DLA Piper partner Mary Gately receives John Minor Wisdom Award from ABA Litigation Section’s Access to Justice Committee

DLA Piper is pleased to announce that Mary Gately, a partner in the firm’s Litigation practice, has received the 2023 John Minor Wisdom Public Service and Professionalism Award from the American Bar Association Litigation Section’s Access to Justice Committee. The award honors firms and legal professionals who have “made outstanding contributions to the quality of justice in their communities, ensuring that the legal system is open and available to all.”

The award is named for Judge John Minor Wisdom of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, who is best known for his ground-breaking decisions that reinforced the constitutional rights of disadvantaged, disenfranchised and under-represented individuals.

Since 2019, Mary Gately has served as the pro bono litigation director for the DC Affordable Law Firm (DCALF), which provides legal support to DC residents who cannot afford legal representation but do not qualify for traditional forms of free legal aid. She has played an instrumental role in supervising, training and mentoring DCALF attorneys in litigation, case planning, strategic decision-making and case management. She has also played an integral role in co-counseling complex litigation alongside DC Affordable Law Firm attorneys, providing hundreds of hours of pro bono services to DCALF each year.

“We are very proud that Mary has received this well-deserved recognition for her involvement with DCALF and her dedication to improving access to justice for residents of Washington, DC,” said Loren Brown, DLA Piper’s US vice chair and chair of the US Disputes practice. “Mary’s commitment to this role is a wonderful example for all attorneys of what it means to prioritize pro bono service and mentorship.”

Mary Gately focuses her practice on cross-border litigation, class actions, reputation management and other complex litigation in the fields of the First Amendment, product liability and commercial litigation. She will be presented with the John Minor Wisdom Award by the ABA Litigation Section at the Loews Hotel in Atlanta on April 20.