Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck announces Emily Ellis and Jayme Ritchie as its new pro bono leadership team. Together, Ellis and Ritchie will further advance the firm’s pro bono efforts and support the strategy and vision for the Pro Bono Program outlined by the Pro Bono and Executive committees. They will be supported by Jessica Molesworth, the firm’s pro bono and community impact coordinator, who will continue to provide administrative support for the program.
Ellis will serve as the firm’s pro bono partner and chair of the Pro Bono Committee. She has served as Nevada Pro Bono Committee co-chair and is uniquely qualified to manage the intake and delivery of legal services to the firm’s pro bono clients. Ellis is a skilled litigator and has vast courtroom experience with business, construction defect and real estate disputes. She has a long history of pro bono service, often exceeding 100 hours per year. In 2016, she was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Month by Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada and Brownstein's Pro Bono Attorney of the Year.
Ritchie will be the director of pro bono and community impact. Similar to her previous role as director of community relations—where she has managed the firm’s philanthropy and community involvement programs, including sponsorships and donations, board placements, pro bono services and hands-on volunteer opportunities—Ritchie will also be focused on Pro Bono Program management and administration in her new role.
“I have every confidence in Emily and Jayme as they take on these new roles within the firm. They both exemplify the firm’s commitment to giving back to the communities in which we live and work,” said Rich Benenson, Brownstein’s managing partner. “With their leadership and passion, we will continue to positively impact individuals and organizations in our communities who could not otherwise afford quality legal representation.”
Brownstein’s Pro Bono Program is robust. In 2022, the firm provided over 10,000 hours of pro bono support throughout all of its markets and ranked No. 47 on The American Lawyer’s National Pro Bono Rankings. From participating in monthly low-income legal clinics and advocating for abused and neglected children to representing victims of domestic violence and fighting to keep low-income children in schools, Brownstein takes on pro bono projects that align with its employees’ passions.