Awards and Recognition

Highlights of the numerous distinctions awarded to our firm and attorneys include:

2012 — Mark W. Merritt was awarded the H. Brent McKnight Renaissance Lawyer Award by North Carolina Bar Association

2012 — Karen A. Gledhill received the North Carolina Bar Association Health Law Section Distinguished Service Award

2012 — Robert E. Harrington received the Duke Law Alumni's Public Service Achievement Award

2012 — Thomas P. Holderness received the North Carolina Bar Association William L. Thorp Pro Bono Award

2011 — Jennifer Csik Hutchens received the Mecklenburg County Bar Young Lawyer of the Year Award

2011 — Thomas P. Holderness received the North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award

2011 — Everett J. Bowman received the North Carolina Bar Association Antitrust Section Distinguished Service Award

2010 — Robinson Bradshaw received the North Carolina Bar Association Large Firm Pro Bono Award

2010 — John R. Miller received the North Carolina Bar Association Business Law Distinguished Service Award

2010 — Thomas P. Holderness was named UNC School of Law's 2010 Alumnus of the Year

2009 — Robert E. Harrington received the North Carolina Bar Association Citizen Lawyer Award

2009 — Thomas P. Holderness received the Legal Aid of North Carolina Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award

2009 — William K. Packard received the Mecklenburg County Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award

2008 — Charles E. Johnson received the Business Leader magazine’s Power of Justice Pro Bono Award

2008 — Julian H. Wright selected as 2008 Local Hero by Bank of America

2007 — Thomas P. Holderness received the Legal Services of the Southern Piedmont Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award

2007 — Russell M. Robinson II received Ayscue Professionalism Award

2006 — Martin L. Brackett, Jr. received the 2006 Legal Aid of North Carolina Pro Bono Attorney of the Year Award

2005 — Jane S. Ratteree received the Volunteer Lawyer of the Year Award from the Pro Bono for Non-Profits Program

2004 — Robinson Bradshaw received the North Carolina Bar Association Large Firm Pro Bono Award

2004 — Russell M. Robinson II received National Foundation Service Award

2003 — Stephen M. Cox received the South Carolina Bar Pro Bono Services Award

2002 — Russell M. Robinson II received Citation for Distinguished Public Service

2001 — Julian H. Wright Jr. received the North Carolina Bar Association Pro Bono Award from the Young Lawyers Division

1999 — Robinson Bradshaw received the Mecklenburg County Bar Volunteer Lawyer Program Outstanding Law Firm Award

1997 — Julian H. Wright Jr. received the Mecklenburg County Bar Pro Bono Service Award

1984 — Robinson Bradshaw received the North Carolina Bar Association Pro Bono Service Award and the American Bar Association Publico Award for its advocacy in the Hyatt case

Additionally, the following lawyers have been recognized for their pro bono efforts: 

Robert C. Sink served as a member of the board of directors of Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, 1989-1996. 

John R. Wester served as a member of the board of directors of Legal Services of Southern Piedmont, 1999-2004. 

Mark W. Merritt served as a member of the board of directors of Legal Services of Southern Piedmont from 1989-1994 and as its president from 1992-1994. Mr. Merritt served as chairman of the Access to Justice Campaign for Legal Services of Southern Piedmont from 2001-2002. 

Karen A. Gledhill and Douglas M. Jarrell have served as chairs of The Volunteer Lawyers Program, a cooperative effort between the Mecklenburg County Bar and several community organizations, including Legal Services of Southern Piedmont; Legal Aid of North Carolina; Legal Services for the Elderly; Children’s Law Center; Pro Bono for Nonprofits and the Uptown Men’s Homeless Shelter.