Miller Canfield Recognizes Nashara Peart, Winner of the Richard J. Seryak Award for Pro Bono Service
Miller Canfield is pleased to announce Nashara Peart as the winner of the 2022 Richard J. Seryak Award in recognition of outstanding pro bono service. The announcement was made by CEO Megan Norris.
Peart, an associate in Miller Canfield’s Litigation and Dispute Resolution Group, was selected for her exemplary work on behalf of several deserving clients. She represented a federal prisoner who had brought a civil rights lawsuit against the warden and several officers for the retaliatory actions they took against him after he reported sexual abuse and filed grievances.
In other notable pro bono matters, Peart assisted in two more prisoner rights matters, helped an immigrant survivor of domestic abuse receive permanent residence status, and provided counsel for an elderly woman in a collection action against a bad landlord.
“We are extremely proud of the fine work that Nashara has done for the greater good,” Norris said. “Her pro bono work has made a tremendous difference in the lives of those she serves. Her work is a reminder of the essential part that pro bono service plays in Miller Canfield’s culture. We believe in our obligation to provide service to those who may not otherwise have access to justice.”
Peart is also the executive director of JD Bridges, a nonprofit that focuses on providing financial assistance for Black students applying to law schools. She also serves on the Anti-Black Racism Committee at her alma mater, Windsor Law.
In August, Peart was recognized by the Detroit Bar Association, which selected her as a 2022 Outstanding Young Lawyer Pro Bono Award winner.
The annual Seryak Award was first given in 2015 in memory of Richard Seryak, who during his career at Miller Canfield exemplified the standard of pro bono service. Seryak’s family established the award to recognize attorneys who continue his legacy. The Seryak family provides a stipend for the award winner to donate to the legal service organization of his or her choice.