S P E C I A L F E A T U R E: P R O B O N O A W A R D S Authors: Antina Mobley – Hillsborough County Public Defender’ s Office & Tori Simmons – Hill Ward Henderson
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employment, prompting the judge to note the“ complete transformation” in the trajectory of the case.
Outstanding Pro Bono Service By A Lawyer: Heather Lee
A 2018 graduate of University of California, Berkley Law School, Heather Lee embodies the oath made when sworn into the Bar:“ I will never reject, from any consideration personal to myself, the cause of the defenseless or oppressed.” In 2025, Ms. Lee spent 180 hours working on pro bono matters and has worked 829 pro bono hours since 2019.
Ms. Lee practices complex commercial litigation, white collar criminal defense, and securities actions as senior counsel at Foley & Lardner, LLP. In 2025, she lead a team at Foley to relentlessly advocate for a client who alleged that he was denied appropriate medical care while incarcerated. Shot by police when he was arrested, the client developed a significant infection and sepsis that required emergency treatment and a multi-week hospitalization. Ms. Lee and the Foley team conducted nearly a dozen depositions, hired medical experts from Dartmouth and Yale, and spent hundreds of hours in the aggregate on the case. Ultimately, they secured a favorable settlement for their client. Their work received front-page treatment in the Tampa Bay Times and was covered by newspapers throughout the country.
Ms. Lee also participates in the Middle District of Florida’ s Intensive Re-Entry Program, which offers services to recent parolees from the federal correctional system. She has recruited more than a dozen Foley attorneys to participate in the program as well.
Ms. Lee’ s commitment to consistently providing the highest quality legal counsel to those unable to afford private counsel sets a shining example for all lawyers in our community.
Jimmy Kynes Award: George A. Melendez George A. Melendez received his B. A. from Furman
University and his J. D. from Nova Southeastern
University. Since receiving his law degree, Mr. Melendez has practiced in the areas of criminal defense, including as an Assistant Public Defendant, criminal appeals, probate and estate planning, family and domestic relations law, dependency law, civil litigation, landlord-tenant, and juvenile law. Mr. Melendez currently practices at Donovan & Melendez, a firm specializing in family law, business and contracts, and criminal defense.
Mr. Melendez has also served as a Guardian ad Litem, Parenting Coordinator, Bay Area Legal Services Volunteer Lawyer, and contributor to the Attorney ad Litem program. Furthermore, he recruits others to provide pro bono legal services by referring matters to other attorneys and encouraging pro bono participation, engaging nonlawyer professionals( therapists, contractors, evaluators, accountants) to assist clients, and building a collaborative service network to support vulnerable individuals.
George Melendez’ s pro bono service is not episodic or symbolic— it is institutional, consistent, and deeply personal. He has demonstrated extraordinary and sustained commitment to providing pro bono legal services. His pro bono service is woven into the identity of his career and serves as an example that others can strive to achieve.
We thank all the pro bono volunteers for their tremendous commitments of time, talent, expertise and compassion. Your dedication helps ensure that justice is not just an idea, but a reality for those who otherwise may not get the relief they seek. Thank you for showing up, standing in the gap, and demonstrating what service truly looks like. We see you. We congratulate you. We thank you. n
Authors: Antina Mobley – Hillsborough County Public Defender’ s Office & Tori Simmons – Hill Ward Henderson
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