Ward Benshoof and Andrea Warren, partner and associate in Alston & Bird’s Environment, Land Use and Natural Resources Group, respectively, have been honored by Public Counsel with its 2015 Pro Bono Award for their extraordinary commitment to justice.
Benshoof and Warren have been recognized for their leadership in gaining reform of abusive debt collection practices in California, an issue noted by Public Counsel as essential to protecting the rights of all consumers. They identified the problem of improper default judgments being entered unwittingly against innocent consumers without debt buyers offering adequate evidence or subjecting their default judgment claims to judicial scrutiny. In so doing, they have successfully contributed to protecting consumers from debt buyers who refuse to follow the law.
Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is the largest pro bono firm in the United States, with more than 5,000 volunteer attorneys and professionals from top law firms, companies and private practitioners.
Benshoof and Warren have been recognized for their leadership in gaining reform of abusive debt collection practices in California, an issue noted by Public Counsel as essential to protecting the rights of all consumers. They identified the problem of improper default judgments being entered unwittingly against innocent consumers without debt buyers offering adequate evidence or subjecting their default judgment claims to judicial scrutiny. In so doing, they have successfully contributed to protecting consumers from debt buyers who refuse to follow the law.
Founded in 1970, Public Counsel is the largest pro bono firm in the United States, with more than 5,000 volunteer attorneys and professionals from top law firms, companies and private practitioners.