Baker Botts Lawyer Maddy Dwertman to Receive ABA's Pro Bono Publico Award
AUSTIN, June 2, 2022 – Baker Botts L.L.P., a leading international law firm, is pleased to announce that Maddy Dwertman, a senior associate in the firm’s Austin office, has been named a recipient of the ABA’s prestigious Pro Bono Publico Award. Dwertman is one of only two lawyers to receive the award this year.
The Pro Bono Publico Award represents the top honor given by the ABA Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service, which over the years has spotlighted pro bono efforts of individual lawyers and small and large law firms, government attorney offices, corporate law departments and other institutions in the legal profession. This year’s presentation will be held on Friday, Aug. 5 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. CDT.
Dwertman’s pro bono practice is centered on the representation of LGBTQ+ immigrants, as well as trans rights. Since 2020, Dwertman has worked more than 3,200 hours on a variety of pro bono matters, including the direct representation of clients in immigration courts, federal courts, and before USCIS; the drafting of comments on proposed federal regulations regarding the immigration system; name and gender marker petitions; and multiple impact litigation cases that seek to protect and expand trans rights.
Dwertman regularly partners with American Gateways, a central Texas nonprofit whose mission is to champion the dignity and human rights of immigrants, refugees and survivors of persecution, torture, conflict and human trafficking. In the past 2½ years alone, Dwertman has donated more than 865 pro bono hours, 320 of them during the pandemic year of 2021. In nomination papers, Dwertman was described as “a tireless pro bono advocate … (who) has had immense positive impact on the low-income communities that American Gateways serves.”
Committed to being involved with the legal community, Dwertman has held several leadership roles bar associations and community organizations. They currently serve on the boards of American Gateways, the National Trans Bar Association, and the Women’s Refugee Commission. Dwertman was also recognized as a “Best LGBT Lawyer Under 40” by the National LGBT Bar Association in 2020.
About the ABA Pro Bono Committee
The ABA’s Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service works to ensure access to justice through the expansion and enhancement of the delivery of legal and other law-related services to the underserved through volunteer efforts of legal professionals nationwide. The Committee fosters the development of pro bono programs and activities by law firms, bar associations, corporate legal departments, law schools, government attorney offices and others; analyzes the scope and function of pro bono programs; and proposes and reviews policy that affects lawyers' ability to provide pro bono legal services.
About the ABA
The ABA is the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world. As the national voice of the legal profession, the ABA works to improve the administration of justice, promotes programs that assist lawyers and judges in their work, accredits law schools, provides continuing legal education, and works to build public understanding around the world of the importance of the rule of law.
ABOUT BAKER BOTTS L.L.P.
Baker Botts is an international law firm whose lawyers practice throughout a network of offices around the globe. Based on our experience and knowledge of our clients' industries, we are recognized as a leading firm in the energy, technology and life sciences sectors. Since 1840, we have provided creative and effective legal solutions for our clients while demonstrating an unrelenting commitment to excellence. For more information, please visit bakerbotts.com.
