White & Case LLP held it annual Pro Bono Awards ceremony on May 28, 2008, at which the Firm honored a select group of its lawyers for their outstanding pro bono achievements and for applying their legal skills in an effort to make a difference on behalf of individuals and the broader global community.

This year's honorees were recognized for their work across a broad spectrum of pro bono cases — from obtaining US legal asylum for a young Ethiopian refugee and working on behalf of the Polish Humanitarian Organization regarding aid given by nongovernmental organizations in Chechnya, Russia, to representing the Conservation International Foundation and Nature Conservancy on a debt-for-nature swap that will provide $26 million to protect rain forests in Costa Rica.

"The greatest role a global law firm can play is helping to build the rule of law around the world, and a strong commitment to pro bono is one way we can do this," said White & Case chair Hugh Verrier. "Today, there is no question we are a global law firm, and to me, that means our pro bono commitment should be global, too."

The growing global nature of the Firm's longstanding pro bono practice is reflected in the number of countries represented by this year's honorees, with 18 lawyers in seven different countries receiving the award.