Akerman LLP, a top 100 U.S. law firm serving clients across the Americas, is pleased to welcome Gina DelChiaro as the firm's Director of Pro Bono Initiatives. She joins Akerman from Lawyers Alliance for New York (Lawyers Alliance), a leading provider of legal services for nonprofit organizations and social enterprises, where she served as corporate engagement counsel.
DelChiaro brings nearly 15 years of experience spearheading pro bono efforts alongside legal organizations and other law firms. While at Lawyers Alliance, she led effective corporate outreach strategies that resulted in the attraction and retention of 1,800 pro bono volunteer lawyers who counseled nonprofits in the areas of corporate governance, tax, real estate and transactional issues critical to their operations. DelChiaro organized a national network of pro bono providers, serving nonprofits in 15 cities around the United States. Under her helm, these efforts led to the advancing in the field of business law pro bono nationwide.
"Gina's hands-on experience initiating pro bono and volunteering efforts will further strengthen Akerman's commitment to helping the most defenseless members of our society," said Andrew Smulian, Akerman Chairman and CEO. "For many years, Akerman lawyers have pledged their time to various causes, fulfilling their professional responsibility to serve as counsel to those without a voice, particularly within the areas of education and youth development. Gina is the perfect candidate to lead Akerman’s efforts in closing the justice gap while advancing our firm’s commitment to disadvantaged youth."
Prior to Lawyers Alliance, DelChiaro was a senior staff attorney at Human Rights First, where she helped coordinate pro bono representation of asylum-seekers and immigrants with law firms. Upon graduating law school, she spent six years in private practice, representing clients in a variety of capital markets, securities, complex commercial litigation and pro bono matters. DelChiaro is a longtime member of the New York City Bar Association's Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services.
Akerman is a staunch advocate of pro bono legal services. Five years ago, Akerman developed an unprecedented partnership with the National Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA), pledging to provide thousands of pro bono hours in support of the organization's mission to protect abused and neglected children. The firm is a participant in the national Child Welfare Project, which provides trial and appellate representation to children, as well as transactional legal services to nonprofit organizations that serve foster youth. Akerman is also a founding member of the Law Firm Consortium on Children’s Rights, an organization of Florida law firms focused on ensuring that court systems implement best practices protocols to protect the rights of vulnerable children in the foster care system.
About Akerman
Akerman LLP is a top 100 U.S. law firm recognized among the most forward thinking firms in the industry by Financial Times. Its more than 700 lawyers and business professionals collaborate with the world’s most successful enterprises and entrepreneurs to navigate change, seize opportunities, and help drive innovation and growth. Akerman is known for its results in middle market M&A and complex disputes, and for helping clients achieve their most important business objectives in the financial services, real estate and other dynamic sectors across the United States and Latin America.