Rochester, New York, September 22, 2026 – Harter Secrest & Emery LLP, a full-service business law firm with offices throughout New York, is proud to announce that it has received the Enduring Impact Award for Pro Bono Leadership from JustCause, an organization committed to ensuring equal access to justice for low-income individuals in Monroe County. The award recognizes the firm’s enduring commitment to pro bono service and its longstanding partnership with JustCause to advance access to justice for individuals and families across the Rochester community.
The award was presented during JustCause’s 45th anniversary celebration today at Monroe County Hall of Justice in Rochester. The event brought together nearly 200 members of New York State’s judicial leadership, as well as local judges, attorneys and community leaders, to commemorate more than four decades of pro bono service and its impact across the region.
Harter Secrest & Emery was one of four recipients of the Enduring Impact Award for Pro Bono Leadership, joining Margaret A. Clemens, Esq., Hon. Gerald J. Whalen, Presiding Justice, Appellate Division, Fourth Department, and Michael R. Wolford, Esq. who were also recognized for their extraordinary and sustained contributions to providing pro bono services in Rochester. The Enduring Impact Award is the highest honor ever awarded to a law firm by JustCause.
“Harter Secrest & Emery’s commitment to providing pro bono service in Rochester has long set it apart as a leader in helping our community and advancing access to justice,” said JustCause Executive Director Tina Monshipour Foster. “Through its dedication to delivering innovative legal solutions and supporting those most in need, the firm has made a unique and meaningful impact across our community.”
Harter Secrest & Emery has partnered with JustCause since the organization’s founding and has remained deeply committed to serving individuals and families who otherwise might not have access to legal representation. Over the past decade alone, more than 100 Harter Secrest & Emery attorneys have handled over 1,300 pro bono matters through JustCause and contributed more than 5,900 hours of service. The firm’s support has included volunteer representation, attorney training and mentorship, immigration forums, emergency response assistance, and participation through its summer associate program.
“JustCause has played a transformative role in connecting legal volunteers with members of our community in need,” said Harter Secrest & Emery Managing Partner Craig S. Wittlin. “Pro bono service has long been an important part of our firm’s culture and professional responsibility. For decades, our attorneys have been proud to partner with JustCause to help expand access to justice and make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families throughout Rochester. We are grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing this important work together.”
The ceremony included keynote remarks from Hon. Rowan D. Wilson, Chief Judge of the New York Court of Appeals and the State of New York, who has a longstanding commitment to pro bono service and public interest work.
Founded in 1981 as the Volunteer Legal Services Project, JustCause has spent 45 years connecting volunteer attorneys with individuals facing civil legal challenges. Today, the organization works with more than 1,300 volunteers who contribute approximately $1.2 million in pro bono legal services annually, helping JustCause respond to more than 25,000 requests for legal assistance each year.