At the inaugural Benchmark Annual Awards - South in Atlanta, Benchmark Litigation recognized Brooks Pierce as Pro Bono Firm of the Year 2012 and partner Mark J. Prak as North Carolina Litigator of the Year.
The award selection was based upon peer review and research conducted by Benchmark’s research team from November 2011 to January 2012. Benchmark said, "Brooks Pierce has been instrumental in developing legal outreach programs in the Piedmont Triad," including NC LEAP, a program for low-income entrepreneurs, and the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro's Women to Women Endowment. Additionally, they noted the firm's pro bono representation in diverse and ground-breaking matters in 2011, including taser safety; land ownership and use; non-profit funding; and considering health condition in custody disputes.
Mark J. Prak has served as lead counsel in litigation of numerous cases in state and federal courts and before administrative agencies. The subject matter of his litigation experience has ranged from copyright, trademark, and service mark issues to breach of contract, unfair competition, unfair trade practices, non-competition and trade secret agreements, libel, invasion of privacy, wiretapping, labor and employment questions, open meetings, public records and freedom of information questions. Benchmark noted his recent representation of the ABC Television Affiliates Association in connection with the FCC's sanctions against local ABC-affiliated television stations for broadcasting an episode of NYPD Blue that the FCC claimed to be indecent. That case is currently pending before the Supreme Court of the United States.