Barclay Damon announces six attorneys have been named Empire State Counsel honorees by the New York State Bar Association (NYSBA). They are David Burch, partner; Dena DeFazio, associate; Kyra Ganswith, associate; David Solimeno, associate; Kevin Szczepanski, partner; and Keyashia Willis, associate. The Empire State Counsel Program recognizes NYSBA members who, during the prior year, performed 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services.
Jen Leonardi, Barclay Damon’s pro bono partner, said, “At Barclay Damon, we view pro bono work as central to our mission as lawyers. Providing pro bono legal services allows us to expand access to justice for those who need it most while giving our attorneys meaningful opportunities to grow.” She continued, “These efforts strengthen our communities, our profession, and our firm culture, and we’re proud to see our lawyers recognized for their service.”
Since 2017, all of Barclay Damon’s full-time attorneys, working with firm paralegals, have provided pro bono legal services to low-income individuals in need of legal assistance and organizations serving those seeking access to justice. The firm has been honored as an Empire State Counsel honoree for nine years. In 2024, the firm dedicated more than 2,800 hours valued at over $1.2 million to pro bono efforts.
Barclay Damon attorneys team across offices and practices to provide customized, targeted solutions grounded in industry knowledge and a deep understanding of our clients' businesses. With approximately 300 attorneys, Barclay Damon is a leading regional law firm that operates from a strategic platform of offices in Albany, Boston, Buffalo, New Haven, New York City, Rochester, Syracuse, Washington DC, and Toronto. Our firm serves clients across the country and, for some practices, provides US legal services around the globe. For more information, visit our award-winning website at barclaydamon.com.