Equal Justice Works Adds Five New Board Members: Michael Fricklas, John Hueston, Jennifer Kaplan Schott, David Levine, and Camille Nelson

WASHINGTON, D.C., October 4, 2023—Equal Justice Works, the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, today announced that Michael Fricklas, John Hueston, Jennifer Kaplan Schott, David Levine, and Camille Nelson have been named to the organization’s board of directors.

“We are thrilled to welcome Michael, John, Jennifer, David, and Camille to the Board of Directors,” said Verna Williams, CEO of Equal Justice Works. “Their insight, commitment to equal access to justice, and deep legal expertise will be invaluable to the organization as we advance our work to further the access to justice movement and support passionate public interest lawyers and leaders across the country.”

Michael Fricklas is the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Advance, and he has served in this role since 2018. Prior to joining Advance, Mr. Fricklas was one of the top executives at Viacom, for 19 years as EVP, General Counsel and Secretary, where he reported to the CEO. Mr. Fricklas’s practice started in Silicon Valley, representing technology companies in a variety of financing transactions and in technology licensing. Since then, his career has focused on the intersection of copyright and technology, corporate governance, mergers & acquisitions, and large law department management. Mr. Fricklas is currently a member of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and the Law. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of Boston University, a member of the board of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and co-chair of the UJA entertainment and media group. He also serves as a member of New York’s Permanent Commission on Access to Justice and has served as a member of the Equal Justice Works Board of Counselors. He is past president of the Association of General Counsel.

“For decades, I have been involved with Equal Justice Works and have supported its mission through engagement with the organization and its Fellows and their work as well as financially,” said Michael Fricklas. “I am very proud to see so many of the Fellows we have supported go on to do great work on important social projects. I am particularly passionate about the way that Equal Justice Works and its Fellows engage law departments and law firms, providing opportunities for us to work together toward social justice for all. I’m honored to have the ability to support this work as a member of the board.”

John Hueston is a founding partner of Hueston Hennigan, where he represents Fortune 500 companies and governments as lead counsel in their most challenging and high-profile cases and investigations. Mr. Hueston’s work ranges from winning and defeating multibillion-dollar actions to terminating some of the nation’s most significant regulatory and criminal investigations and cases. Mr.Hueston has been recognized by many organizations, publications, and law reviews for his work. He is an active contributor to the legal field and is the President of the Board of Directors for the Social Justice Legal Foundation. He is also a member of other notable Boards, committees, and commissions in the legal field and in academia. Mr. Hueston has lectured nationally at law and business schools on topics of trial advocacy and corporate governance.

“There is no greater service I can provide than mentoring and providing resources for professionals aspiring to make an impact in public interest legal work,” said John Hueston. “I look forward to working with Equal Justice Works to bring some of our best national legal talent into the public interest sector.”

Jennifer Kaplan Schott is Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Illinois Tool Works Inc. Jennifer joined Illinois Tool Works in 2021 and previously served as Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary of Caterpillar Inc. Prior to Caterpillar, Jennifer spent 16 years at Discover Financial Services holding legal positions of increasing responsibility culminating in the role of Vice President, Assistant General Counsel and Assistant Corporate Secretary. Prior to her corporate legal career, Jennifer practiced law at two large international law firms.

“I am thrilled to continue supporting Equal Justice Works, its Fellows, and its programs as I join its Board,” said Jennifer Kaplan Schott. “The work of Equal Justice Works and its Fellows are imperative to increasing access to justice in communities across the country.”

David Levine is the Chief Legal Officer of Bloomberg L.P., where he oversees the Company’s global legal, compliance, and risk functions. As a member of the Management Committee at Bloomberg, David also has oversight responsibilities for Bloomberg Industry Group. Since joining Bloomberg as General Counsel in 2012, David has overseen a complete build out of global legal and compliance functions, matching Bloomberg’s business growth by adding broad and deep capabilities across every relevant legal and compliance specialty while realizing significant cost savings. David is actively engaged in the pro bono program at Bloomberg, having advised low-income micro-entrepreneurs on starting small businesses, assisted green card holders with naturalization applications, judged Legal Outreach’s Debater of the Year Competition, counseled LGBTQ+ immigrants on eligibility for seeking asylum, and volunteered for the non-partisan Election Protection project. David is also an active leader in the legal profession through his involvement in a wide range of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and civic activities.

“Public interest lawyers play an essential role in achieving equal justice for all,” said David Levine. “I am honored to join the Board of Directors of Equal Justice Works and be part of an organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to help close the justice gap.”

Camille Nelson is Dean of the William S. Richardson School of Law at the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, where she is also a Professor of Law. Dean Nelson has long been an outstanding member of the legal community. Prior to her current role, she served as Dean of American University Washington College of Law, and as Dean of Suffolk University Law School in Boston. She was a Professor of Law at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and at the Saint Louis University School of Law; and was a Dean’s Scholar in Residence and Visiting Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. She has taught Contracts, Torts, Criminal Law, Comparative Criminal Law, Transnational Law, Critical Race Theory, Criminal Procedure, and Professional Responsibility at many law schools. Dean Nelson’s scholarship focuses on health law, criminal law and procedure, comparative law, and leadership through the lens of cultural studies and critical race theory. Her scholarship and leadership in higher education have been recognized through a variety of awards and honors. She has contributed many impactful articles, essays, and chapters to scholarship towards her area of expertise. She also has engaged with professional service at many organizations focused on legal education.

“I am honored to join the Board of Directors of Equal Justice Works, an organization devoted to public service and equal justice,” said Dean Nelson. “I look forward to being of service to support the efforts and initiatives of Equal Justice Works to ensure that the transformation impact of this vital organization continues. This work continues to be critical to the pursuit of justice”

To learn more about the Equal Justice Works Board of Directors, click here.

About Equal Justice Works

Equal Justice Works is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that creates opportunities for lawyers to transform their passion for equal justice into a lifelong commitment to public service. As the nation’s largest facilitator of opportunities in public interest law, Equal Justice Works brings together an extensive network of law students, lawyers, nonprofit legal aid organizations, and supporters to promote public service and inspire a lifelong commitment to equal justice.

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