Mark Stewart, longtime Chair of national law firm Ballard Spahr, has received a 2023 Pennsylvania Impact Award from statewide news service City & State Pennsylvania. The award recognizes the most socially responsible leaders in the Commonwealth for making a positive impact in their communities.
The 2023 Pennsylvania Impact Awards honor 75 Pennsylvanians “who embody the principles of corporate social responsibility, including Community Engagement, Customer Service, Diversity & Inclusion, Equity, Ethics, Transparency, Sustainability, and Volunteerism.”
Mr. Stewart and fellow honorees are featured in the December 11 special edition of City & State Pennsylvania, which will present the awards at an event tonight in Philadelphia.
“In addition to chairing Ballard Spahr, one of the country’s top law firms, Mark Stewart is a pro bono advocate, a promoter of diversity, a mentor to young lawyers, and a volunteer with children’s organizations,” City & State Pennsylvania wrote.
Mr. Stewart, the firm’s Chair for the past 12 years, will remain with the firm as a partner in the Litigation Department when Peter Michaud succeeds him as Chair on January 1.
During his tenure as Chair, Mr. Stewart has led Ballard Spahr’s growth as a prominent national firm, where corporate citizenship and social responsibility are hallmarks. He is a champion of pro bono service, including through his own pro bono engagements. He leads the firm in advancing the qualities for which it is known: legal excellence, community involvement, charitable giving, and support for an array of organizations and initiatives that make meaningful improvements in people’s lives.
Mr. Stewart is a recognized leader in the effort to increase diversity in the legal profession. He helped found, has led, and continues to serve on the firm’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, and has chaired its Hiring Committee. Under his leadership, Ballard Spahr has received national accolades for its work to hire, retain, and promote women and attorneys and staff of color, and for its inclusive policies and practices for LGBTQ lawyers and staff.
Original source can be found here.