ATLANTA (APRIL 6) Kilpatrick Stockton LLP announces Rick Horder, Partner in the Litigation Practice Group, was recently honored by The Florida Bar with the President’s Service Award, given each year to one person in each judicial circuit. Rick was selected from a group of nominees for the “Out of State” circuit.
“I am thrilled that Rick’s long-standing dedication to pro bono work was recognized by The Florida Bar,” said Debbie Segal, Kilpatrick Stockton Pro Bono Partner. “Rick is a wonderful man who could not imagine practicing law without devoting a significant amount of time each year to help those without resources to achieve their goals.”
The purpose of the awards is to encourage more lawyers to freely contribute their time and expertise in providing legal services to people in their community who cannot otherwise afford those services. The awards are intended to provide recognition to lawyers who have made an outstanding contribution in this area. The award was presented to Rick at the Florida Supreme Court in Tallahassee.
Rick Horder, an environmental lawyer, began Kilpatrick Stockton’s “Grandparent Adoption Program” over eight years ago. This signature program addresses the needs of low income relatives caring for children whose parents are absent. The Grandparent Adoption program allows grandparents and other relatives to formalize their relationships with grandchildren in their care, provide stability for the children, and make appropriate decisions about children’s lives. To date, Kilpatrick Stockton attorneys have represented over 141 relative caregivers in adoption proceedings, donating over 8,000 hours and impacting the lives of hundreds of children.
Mr. Horder, who serves as the Chair of Kilpatrick Stockton’s Pro Bono Committee, was also responsible for the firm’s creation of a Pro Bono Partner position. He conducted research around the country to determine the prevalence of such a position, surveyed lawyers within his firm to determine interest in pro bono, created a job description and presented a proposal to the firm’s executive committee, which was adopted in 2000. In 2004, the firm contributed over 26,000 hours to pro bono clients.
About Kilpatrick Stockton
Kilpatrick Stockton LLP is a full-service international law firm with more than 470 attorneys in nine offices across the globe: Atlanta and Augusta, GA.; Charlotte, Raleigh and Winston-Salem, NC.; New York, N.Y.; Washington, D.C.; London, England; and Stockholm, Sweden. Kilpatrick Stockton’s delivery of innovative business solutions provides results-oriented counsel for corporations, from the challenging demands of financial transactions and securities to the disciplines of intellectual property management. Collaboration among Kilpatrick Stockton’s corporate, litigation and intellectual property attorneys provides knowledgeable and proactive guidance for companies at every stage of the business life cycle.
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