Blake Shepard, Jr., Shareholder, was selected by the Hennepin County Bar Association as the recipient of the Pro Bono Publico Award for Excellence by a Private Sector Attorney. Shepard is the chair of the Products Liability and Tort Litigation practice group.

Shepard was honored for his dedication to the expansion of Leonard, Street and Deinard’s pro bono representation of disabled clients in Social Security-related cases. Under his leadership, the number of Social Security pro bono cases handled by Leonard, Street and Deinard attorneys per year has risen from six to 24. He was also instrumental in developing a resource manual and providing training opportunities for Leonard, Street and Deinard attorneys providing pro bono legal services in Social Security-related matters.

“It’s a very prestigious award and Blake is a very deserving recipient,” said Theresa Hughes, Leonard, Street and Deinard pro bono director. “In the last four years, the number of Social Security Insurance/Social Security Disability Insurance cases handled by the firm’s attorneys each year has grown from six to more than 20. The majority of these matters were supervised by Blake.”