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| Harmony Jones |
Harmony L. Jones will be based in Eversheds Sutherland's Washington, D.C., office, the firm announced Tuesday.
Jones told Law360 Pulse in an email that she was drawn to join Eversheds Sutherland by its "well-known legacy of pro bono work and commitment to its robust pro bono practice."
"In addition, the firm's very strong litigation practice has propelled the firm's pro bono impact litigation work and, given my background in litigation and legal project management, I look forward to helping with those efforts," she added.
Jones also cited Eversheds Sutherland's "significant relationships with highly respected and forward-looking nonprofits and legal services organizations" as another factor in her decision to join the firm.
"I'll be helping the firm to further enrich these partnerships and also identify even more to advance racial justice and expand access to justice for low-income communities," Jones said.
She said she looks forward to using her prior experience working for nonprofit organizations "to help advance the firm's community initiatives."
Jones told Law360 Pulse that she has "seen individuals in my own family and community, starting early in life, be directly impacted by social justice issues, and this work carries deep meaning for me."
"I'm passionate about increasing access to justice because I know firsthand the life-changing impact having pro bono representation can have in the lives of individuals, families and communities," she said.
Mark D. Wasserman, Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP's co-CEO, said in Tuesday's announcement that he is thrilled to welcome Jones to the firm.
"Her career-long dedication to providing legal services to people in need is consistent with our core value of serving our communities," Wasserman said.
Jones' pro bono experience includes providing legal services to low-income individuals and charitable organizations, Eversheds Sutherland said. She also has represented clients in civil rights and public benefits matters, including housing and family law, racial justice and criminal justice reform, the firm said.
At Eversheds Sutherland, she will help manage the firm's large-scale pro bono projects and focus on litigation matters, according to the announcement.
"Harmony is a known community leader with a deep understanding of what lack of access to the justice system means to the most vulnerable in our society," Aileen Crowson, the firm's chief responsible business and pro bono practice officer in the U.S., said in the announcement. "She will help take our access to justice work to the next level. She will also help roll out several new initiatives across the U.S. and globally in collaboration with our international colleagues."
Before joining Eversheds Sutherland, Jones was at Steptoe for more than five years, including more than a year as pro bono counsel and four years as deputy pro bono counsel, her LinkedIn profile says.
Her prior experience also includes yearlong stints as a staff attorney at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia and the Neighborhood Legal Services Program in D.C., her profile says.
Earlier in her career, Jones worked at Holland & Knight LLP for nine years as a pro bono fellow and associate, according to her profile. She earned a law degree from Harvard Law School and an undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland.
Eversheds Sutherland also said in Tuesday's announcement that partner Brian L. Rubin has been selected to lead the firm's U.S. pro bono committee. He is co-head of the firm's securities enforcement practice.
"Pro bono work has long been a valued and enriching part of my legal career and as incoming chair, I'm thrilled to be working with Aileen, Harmony and the full pro bono committee to continue championing underrepresented individuals and communities," Rubin said in the announcement.
--Editing by Janice Carter Brown.
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