National Aid and Defender Association Recognizes Kean Miller with Beacon of Justice Award

The National Legal Aid and Defender Association, America’s oldest and largest non-profit association devoted to the delivery of pro bono legal services, has awarded its 2011 Beacon of Justice Award to Kean Miller LLP and Liskow & Lewis. The annual award recognizes law firms that have devoted significant time and resources to pro bono appellate representation. Kean Miller partner Trey McCowan will accept the award on behalf of the firm at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on December 6th.

The two law firms were recognized for their joint commitment in representing Jimmy Ray Williams, an inmate on Louisiana’s death row, for more than ten years. In 2001, Kean Miller and Liskow & Lewis answered the call from the federal judiciary and agreed to represent Mr. Williams pro bono.

Interestingly, during the representation of Mr. Williams the law firms successfully challenged the State of Louisiana’s approach to post-conviction litigation in a matter brought to the Louisiana Supreme Court. As a result, that Court entered a landmark decision providing that all persons on Louisiana’s Death Row represented by pro bono law firms should have access to funding for expert witnesses to defend their case.

About Kean Miller

With more than 125 lawyers, Kean Miller serves the legal needs of Louisiana businesses and Fortune 500 companies. The firm maintains offices in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Lake Charles. The firm is the largest in the Greater Baton Rouge region and serves clients in numerous industries including energy, petrochemical and chemical, technology and telecommunications, transportation, media and advertising, financial services, insurance, gaming, government and education, healthcare, manufacturing, real estate, retail, construction and leasing. Kean Miller combines the talent and expertise of its lawyers into multi-disciplinary client and industry teams. These teams are comprised of seasoned legal professionals from a variety of disciplines who are equipped to identify legal and business needs and to develop superior service strategies that provide unmatched support to the client.

For more information, contact Steve Boutwell at 225.389.3736, or steve.boutwell@keanmiller.com