Thanks to the leadership of dedicated lawyers at the following law firms, the CBF was fortunate to receive several significant cy pres awards in 2009 that provide critical funding for a number of innovative access to justice projects in the state and federal courts:

Barnow & Associates

Bock & Hatch, LLC

Consumer Advocacy Center, P.C.

Edelman, Combs, Latturner & Goodwin, LLC

Goodhart Law Firm, Ltd.

Ice Miller LLP

Jenner & Block LLP

Jones Day

Laner, Muchin, Dombrow, Becker, Levin and Tominberg, Ltd.

Law Offices of Keith J. Keogh, Ltd.

Vedder Price PC

Werman Law Office P.C.

William J. Harte, Ltd.

Cy pres awards are residual funds in class action cases (and occasionally in other types of proceedings like bankruptcy and probate matters) that, for any number of reasons, are unclaimed or cannot be distributed to the class members or beneficiaries who were the intended recipients. Under the cy pres doctrine and Illinois law, courts can distribute these residual funds to appropriate charitable causes, and the CBF and the legal aid organizations and related initiatives the CBF supports are appropriate beneficiaries.

The CBF has been fortunate to receive a number of these awards over the past several years in amounts ranging from $2,000 to $2 million. The CBF puts cy pres awards and other awards of residual funds immediately to use in our community. These awards have made it possible for the CBF to significantly increase its annual grants to more than 40 pro bono and legal aid organizations and related initiatives, helping tens of thousands of vulnerable Chicagoans each year obtain critical legal assistance.

In addition, cy pres awards have provided the “venture capital” for a number of groundbreaking special projects and initiatives that have made lasting improvements to our justice system, and the CBF’s continued receipt of these awards makes it possible for the CBF to maintain our support for these projects for the long term. All cy pres awards the CBF receives are used to support the work of our community’s many outstanding pro bono and legal aid organizations.

For more information about the Campaign and cy pres awards and how these awards can help improve access to justice in our community, contact Bob Glaves at 312-554-1205 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .