Quarles Celebrates Recipients of 11th Annual Gonring Pro Bono Awards
October 20, 2025 (Milwaukee) – The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP announced today the recipients of the firm’s 11th annual Gonring Pro Bono Awards. The firm is donating $1,000 on behalf of each recipient to the nonprofit organization of their choice.
The award, given each year in conjunction with National Pro Bono Week, recognizes Quarles colleagues who have demonstrated dedication to the development and delivery of legal services through one or more pro bono projects during the previous fiscal year. It is named for Michael Gonring, the firm’s long-time former national pro bono partner.
The 2025 recipients are:
- Andrea Seach, a Health & Life Sciences associate, for her work on urgent and emotionally demanding amicus briefs for death row prisoners in Florida, including cases involving a U.S. Army veteran and a survivor of the notorious Dozier School. She’s also one of Arizona’s top contributors to the bar’s Free Legal Answers program, helping dozens of individuals navigate pressing legal issues, and has supported the AZ Justice Project in identifying potential wrongful convictions. Seach’s donation will go to the Ronald McDonald House Tucson.
- Martin Childs IV, a Business Law associate, for his exceptional commitment to pro bono service, particularly in supporting clients with the formation and operation of nonprofit organizations. With deep expertise in tax-exempt matters, he consistently steps up to assist with high-impact projects, including the reorganization of Friends of UW Men’s Rowing for a nationally significant performance center. Childs has selected From a Butterfly Foundation Inc. as the recipient of his donation.
- Michalynn Miller (Health & Life Sciences associate), Scott Nolan (Intellectual Property associate) and Hunter Foist (Business Law associate) for leading a team of attorneys who successfully expunged prior criminal convictions for 10 people in Indiana. In every case, the team was able to convince the state to waive or withdraw its objections, which meant the client did not need to appear in court to obtain expungement. The results of this work will enable the clients to seek better job opportunities, potentially raising their income and helping them advance their lives. The team’s donation is going to IYG, an organization committed to helping LGBTQ+ youth and young adults.
- Jennifer Michalski, Learning and Development business professional, for her steadfast support of the firm’s pro bono program for more than a decade. Though currently part of the Learning and Development team, she has continued to dedicate significant time to the pro bono team. Over the past year and a half, Michalski stepped in during a staffing transition, providing critical support and helping to onboard a new pro bono coordinator — all while balancing her regular responsibilities. She remains actively engaged in the Restraining Order Forms Clinic and is currently training 19 new volunteers. Michalski has chosen Sojourner Family Peace Center to receive her donation.
- Grant Sovern, an Immigration & Mobility partner, for his deep commitment throughout his career to pro bono, both dedicating extensive time personally to many pro bono projects and clients and also creating opportunities for colleagues across the firm to get involved in pro bono work. Among his many notable pro bono achievements, Sovern was part of a group that helped establish the Community Immigration Law Center, which provides pro bono legal assistance to immigrants, and he led a team that provided legal assistance to Afghans seeking asylum in the U.S. after the U.S. military’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. His donation is going to the Community Immigration Law Center.
“We are tremendously proud of the firm’s deep and longstanding commitment to pro bono service,” said Mike Aldana, firm managing partner and chair of the Executive Committee. “As attorneys, we have an obligation to help make our communities stronger and through pro bono work, we can have a meaningful impact on bridging the significant justice gap in our country. With this in mind, we are grateful for the impressive work done by this year’s Gonring Award honorees and the important leadership they demonstrate through this work.”