Perkins Coie Attorney Lisa Schaures Receives WSBA Young Lawyers Division Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award

SEATTLE (November 4, 2010) – Perkins Coie is proud to announce that Lisa Schaures, an associate in the firm's Seattle office, has received the Washington State Bar Association's (WSBA) Thomas Neville Pro Bono Award.  This pro bono recognition is awarded yearly by the WSBA's Young Lawyer's Division to honor the memory of pro bono attorney Thomas Neville and recognize a Washington young lawyer who has generously committed his or her time and efforts to provide legal services for the public good. 

This year's recipient, Lisa Schaures, has a strong track record and historical commitment to pro bono.  She has donated over 100 hours each year since 2007 and has spent nearly 200 hours thus far in 2010 providing pro bono counsel to poverty-stricken individuals and numerous nonprofits.  Schaures' commitment to providing pro bono services has not only resulted in her direct assistance to many of our community members in need but has also resulted in leadership that has facilitated pro bono work by countless other attorneys. 

"Lisa is a true pro bono champion, showing incredible devotion from early in her career," said Leah Medway, the firm's Pro Bono Counsel.  "Not only has she provided direct client representation, but she has mentored numerous attorneys in offices throughout the firm working for nonprofit organizations." 

Among her many pro bono commitments, Schaures is the Coordinator of the Compass Center Legal Clinic, which provides a range of services and housing options to people struggling with homelessness and poverty in the Seattle area.  Perkins Coie first began providing legal services to homeless clients at the Compass Center in 1996.  In 2007, Lisa took on a leadership role in helping to staff the clinic, recruiting Seattle attorneys and personally handling matters, making legal support at the clinic more robust than ever.  Perkins Coie lawyers continue to this day to provide advice and counsel and, in some cases, direct representation to dozens of homeless clients.  Lisa’s extraordinary efforts earned her the 2008 Perkins Coie Pro Bono Leadership Award. 

"Lisa is a wonderful advocate for our clients, the Legal Services for the Homeless Program and the King County Bar Association (KCBA) mission," said Ana Selvidge, Volunteer Manager for Pro Bono Services, KCBA.  "Since Lisa has come on board her enthusiasm and knowledge have supported many volunteers and clients.  She is a delight to work with and always very professional."

In addition to her work with the Compass Center clinic, the KCBA's Nonprofit Assistance Clinic and the Business Assistance Panel, Lisa has provided pro bono advice to more than 50 nonprofit organizations in 2010 and more than 25 nonprofit organizations in 2009.  She serves as a valuable resource for any Perkins Coie attorneys handling pro bono nonprofit issues.  

Schaures is also a member of: the Board of Directors for InvestED, a public charity committed to funding the efforts of secondary schools throughout Washington state to provide immediate help to students in need; the Board of Directors for Page Ahead Children's Literacy Program, a public charity committed to helping children realize their potential by providing them with the inspiration to read; the KCBA's Legal Services for the Homeless Committee; and Perkins Coie's Seattle Pro Bono Committee.

Schaures focuses her practice on federal tax, nonprofit and cause marketing matters.  She counsels businesses on various matters, including tax issues involved with mergers and acquisitions and cause marketing.  Lisa counsels nonprofit organizations on an array of federal tax and state law issues, including formation, obtaining and maintaining tax-exempt status, private foundation excise taxes, excess benefit transactions, lobbying restrictions, fundraising law compliance and commercial co-ventures.

In February 2009, Lisa Schaures was recognized as the King County Bar Association's volunteer of the month for her work for the KCBA's Legal Services for the Homeless project.

Throughout the firm's 15 domestic offices, Perkins Coie has a high level of commitment to pro bono legal work and has devoted more than 160,000 hours to pro bono service in the past five years.