On December 10, 2009, partner Mark A. Cunningham received the 2009 Leadership Award from The Pro Bono Project. The Leadership Award is the highest honor given by the Project and recognizes those whose leadership has materially contributed to the mission and success of the Project.

Kim Boyle, President of the Louisiana State Bar Association, and Mark Suprenant, Senior Partner in Charge of the New Orleans Office of Adams & Reese, presented the award in a ceremony attended by United States District Judge Ivan Lemelle and Civil District Judge Michael Bagneris, among others.

In his remarks, Mr. Suprenant noted that "2009 was a challenging, transitional year for The Pro Bono Project. As Chair of the Project, Mark led us through some very difficult economic decisions in order to ensure the financial stability of the Project for the immediate future," and that "as a result, the Project is well positioned to continue to provide legal excellent legal representation to our indigent clients, which is in essence what the Project is all about."