Pro Bono Highlights
Showcasing powerful stories of how our attorneys and staff have made a meaningful impact through pro bono service, featuring highlights from 2025.
Paul Heer Featured in the Pro Bono Institute's Signatory Showcase
Foster Garvey has been a partner of the Seattle Clemency Project (SCP)since 2017, helping individuals seeking early release and those facing deportation due to old criminal convictions pursue clemency, resentencing, or other forms of release from sentences imposed under outdated or excessively harsh laws. Through this partnership, more than a dozen Foster Garvey attorneys have helped secure freedom for clients who have demonstrated transformation and rehabilitation, while contributing to SCP’s broader impact: 126 people released, more than 1,400 years of incarceration saved and dozens of immigrants spared deportation.
Tom Ahearne’s Pro Bono Work Upholds State's Gun Control Laws
Tom Ahearne successfully led the amicus brief for the NAACP, arguing that high-capacity magazines disproportionately devastate marginalized communities. The Washington Supreme Court upheld the state's ban, a victory for community safety and constitutional law.
Championing Lasting Change: Jay Donovan’s Pro Bono Contributions to Hopelink
Beginning with his first assignment upon joining Foster Garvey in 2008, Jay Donovan (Litigation Principal, Seattle) has provided continuous legal support to Hopelink. That first assignment marked the beginning of a lasting partnership. Over the years, Jay has developed a deep understanding of Hopelink’s mission and the critical services it provides by counseling Hopelink on a variety of legal matters ranging from housing to transportation.
Foster Garvey’s Pro Bono Efforts in a Landmark Washington Supreme Court Case
Foster Garvey attorneys Andrea Bradford(Principal, Seattle), Bob Sterbank(Counsel, Seattle) and Adrian Urquhart Winder(Principal, Seattle), along with Jonathan Collins and Bianca Chamusco, authored an amicus brief on behalf of the Washington State Association of Municipal Attorneys (WSAMA)for the Washington Supreme Court in a case involving the actions of Seattle Police Department (SPD) officers who attended the January 6 event in Washington, D.C.
Julia Doherty and Legal Counsel for Youth and Children Assist Client in Gender-Affirming Name Change
Julia Doherty (Associate, Litigation) is enthusiastic about using her litigation skills to assist those most in need. When Julia first learned about Legal Counsel for Youth and Children(LCYC), she felt the opportunity to work with them would be a perfect fit. LCYC protects the interests and safety of youth in Washington state by advancing their legal rights through direct representation, strong community partnerships and systemic advocacy.