The Section initiated the National Public Service Award in 1994 as part of its pro bono efforts. The National Public Service Award recognizes significant pro bono legal services that demonstrate a commitment to providing services to the poor in a business context, and recognizes the achievements resulting from the public service work for the clients and the client groups represented. Each year, the Section recognized the pro bono efforts of an individual business lawyer, as well as the collective efforts of a law firm or corporate law department. Award recipients have demonstrated dedication to the development or delivery of pro bono business legal services, contributed significant work toward developing innovative approaches to the delivery of pro bono business legal services, and/or provided sustained pro bono business legal counsel to nonprofit organizations or to microbusinesses in aid of community development.

• Alison McKinnell King
  The individual recipient of the 2008 ABA Section of Business Law National Public Service Award is Alison McKinnell King. Alison is Counsel in the Corporate & Finance Department of Kaye Scholer LLP's New York office. As co-Chair of Kaye Scholer's Pro Bono Committee since 2002, Ms. King has boosted the firm's pro bono hours from 13,333 in 2003 to 25,692 in 2007, and has increased the breadth and depth of pro bono opportunities for the lawyers in the firm. In addition, she supervises the summer associate pro bono program and oversees all pro bono programs within the firm. Last summer, 97% of the New York summer associates did pro bono work, which reflects Ms. King's the commitment to inspiring young lawyers to make pro bono work a meaningful part of their professional development. In 2007, she devoted almost one thousand hours to the direct representation of pro bono clients and to her work as Co-Chair of the Pro Bono Committee.
  
  Ms. King has demonstrated a lasting commitment to the development and delivery of pro bono business legal services. She has created relationships with nonprofit organizations, including those dedicated to representing microentrepreneurs. She has also launched programs within the firm to increase pro bono hours for all attorneys, with a strong focus on providing new opportunities for transactional attorneys at Kaye Scholer. Her work is highlighted by her relationships with organizations like Echoing Green, an organization that provides funding for social entrepreneurs who develop new solutions to some of society's most difficult problems. In addition, she has worked to assist microentrepreneurs through support of Counselors to America's Small Business (SCORE), through legislative change, through additional education and support of volunteer lawyers, and through legal support of nonprofit entities that strive for social justice and provide transactional pro bono opportunities to volunteer lawyers.
  
  
• Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
  The law firm recipient of the 2008 ABA Section of Business Law National Public Service Award is Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP. Orrick is a multinational law firm with offices in major U.S. cities, including New York. Orrick was nominated by the Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project of the New York City Bar Justice Center, Global Partnership, and KIVA Microfunds. During 2007, Orrick lawyers contributed more than 3100 pro bono hours to the nominating organizations or to clients referred by these organizations. Orrick has been committed to providing transactional pro bono services on a local and international level, often working on innovative microfinance matters that impact thousands of poor persons in the developing world. Orrick lawyers provide assistance with matters covering a full range of business issues, including corporate, tax, real estate and intellectual property. Orrick lawyers regularly assist low-income microentrepreneurs in New York City. In addition, Orrick lawyers have worked directly with microfinance organizations for four years, enhancing organziation microlending capabilities in locations such as Central America. Orrick continues to work with organizations to develop solutions to foreign exchange risk issues. Orrick lawyers have also assisted these organizations by reviewing microlending regulatory schemes in over two dozen jurisdictions. Orrick's work continues to represent its commitment to ending global poverty.
  
  
  

• 2007 National Public Service Award Recipients
     Individual: Conrad G. Bahlke
     Firm: Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
  
  
• 2006 National Public Service Award Recipients
     Individual: David Punzak
     Firm: Skadden Arps
  
  
• 2005 National Public Service Award Recipients
     Individual: L. Joseph Genereux
     Firm: Cooley Godward, LLP
  
  
• 2004 National Public Service Award
• 2003 National Public Service Award
• 2002 National Public Service Award
• 2001 National Public Service Award
• 2000 National Public Service Award
• 1999 National Public Service Award
• 1998 National Public Service Award
• 1997 National Public Service Award
• 1996 National Public Service Award