MINNEAPOLIS— The Hennepin County Bar Association (HCBA) recognizes six attorney members and the Fourth Judicial District with its 2022 HCBA Excellence Awards. The awards honor members for their service to the local legal profession, the community, and the association. The HCBA selected the recipients for their work from among six different categories. These members will be recognized later in 2022 in the Hennepin Lawyer. The awards will be presented at the HCBA Recognition Reception on June 2.
• Brian Dillon & Amy Erickson (Lathrop GPM) for Providing Pro Bono Service: Dillon and Erickson have provided numerous pro bono hours to organizations helping to make sure Minnesota’s election re-districting is equitable and just for historically disenfranchised groups. Their work involved engaging Minnesotans to respond to the census.
• Minnesota Fourth Judicial District for Improving Access to Justice: The COVID-19 pandemic and numerous high-profile cases have presented unprecedented challenges for the Fourth Judicial District over the last two years. Through diligent logistics planning, swift technological adaptation, and teamwork with justice partners, the Fourth District has remained steadfast in its ability to deliver justice, transparency, and safety for all involved in the justice system.
• Ayah Helmy (Bright Health) for Advancing Diversity & Inclusion: Helmy has played a critical role in expanding the voices and scope of the Hennepin Lawyer publication. As committee chair, she welcomed a broader range of voices and expanded the coverage of justice-related issues. She also edited the Hennepin Lawyer issue published one year after the murder of George Floyd, which examined how that event affected our community.
• David Robbins (Meyer Njus Tanick) for Providing Pro Bono Service: Robbins successfully represented a client pro bono in an appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court (State v. Sargent). This decision had major implications regarding the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and passengers in automobiles.
• Khuram Siddiqui (Bassford Remele) Advancing Diversity & Inclusion and Mentoring in the Profession: Siddiqui has been an invaluable mentor and guide to law students of color in the Twin Cities area. He keeps law students apprised of opportunities and helps prepare them for clerkship and internships. He also helps pre-law students study for the LSAT and provides them connections to help ease the transition to law school.
• Roxanne Thorelli (Fredrikson & Byron) for Providing Pro Bono Service: Thorelli has completed hundreds of hours of pro bono work for Volunteer Lawyers Network. She handles full representation unemployment compensation appeals cases. She also advises clients through the weekly Employment Phone Advice Panel, where she meticulously works to connect and follow up with clients. She also leads by example by encouraging and supporting pro bono efforts by younger attorneys in her office.
The Hennepin County Bar Association is the largest of Minnesota’s local bar associations, with a membership of over 8,000, serving the profession and the public.
For more information contact Nick Hansen: nhansen@mnbars.org