Troutman Sanders Honors 2005 Pro Bono Award Recipients
ATLANTA, GEORGIA (March 21, 2006) . . . Troutman Sanders LLP is pleased to announce that Tameka M. Collier and Mary C. Zinsner have received the James C. Roberts Award and Robert P. Edwards has received the Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award for their outstanding achievement in Pro Bono work during 2005.
Tameka M. Collier and Mary C. Zinsner -Tysons Corner, Virginia
Ms. Collier and Ms. Zinsner were recognized primarily for their efforts to develop a vital pro bono program in the firm's Tysons Corner office. As members of the firm's Pro Bono Committee, they worked to develop opportunities
to render pro bono services to needy clients and nonprofit organizations and to match the firm's lawyers with those opportunities. As a result of their efforts, total pro bono hours contributed by attorneys in the Tysons Corner
office during 2005 increased by more than 375% over the number of pro bono hours during 2004. In addition, both Ms. Collier and Ms. Zinsner worked on a number of pro bono projects themselves. Together they devoted a total of more
than 240 hours to pro bono services during 2005.
Ms. Collier is an associate in Troutman Sanders' Complex Litigation Practice Group. Her practice focuses on business litigation, commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation, particularly consumer finance related
disputes. She received her B.A. from the College of William & Mary in 1998 and earned her J.D. from the College of William & Mary in 2001.
Mary Zinsner is a partner in Troutman Sanders' Complex Litigation Practice Group. Her practice focuses on business and commercial litigation and representation of financial institutions in lender liability, consumer finance,
and creditor's rights disputes. She received her A.B. from the College of Holy Cross in 1987 and earned her J.D. from George Washington University National Law Center in 1990.
Robert P. Edwards - Atlanta, Georgia
Mr. Edwards was recognized for his efforts, extending over several years, in representing Georgia death row inmates pro bono in habeas corpus death penalty appeals. During 2005, Mr. Edwards spent over 200 hours representing an inmate
in such a case. He also involved several associates and summer associates in this effort, providing them with valuable practical experience and training.
Along with Mr. Edwards, in 2005 Troutman Sanders Atlanta attorneys and paralegals contributed more than 6,500 hours to pro bono legal work, providing legal representation to hundreds of low income individuals and nonprofit organizations.
Mr. Edwards is a partner in Troutman Sanders' Energy Law Practice Group. He advises clients on issues including antitrust, public utility regulation, telecommunications diversification, power system development, and state and
federal administrative practice and litigation. Mr. Edwards received his A.B. from Princeton University in 1974 and earned his J.D. from the University of Chicago in 1977.
History of the awards:
The James C. Roberts Award and the Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award were established by Troutman Sanders in 2004 to recognize outstanding achievement in pro bono contributions.
James C. Roberts Award - In 1959, within two years of graduating from law school, James (Jim) C. Roberts assembled a small group of attorneys to provide legal counsel to low income and elderly individuals. Jim was instrumental
in creating what is known today as the Central Virginia Legal Aid Society. The nonprofit organization has grown to serve five cities and 13 counties with a full staff of attorneys, as well as volunteers. After 46 years, Jim remains
an active volunteer attorney and regularly donates his time to the Virginia Bar Association's Pro Bono Hotline.
Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke Award - Chief Justice Harold G. Clarke is a former justice of the Georgia Supreme Court, appointed by Governor George Busbee in December 1979. He was elected Chief Justice in 1990 and served
on the court until his retirement in February 1994. Prior to his judicial appointment, Chief Justice Clarke was a member of the Georgia General Assembly from 1961 to 1971. After the leaving public sector, Chief Justice Clarke joined
Troutman Sanders as Of Counsel where he chaired the firm's Alternative Dispute Resolution group. Even after giving up his public career, Justice Clarke continued to serve the community by volunteering his time with organizations
such as the Atlanta Legal Aid Society.
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