessness. In that matter, Mr. Carey assisted with legal and operational issues related to the development of a new shelter and affordable housing complex, supporting an ongoing project designed to expand housing and services for vulnerable residents in the District.

Through its commitment to pro bono representation, Baker Donelson provides legal services to individuals, families, and organizations that may not otherwise have access to counsel. The Firm's pro bono work spans a broad range of matters, including support for veterans, survivors of domestic violence, individuals experiencing homelessness, immigrants, non-profit organizations, and clients navigating family, housing, estate planning, and civil rights issues. The Firm also collaborates with legal services providers, courts, community organizations, and clients to help address unmet legal needs throughout its footprint.

Baker Donelson was among the first law firms in the Southeast to establish a formal Pro Bono Committee and designate a Firm-wide Pro Bono shareholder. Additionally, Baker Donelson designates Pro Bono Committee office chairs in most of its more than 20 offices. These local leaders help address community-specific needs while coordinating with the Firm's Pro Bono Shareholder on broader initiatives. This structure enables the Firm to support pro bono efforts across its footprint while advancing access to justice in the communities it serves.