Robert Paris Wins 2025 Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service

Robert Paris is the recipient of the twelfth annual Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service. An IP Litigation associate in the firm’s Los Angeles office, Rob is being recognized for his outstanding leadership and legal advocacy on behalf of vulnerable communities in the aftermath of the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires.

In Spring of 2025, MoFo joined with Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County (NLSLA) in filing lawsuits against the County of Los Angeles and the City of Pasadena for failing to meet their legal obligations to enforce habitability standards for tenants whose homes were damaged by smoke, soot, and ash from the January 2025 fires. Without the habitability enforcement for smoke and soot, landlords refused to clean up their units, leaving tenants in the untenable position of either returning to unsafe homes or trying to find alternative places to live in an extremely tight housing market.

Rob immediately took ownership of the complex cases, despite it being an atypical role for an associate, coordinating all strategic decisions and managing every aspect of the litigation. In building a legal strategy, Rob quickly mastered an intricate legal framework, including complex municipal housing codes, zoning regulations, and emergency housing provisions. He is now the Firm's go-to resource on post-disaster housing regulations enforcement. He also conducted negotiations directly with senior government officials, demonstrating advocacy skills far beyond his experience level. His proactive approach and willingness to take on significant responsibility were instrumental to the success of the case against Los Angeles County.

Rob’s work on these cases reflects the highest ideals of pro bono service at MoFo. He exemplifies Kathi Pugh’s legacy in every way, and we are very proud to recognize his accomplishments and dedication to our shared values.

As the 2025 winner of the Kathi Pugh Award, Rob may direct $10,000 to a nonprofit legal services organization that improves access to justice, funded by the Firm and the Morrison Foerster Foundation. He has chosen NLSLA, our co-counsel in the Los Angeles wildfires litigation.  

The Kathi Pugh Award for Pro Bono Service was established by MoFo in 2013, when Kathi Pugh retired after two decades of running the firm’s pro bono program. It recognizes the values, enthusiasm, and compassion that Kathi brought to the pro bono program and celebrates the remarkable ways that lawyers like Rob proudly carry out Kathi’s pro bono legacy. Past award winners include Chelsea Kehrer, Andrew Kissner, Camila Tapernoux, Chris Gloria, Tushna Gamadia, Mercedes Samavi, Adam Hunt, Christian Andreu-von Euw, Ruth Borenstein, Natalie Fleming Nolen, and Fredo Silva.