Partner John G. Brooks, (1930’s– his retirement)

Mr. Brooks’ lifetime commitment to pro bono work began shortly after joining Peabody & Arnold (then Peabody, Arnold, Batchelder & Luther). He worked to change the terminology from “legal aid” to “legal services,” and helped found what would become Greater Boston Legal Services, the major legal aid organization in Massachusetts.

Attorney Brooks served as president of the Boston Bar Association, and the Boston Bar Foundation, considered lawyers’ premier legal aid charity in the region. The Boston Bar Association annually presents the John G. Brooks Legal Services Award, endowed by Peabody & Arnold.

Attorney Brooks was president of the Massachusetts Board of Bar Overseers from 1980 to 1983. He was a member of the Massachusetts and American Bar Associations, where he broadened his work toward equal justice for all, serving as president and life member of the National Legal Aid and Defender Association and as a member of the National Consumer Law Center.

President Clinton appointed Mr. Brooks, a lifelong Republican, to serve on the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation.

Several organizations recognized him for his commitment to legal aid, including the Boston Bar Association Public Service Award, the National Legal Aid and Defenders Association Award for outstanding public service, a Distinguished Bostonian on the occasion of the city’s 350th birthday, an honorary LLD degree from Northeastern University for his commitment to legal services for the poor, and the American Bar Association Pro Bono Publico Award.

Senior Counsel Harvey Weiner, (1970 to present)

A U.S. Army Veteran who served in the Vietnam War, Attorney Weiner has been a tireless advocate for veterans’ benefits, donating countless hours of his time to litigating in support of service members. He founded and continues to supervise the Massachusetts semi-annual Wills for Veterans, and the newly formed annual program in Rhode Island.

Attorney Weiner has represented a veterans’ group on amicus briefs in three cases before the United States Supreme Court, four cases petitioning for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court, one case before the Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia and one case before the Circuit Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit, as well as cases for veterans’ benefits, supporting DACA soldiers and transgender soldiers. For over a decade, Attorney Weiner has trained veterans, soldiers, and those who work with veterans in mediation and conflict resolution training as part of Home Front Strong’s Veterans Mediation.

He, along with other attorneys at Peabody & Arnold, have represented Catholic employees fired for refusing to work on Christmas, a Boston Marathon bombing survivor, domestic abuse matters and a civil rights attorney in his reinstatement to the bar, to name a few.

Attorney Weiner has served as president of the Massachusetts Bar Foundation and was recently inducted into the Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Hall of Fame.

In 2020, as the National Commander for the Jewish War Veterans, Attorney Weiner testified before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees where he focused his message on the courage of doing one’s job and what is right, regardless of political fallout. His oral testimony is here: https://www.jwv.org/national-commander-weiner-testifies-before-congress/.

In addition, Attorney Weiner’s pro bono and community endeavors include, but are not limited to:

• Boston Bar Association, Advisory Committee of the Veterans and Servicemembers Forum
• Jewish Alliance for Law and Social Action, Advisory Committee
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Counselor in the One-to-One Connection (longest serving volunteer in the program)

• Vietnam Veterans of America Journal, the VVA Veteran, book reviewer twice monthly

Partner Allen N. David, (1977 to present)

An accomplished and respected trial lawyer, Mr. David’s significant pro bono work through the years has given him an outlet to give back, and to help train associates. Often associates can participate in court and hearings in ways that would not be possible at this stage of their careers.

Attorney David sits on a panel at the U.S. District Court where he represents indigent clients in civil cases. These cases usually involve inmates in the custody of the Massachusetts Department of Correction and are Eighth Amendment violations such as excessive use of force, unreasonable physical restraints or confinement, or failure to provide medical care.  Recently Attorney David, won a five-day jury trial on behalf of an inmate who claimed he was the victim of beatings by white supremacist inmates and corrections officers.

Attorney David also represents attorneys in disciplinary proceedings before the Board of Bar Overseers, where he is part of a panel of lawyers qualified to handle these cases.  He is often assisting a lawyer facing bar discipline and the goal is to get the best resolution while striving to keep the cases confidential.

Associate Kristyn K. St. George, (2018-present)

Assisting the late Attorney Maureen Mulligan, Attorney St. George was key to the success of In Matter of Olchowski, a significant legal services decision decided by the state’s highest court. In Olchowski, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that unidentified funds in a lawyer’s trust account should be paid to the IOLTA Committee, rather than escheat to the Commonwealth as “abandoned property.”  The IOLTA Committee’s purpose is to support the providing of legal services to low-income clients and otherwise make improvements to the administration of justice.  As a result of the decision, the IOLTA Committee receives additional funds to further assist in its goals, to the benefit of those needing legal services in Massachusetts.

Associate Avana A. Epperson-Temple, (2019 to present)

Attorney Epperson-Temple serves as the current President of the Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association and as a member of the Anti-Defamation League’s Regional Board for New England. She also serves on the board of Pine Street Inn, New England’s largest homeless services organization. Attorney Epperson-Temple was also a critical part of the team, with Attorney David, that recently represented a client in a pro bono BBO matter.

Of Counsel, Catherine Kelleher, (2011 to present)

Attorney Kelleher volunteers more than 100 hours a year working with pro bono clients through Fathers’ UpLift (https://www.fathersuplift.org/), the country’s first mental health and substance abuse treatment facility for fathers and families. The organization provides mental health counseling, coaching, advocacy, and resource support to assist fathers with overcoming barriers (racism, emotional, traumatic, and addiction-based barriers) that prevent them from remaining engaged in their children’s lives.

In fact, Attorney Kelleher was recognized by We The Action (Amicus Mundi: The Lawyer Helping Fathers with Their Legal Needs — Newsroom (wetheaction.org)) in 2022 for her volunteerism with the organization with a Amicus Mundi Award. Attorney Kelleher has worked one-on-one with fathers to offer legal advice, given presentations on how to prepare for family court, and prepare their testimony to regain their parenting rights. “If you don’t have the resources to have someone advocating for you, the system is really stacked against a lot of people. It’s really rewarding to make a difference in my community.”

Of Counsel James J. Duane, III, (2013 to present)

For the last ten years Attorney Duane has worked with two organizations, Mediation Workshops, Inc. and Cape Cod Dispute Resolution Center, Inc. to offer pro bono mediations in the Massachusetts District Courts on a regular basis. He has also served on various boards and leadership positions.

Other Notable Peabody & Arnold Pro Bono and Volunteer Work

• The Massachusetts Bar Association recognized Peabody & Arnold with the Pro Bono Award for Law Firms in recognition of its robust support of pro bono and its commitment to making a positive impact in the community in 2022.
• The late Maureen Mulligan, along with Attorney St. George, successfully represented the Mass. IOLTA Committee in a case before the SJC in which certain abandoned funds were now to be used for legal services.
• Peabody & Arnold has represented refugees for the Political Asylum/Immigration Representation (PAIR) Project.
• Peabody & Arnold attorneys have been grant reviewers for the Massachusetts Bar Foundation.
• Peabody & Arnold represented GLAD in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day Parade case in state and federal cases.
• Numerous of our attorneys serve our legal and other communities with other volunteer and non-profit work, sit on Boards, and hold leadership positions in the legal industry and beyond.