Safe Alliance Honors Womble Bond Dickinson for Pro Bono Representation of Domestic Violence Victims

CHARLOTTE, NC—On May 9, Womble Bond Dickinson was presented with a “Commitment to Justice Award” by Safe Alliance, a nonprofit organization in Charlotte dedicated to serving individuals impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault. The award was in recognition of Womble’s successful pro bono project in the Charlotte office representing victims of domestic violence in protective order hearings free of charge.

This pro bono project was launched by Charlotte litigators Jeff Jackson and Allen O’Rourke, both of whom are former prosecutors with experience prosecuting felony domestic violence and sexual assault cases, and it has been coordinated by legal practice assistant Carla Brafford. Since the project began in the summer of 2018, numerous other Womble attorneys have participated by advocating for domestic violence victims at protective order hearings, including Claire Rauscher, Mark Henriques, Terry Brown, Whitney Kamerzel, Katie Ramseur, and Patrick Spaugh.

Allen O’Rourke, Carla Brafford, and the Charlotte Office Managing Partner Clark Goodman attended Safe Alliance’s annual reception on May 9 and accepted the Commitment to Justice Award on behalf of the firm. Womble will continue its partnership with Safe Alliance in 2019.

Safe Alliance assists over 10,000 people annually throughout Mecklenburg County and Lake Norman. Having a stated mission “to provide hope and healing for those impacted by domestic violence and sexual assault,” the organization offers a wide range of services including a confidential 24/7 hotline for county residents, a shelter and other support services for survivors, legal representation, therapy and support groups for those impacted by domestic violence, and related education and systems advocacy.