Hari Kumar Receives Washington State Bar's Pro Bono and Public Service Award

Hari Kumar, a litigator based in Ballard Spahr’s Seattle office, is the recipient of the 2026 Pro Bono and Public Service Award from the Washington State Bar Association (WSBA).

Hari is being recognized “for extraordinary dedication to pro bono service, marked by perseverance through complex litigation and an unwavering commitment to client-centered advocacy,” the WSBA said in announcing its 2026 APEX—Acknowledging Professional Excellence—Awards. The awards honor exemplary members of the legal community.

The WSBA Pro Bono and Public Service Award is presented annually “for outstanding cumulative efforts in providing pro bono services or who gives back in meaningful ways to the public, the community, or the legal profession,” the WSBA noted.

Hari led a team of fellow associates from Ballard Spahr’s Litigation Department in a pro bono representation of an autistic minor who was wrongfully removed from his home by the Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families. The team took the matter to trial and won a multimillion-dollar jury verdict for their clients.

Hari is a trial and appellate attorney with a focus on insurance coverage and commercial liability matters. Ballard Spahr’s pro bono program is nationally renowned for the volume and impact of pro bono work by its lawyers and professionals. The firm donates more than 50,000 hours a year in cases involving fundamental human rights, voting rights, asylum and immigration, child advocacy, and artists’ intellectual property, as well as representing low-income individuals and families in a spectrum of matters.

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