December 20, 2023
Gibson Dunn’s Pro Bono Committee is thrilled to announce the winners of this year’s Frank Wheat Memorial Awards. As in past years, this year’s winners (and nominees) all exemplify excellence and serve as an inspiration to us all. The nominees this year are as diverse as they are impressive, hailing from offices around the world and representing a wide variety of clients and interests. The common thread among these efforts and attorneys is unfailing determination to use their unique and privileged power as lawyers to make a difference in the lives of their clients and their broader global community.
Frank Wheat was a former Los Angeles partner, a superb transactional lawyer, SEC commissioner, and president of the Los Angeles County Bar. He was also a giant in the nonprofit community, having founded the Alliance for Children’s Rights in addition to serving as a leader of the Sierra Club and as a founding director of the Center for Law in the Public Interest. He exemplified the commitment to the community and to pro bono service that has always been a core tenet of the Gibson Dunn culture. Recipients of the Frank Wheat Memorial Award each receive a $2,500 prize to be donated to pro bono organizations designated by the recipients.
This year’s Frank Wheat Award winners showcase important aspects of the Firm’s diverse and vibrant pro bono practice, which includes advising small businesses and nonprofits, appellate litigation, immigration, racial justice and criminal justice reform, veterans advocacy, and many other important initiatives. In 2023, more than 1,700 Gibson Dunn attorneys around the world have devoted more than 150,000 hours to pro bono work. In total, these matters were valued at approximately $168 million.