Katten's Pro Bono Chief Honored with ABA Pickering Award
Event summary
- Jonathan Baum, Katten's Director of Pro Bono Services, received the ABA's John H. Pickering Award on August 1, 2026.
- Baum has led Katten's pro bono initiatives since 1993, coordinating work across litigation, affordable housing, and refugee rights.
- The Katten Legal Clinic, launched in 2013 with Legal Aid Chicago, has served over 2,000 clients.
- Baum oversees the Katten Pro Bono Service Awards, which have recognized attorney contributions for 25+ years.
The big picture
Katten's recognition underscores a broader trend in the legal industry toward institutionalizing pro bono work as a core competency. The firm's model—integrating pro bono into its culture rather than treating it as an ancillary program—could set a new standard for how law firms balance profit-driven and public-interest mandates.
What we're watching
- Pro Bono Expansion
- Whether Katten can sustain its pro bono culture as it grows internationally.
- Industry Benchmarking
- How other law firms will respond to Katten's model of embedded legal clinics.
- Regulatory Influence
- The impact of Baum's work on gun violence prevention and refugee rights advocacy.
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