K&L Gates and Two Legal Aid Leaders Recognized for Pro Bono Service and Justice Advocacy

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SEATTLE - Two distinguished individuals and one law firm were recognized Thursday for their contributions to civil legal aid and efforts to expand access to justice.

The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) presented its Champion of Justice Award and Pro Bono Service Award at a reception hosted by Amazon at The Spheres in Seattle on Oct. 29. The Northwest Justice Project (NJP) also presented the inaugural Sue Encherman Exemplary Service Award, honoring the legacy of its former operations director.

LSC presented its Champion of Justice Award to an individual whose leadership and advocacy have made significant contributions to expanding access to civil legal aid. The recipient was:

John McKay
McKay began his legal career as a prosecutor before transitioning to private practice, where he developed a deeper understanding of the consequences of limited access to civil legal services. In the 1990s, he helped establish the Equal Justice Coalition, which advocates for civil legal aid in Washington state.

He served as president of LSC from 1997 to 2001 and later as U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington under the George W. Bush administration. In the 2010s, he continued his efforts to raise awareness of unmet civil legal needs in Washington, helping secure increased state investment in civil legal aid. In 2021, McKay joined NJP as pro bono counsel emeritus, continuing his longstanding commitment to ensuring equal access to justice.

LSC also presented its Pro Bono Service Award to a law firm in recognition of its commitment to providing free legal representation and advancing access to justice for people who cannot afford an attorney. The recipient was:

K&L Gates

K&L Gates is a global law firm headquartered in Pittsburgh that provides pro bono legal representation for NJP clients. In 2024, K&L Gates attorneys Peter Talevich and Michael Meredith filed a groundbreaking case in Walla Walla Superior Court, Springer v. Welcome Home Properties, as part of an initiative to hold landlords accountable for unlawful practices. The resulting settlement included a permanent injunction prohibiting the landlord's most harmful practices. K&L Gates donated the fees to the Campaign for Equal Justice, further supporting civil legal aid in Washington state.

NJP presented the inaugural Sue Encherman Exemplary Service Award posthumously to its namesake, recognizing her decades of dedication to civil legal services and her instrumental role in establishing the organization. The honoree was:

Sue Encherman

Encherman began her career in civil legal services in 1980 as the first administrator of Evergreen Legal Services. In 1995, amid a statewide restructuring of Washington's legal aid system, she helped launch NJP, serving as its director of administration. Her work helped lay the organizational foundation for NJP and its mission to provide civil legal assistance to low-income Washington residents.

The reception followed a forum commemorating NJP's 30th anniversary that featured a panel discussion on partnerships addressing housing-related legal challenges in Washington state. Speakers at the reception included Gov. Bob Ferguson and David Zapolsky, Amazon's chief global affairs and legal officer.

Photos of the awardees are available upon request. Email [email protected].