MBA member Gerry Leone, a partner at Nixon Peabody.
As a tireless advocate on behalf of victims and those impacted
by domestic violence throughout his career, it's only fitting that
Massachusetts Bar Association member Gerry Leone, a partner at
Nixon Peabody, was recently honored in four events during Domestic
Violence Awareness Month in October.
Leone, a former Middlesex County district attorney, was a featured
speaker on a domestic violence panel discussion on Oct. 8 for Jane
Doe Inc. (JDI), the Massachusetts Coalition Against Sexual Assault
and Domestic Violence. Their meeting hosted a national audience of
coalition directors, representing more than 2,000 domestic violence
organizations. Leone joined his fellow panelists in discussing the
"pro bono culture" of Boston, and why many companies and firms here
consider it an important part of their culture to be engaged in
communities, and use this as a selling point in hiring and
attracting talent.
In recognition for his years of work as a prosecutor and district
attorney on behalf of victims of domestic violence, Leone was
recently presented with the Rita Bourgeois Leadership Award by
RESPOND. RESPOND has provided life-saving shelter, support
services, training and education to more than 100,000 members of
the community for over 35 years. RESPOND cited Leone's work in
developing an innovative and wide-reaching domestic violence
programmatic approach highlighting effective law enforcement
through investigation and prosecution, and thoughtful and creative
prevention through education and training. He was the keynote
speaker at RESPOND's Domestic Violence Gala 2013 on October
18.
On October 19, Leone served as Special Guest and Honorary Event
Chair for Voices Against Violence's second annual 5K Walk to Break
the Silence. That same day, Leone was also honored at the REACH for
the Stars Gala in Boston. REACH (Refuge, Education, Advocacy,
Change) is non-profit organization providing safety and support to
survivors of abuse while engaging communities to promote healthy
relationships and prevent domestic violence. Its services support
27 communities in Greater Boston, while their shelter and hotline
provide help for individuals throughout Massachusetts.