Navigation The donor behind Bay Area Legal’s largest gift — and why he’s no longer anonymous
In 2023, retired Carlton Fields shareholder Mark A. Brown quietly pledged the largest donation to Bay Area Legal Services in its history.
“Both of my parents devoted their entire careers to public service,” said Brown. “I was moved by the enormous number of people they helped over the course of their lives, and it made me feel a little guilty that I had not done more for others over the course of my career. So, I decided to make what, for me at least, would be a substantial financial contribution to a worthwhile charity.”
Like many attorneys, Brown was drawn to community service through his local legal aid organization. Since his first year as a lawyer, he volunteered to provide free legal help for people who otherwise could not afford an attorney. Then in the 1990s, while continuing to represent individual clients pro bono, Brown agreed to also serve on Bay Area Legal Services Board of Directors to advance the mission at another level.
