VIP’s 2025 Awards Night Honorees

At VIP’s Annual Awards Night on May 15, we will recognize six of the year’s top legal volunteers and institutional partners.

Get to know this year’s honorees below and RSVP for Awards Night here.

Gregory S. Hyde, Esq.
Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Award – Solo Practitioner

The Brennan Award recognizes the attorney or law firm whose pro bono work most stood out in their respective category. Gregory S. Hyde is the founder of Hyde Law Firm, P.C., where he focuses on helping individuals and families navigate complex family law matters. As a VIP volunteer, Greg represents low-income clients in custody and support matters.

“Pro bono is not about doing a good deed for the day, it’s about showing up for people who feel outmatched, overlooked, and overwhelmed.”

Dechert LLP
Justice William J. Brennan, Jr. Award – Law Firm

Dechert stood out among law firms last year not only in terms of volunteer attorneys engaged and VIP clients served, but also for its longstanding commitment to VIP’s eviction defense work. Dechert also rolled out an innovative pro bono boot camp program for first-year associates, where new attorneys received training and a VIP case file within their first few weeks.

“Dechert is incredibly grateful for the work of the VIP team which, through well-screened cases, training, and mentoring, enables Dechert to provide pro bono services to low-income Philadelphians,” said Suzanne Turner, the firm’s Pro Bono Chair.

Ryaan A. Ibtisam, Esq.
Cimphony
Outstanding New Volunteer Award

Ryaan A. Ibtisam is a Co-Founder & Head of Legal at Cimphony, a Silicon Valley tech startup revolutionizing AI-driven legal solutions. Ryaan is not afraid to represent VIP clients on a variety of legal matters, from eviction defense to consumer debt to small business counseling.

“VIP has offered me the privilege to support our community and has been a reminder that the law should serve everyone, not just those who can afford it.”

Vanguard
Trailblazing Partner Award

The Trailblazing Partner Award recognizes a firm or corporate legal department that has significantly grown its engagement with VIP. The attorneys and other legal professionals at Vanguard have earned the recognition by enthusiastically donating their pro bono services to clients in need of estate planning, small business owners at clinics, and many more.

“Vanguard is grateful for our pro bono partnership with VIP. Their dedication to this work inspires our team, and we appreciate the seamless volunteer opportunities they provide,” said Pro Bono Co-Chair Allison Beatty.

Donna Brown, Esq.
Pro Bono Impact Award

This award recognizes an attorney who has gone above and beyond for VIP, including by recruiting additional volunteers. Donna Brown, contracting counsel at Accenture, has been an active volunteer at small business clinics and VIP estate planning matters, maintaining a consistent caseload and recruiting and supervising non-attorney volunteers on her team.

“Volunteering requires just a small amount of time to make a lasting impact on a client’s life.”

Lisa Ann Zolna
White & Williams LLP
MVP of VIP Award

This year’s MVP of VIP—the volunteer who carried the heaviest VIP caseload—is Lisa Ann Zolna, a Tax and Fiduciary Administrator at White & Williams. For over 12 years, Lisa has worked on VIP tangled title matters, handling probate, inheritance tax returns, and deed drafting for low-income Philadelphians seeking clear title to their homes. Her work has an outsize impact on her clients and on the city at large.

“As a resident of Philadelphia, and an estate professional, I consider it a responsibility, and an honor, to do my part to support individuals who need to obtain title to the homes they’ve been living in.”