ABOUT THE FRANK WHEAT AWARD
The Firm wishes to acknowledge those individuals whose exemplary pro bono work has changed lives and, in some cases, changed laws. To that end, Gibson Dunn has created the Frank Wheat Award which recognizes the team and/or individual who demonstrates leadership and initiative, obtained significant results and serves as an inspiration to others through their pro bono work.
Frank Wheat, who passed away in 2000, was not only a giant in the legal community -- a superb transactional lawyer, an SEC commissioner, and president of the Los Angeles County Bar -- but a giant in the nonprofit community as well. He founded the Alliance for Children’s Rights, was a founder and trustee of the Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, a leader of the Sierra Club and a former board member of the Center for Law in the Public Interest, which established a fellowship in his name to train young lawyers in public interest litigation. The Frank Wheat Memorial Award is given annually to the lawyer or group of lawyers who have:
- Demonstrated leadership and initiative in their pro bono work
- Obtained significant results for their pro bono clients; and/or
- Through their pro bono work at the Firm, served as a source of inspiration to others.
The recipients of the Frank Wheat Award receive a $2,500 cash prize which will be donated to a pro bono organization or organizations designated by the recipients.