Mintz announces that Associate Courtney Herndon has received the firm’s 2025 Richard Mintz Pro Bono Award. Presented annually by the firm’s Pro Bono Committee, the award honors one attorney whose exceptional commitment to pro bono service reflects Mintz’s dedication to advancing access to justice.

Courtney’s pro bono work centers on reproductive rights, supporting survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, and LGBTQ+ equality. Over the past year, she has conducted substantive legal research in collaboration with the Center for Reproductive Rights and drafted appellate briefs on behalf of sexual assault and domestic violence survivors through her work with the Victim Rights Law Center. She also partnered with a cross-office Mintz team and GLAD Law to co-author an amicus brief supporting access to HIV prevention medication (PrEP) under the Affordable Care Act—a key provision upheld by the Supreme Court in its June ruling.

Susan Finegan, Member and Chair of Mintz’s Pro Bono Committee said, “Courtney’s dedication to pro bono work reflects both compassion and precision. She approaches each matter with thoughtfulness and a deep commitment to justice, and her work has had a real and lasting impact on the lives of our clients.”

In addition to her extensive pro bono work, Courtney maintains a robust legal practice focused on patent litigation in federal district courts and before the US International Trade Commission. She plays a central role on teams litigating high-stakes cases before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and is a trusted advisor to trial teams for her deep legal and economic analysis in matters involving global high-tech, biotech, and medical device companies.

The Richard Mintz Pro Bono Award honors the legacy of Richard Mintz, the son of one of the firm’s founders, who embodied the firm’s spirit of generosity and was a passionate advocate for its pro bono mission.

Pro bono service is a cornerstone of Mintz’s culture and values. The firm collaborates with nonprofits, legal services organizations, in-house legal departments, and other law firms to deliver life-changing legal support to individuals and communities in need. Over the past year, Mintz attorneys dedicated more than 20,000 hours across 300+ matters, helping clients navigate challenges related to asylum, gender-based violence, civil and human rights, substance use, and nonprofit operations. 

Learn more about the firm’s pro bono initiatives here.

About Mintz

Mintz is a litigation powerhouse and business accelerator serving leaders in life sciences, private equity, energy, and technology. The world’s most innovative companies trust Mintz to provide expert advice, protect and monetize their IP, negotiate deals, source financing, and solve complex legal challenges. The firm has 600 attorneys across offices in Boston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, San Diego, and Toronto.