Press Release
April 26, 2010

Alumnus Brackett Denniston Receives the 2010 Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award

On Friday, March 22, 2010, The Pro Bono Institute* honored Goodwin Procter alumnus Brackett B. Denniston III with its 2010 Laurie D. Zelon Pro Bono Award. This award, recognizing Mr. Denniston's outstanding pro bono support and commitment, was presented by Goodwin Procter Chairman and Managing Partner Regina Pisa, who serves as the Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee for The Pro Bono Institute. Regina lauded Brackett's leadership, which embodies the principle that those with the least power and the least fortune require – and deserve – high-quality and creative advocacy.

As part of the presentation, Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg joined Regina and Brackett to address the audience. Justice Ginsburg spoke about the importance of pro bono to our justice system and applauded Mr. Denniston as a "pro bono champion." She recognized how his leadership has not only strengthened and expanded General Electric's pro bono program, but has also had a profound influence on pro bono in corporate America.

Brackett currently serves as the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of General Electric Company. He was a partner, and earlier an associate, in Goodwin Procter's Boston office. He has been active in a number of civic and charitable pursuits, including serving on the Board of the Pro Bono Partnership and on the Advisory Board of the Corporate Pro Bono project, a joint initiative of the Pro Bono Institute and the Association of Corporate Counsel.

*The Pro Bono Institute is a nonprofit organization which explores and helps develop innovative programs to secure legal assistance to address critical problems of the poor and disadvantaged. The Institute administers a number of projects designed to enhance access to justice, including: the Law Firm Pro Bono Project; the Corporate Pro Bono project (CPBO); Second Acts; Global Pro Bono; and the Public Interest Pro Bono Project.