MBF Awards
& Honors
The Great Friend of Justice Award
The MBF’s Great Friend of Justice Award is presented each year at our Annual Meeting to an individual who has demonstrated extraordinary passion for justice, consistent with the MBF’s values and mission of increasing access to justice for all.
2026 Great Friend of Justice Award Recipient
Professor Margaret A. Burnham
Distinguished Professor of Law at Northeastern University School of Law
MBF Vice President Edward F. Dombroski, Jr. presented Professor Margaret Burnham with the Great Friend of Justice Award at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting on March 5, 2026.
Previous Recipients
2025 Chief Justice John D. Casey
2024 Hon. Edward M. Ginsburg - Posthumous
2023 Hon. Geraldine S. Hines
2022 Dr. Jim O’Connell - Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
2021 Hon. Patti B. Saris
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2020 Attorney General Maura Healey
2019 Susan M. Finegan, Esq.
2018 Lonnie A. Powers
2017 Hon. Ralph D. Gants
2016 Mary L. Bonauto, Esq.
2015 Jerry Cohen, Esq.
2014 Kenneth R. Feinberg, Esq. & Michael E. Mone, Sr., Esq.
2013 Leo V. Boyle, Esq.
2012 Hon. William G. Young
2011 Attorney General Martha Coakley
2010 Governor Deval L. Patrick
2009 Hon. John M. Greaney
2008 Hon. Roderick L. Ireland
2007 Anthony Lewis
2006 Hon. Nancy Gertner
2005 Steven L. Wollman, Esq.
2004 Richard Johnston, Esq. & Jayne Tyrrell, Esq.
2003 MarDee Xifaras, Esq. Citizens Bank
2002 Perkins, Smith, & Cohen
2001 Capital Crossing Bank & Eastern Bank
2000 Hon. Margaret Marshall
President's Award
The MBF’s President’s Award is presented annually at our Grantee Reception(s) to an individual or firm. The award is given to those who have shown great dedication to the MBF’s mission through involvement in the MBF Society of Fellows, participation on our Grant Review Committees, or as members of the MBF Law Firm & Corporate Partners Program.
Previous President’s Award Recipients
2025 Harvey Weiner, Esq. & Hon. David Sacks
2023 John Aschatz, Esq. & Jeffrey Trapani, Esq.
2022 Nutter McClennen & Fish LLP & Michelle Bugbee, Esq.
2020 Paul J. Klehm, Esq.
2019 Elizabeth M. Lynch
2018 Lawrence J. Farber, Esq. & Albert P. Zabin, Esq.
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2017 H Theodore Cohen, Esq. & Robert C. Ware, Esq.
2016 Robert S. Molloy, Esq. & James T. Van Buren, Esq.
2015 Charles J. DiMare, Esq. & Elaine M. Epstein, Esq.
2014 Roy A. Hammer, Esq.
2013 Hon. Robert G. Fields & Davis, Malm & D'Agostine, P.C.
2012 Archer B. Battista, Esq. & Lu Ann Reeb
2011 Robert A. Sable, Esq. & Wendy Sibbison, Esq.
2010 Meade G. Burrows, Esq. & Lewis C. Eisenberg, Esq.
2009 Janet F. Aserkoff, Esq. & Scott W. Foster, Esq.
2008 John J. Carroll, Jr., Esq. & David E. Sullivan, Esq.