TAMPA, Fla. – (April 4, 2017) – Mark J. Wolfson, a partner with the Tampa office of Foley & Lardner LLP, has been named recipient of the 2017 “Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Outstanding Pro Bono Service by a Lawyer Award,” an award given by the Volunteer Lawyers Program of Bay Area Legal Services Inc. He will be recognized at the program’s awards ceremony in Tampa on April 20, 2017.
“Mark Wolfson began serving on the Bay Area Volunteer Lawyers Program’s pro bono panel in 1995, and he provided 175.5 of pro bono hours in 2016 alone,” said Jena Donofrio Hudson, Esquire, Pro Bono Manager of Bay Area Legal Services. “He is always ready to take on a challenge and comes up with some extremely creative and unprecedented solutions to difficult legal matters.”
As Foley’s pro bono chairman in Tampa, Wolfson has increased the amount of Foley attorneys who participate in pro bono work, including business lawyers who work on non-profit matters as well as individual cases. Wolfson has also completed pro bono cases involving guardianship and guardian advocacy cases for developmentally disabled young adults, and has taken on additional pro bono cases that were originally difficult to place with attorneys. He also regularly participates in the “Legal Help Clinic” at Metropolitan Ministries in Tampa.
“Mark has not only provided significant pro bono legal services to indigent clients but has also made substantial contributions to children, both in and outside of Hillsborough County,” added Hudson. “He deserves praise for his passionate and generous donation of time to both the legal and non-legal communities and we are so pleased that he has been selected for this award.”
Tied to Wolfson’s pro bono work in the Tampa Bay area is his commitment to actively serving local non-profits in other ways. In the past, he has served as president of Congregation Schaarai Zedek, and he recently completed a three-year term as board chair of the URJ Camp Coleman, which is a non-profit summer camp that serves almost 900 children annually throughout the southeastern United States.
Wolfson has an extensive legal background and, aside from his pro bono work, specializes in commercial litigation. A member of Foley’s litigation department, he also serves as senior lawyer in Foley’s Florida Bankruptcy & Business Reorganization Practice. He is a past chairman of The Florida Bar Business Law Section, and is rated AV® Preeminent™, which is the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review rating system.
About Foley & Lardner LLP
Foley & Lardner LLP is a corporate law firm that provides legal and related services for complex issues facing companies today. With approximately 900 attorneys in 20 offices, Foley combines international reach with a local focus across a full range of legal services in various industries, including technology, health care, sports and manufacturing. Foley has been recognized by clients and the legal industry for its strong commitment to client service excellence and innovation. Learn more at Foley.com.
About Bay Area Legal Services Inc.
Founded in 1967 to provide free legal services to low income Tampa residents, Bay Area Legal Services in 2016 assisted more than 17,600 individuals, families and community groups in Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas and Sarasota counties. Services are provided for many civil legal problems, including family law, housing, consumer, employment and public benefits. Learn more at www.bals.org.
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