The rewards of helping others.

Overview

Giving back to the communities in which we live and work — be it through pro bono legal representation or support for deserving non-profits — is part of the fabric of our firm. 

Pro Bono

We are deeply committed to providing pro bono representation to those who otherwise cannot obtain legal counsel. We litigate challenging, high-profile cases that are often a part of the national conversation. The results of our work have made a positive impact and left a lasting legacy.  In some cases, we have established legal precedent.

Many of our cases are pursued with organizations with which we are proud to partner, including:  

• American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
• National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 
• Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence 
• Human Trafficking Legal Center 
• Human Rights Defense Center

 We have been repeatedly recognized for our dedication to pro bono causes.  Recent awards and recognition include: 

• In 2022, Christine Webber was recognized by D.C. Pro Bono Week for her work on behalf of clients from partner organization KIND (Kids in Need of Defense).
• In 2020, Agnieszka Fryszman was selected as Human Trafficking Advocate of the Year by the Human Trafficking Legal Center.
• In 2019, Cohen Milstein was named to The National Law Journal’s Pro Bono Hot List. 
• In 2018, Joseph Sellers received the NAACP’s Foot Soldier in the Sand pro bono award. 
• In 2018, the Daily Business Review named Diana L. Martin among the Most Effective Lawyers – Pro Bono. 

We also support worthy organizations that provide critical services for our neighbors in need. 

• As a leader in child car and booster seat litigation and advocacy, we have a long-term partnership with Safe Kids Palm Beach County to boost car safety for children. Each year, the firm hosts two events with Safe Kids, and since 2012 has helped distribute more than 1,150 free car seats and booster seats to some of the most vulnerable families in Palm Beach and Martin counties in Florida. 
• In 2023 we participated in a family-friendly dance party fundraiser for First Shift’s Justice Project which helps working parents assert their workplace rights and gives voice to the specific problems faced by workers in low-wage jobs who struggle between the demands of work and family. 
• For a number of years, we’ve gathered a team for the Lawyers Have Heart 10K Race, 5K Run and Fun Walk, an annual event that raises money for the research and community education programs of the greater Washington DC region affiliate of the American Heart Association. 
• Our associates lead the way in organizing our fundraiser for DC Legal Aid’s Making Justice Real Campaign. This campaign accounts for 30% of Legal Aid’s budget and ensures that thousands of DC residents will get the legal assistance they need. 

Jerry S. Cohen Award

Jerry S. Cohen, a founding partner of this law firm, devoted his political and legal career to pursuing economic justice. The Jerry S. Cohen Memorial Charitable Trust, recognizing outstanding achievement in antitrust scholarship, was established by Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll in his honor.

The Jerry S. Cohen Award for Antitrust Scholarship, presented each year by the American Antitrust Institute, recognizes the best antitrust writing during the prior year that is consistent with the standards established by the Trust’s Board of Trustees.

To be considered eligible and selected for the award, submissions should reflect a concern for principles of economic justice, the dispersal of economic power, the maintenance of effective limitations upon economic power or the federal statutes designed to protect society from various forms of anticompetitive activity. Submissions should reflect an awareness of the human and social impacts of economic institutions upon individuals, small businesses, and other institutions necessary to the maintenance of a just and humane society–values and concerns Jerry S. Cohen dedicated his life and work to fostering.

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