Much is proud to announce that principals Steve Blonder, Laura Elkayam, and Jason Rosenthal are 2026 recipients of the Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. In partnership with the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association, the court presents this annual award to attorneys who have shown excellence in providing pro bono representation and advocacy. Blonder, Elkayam, and Rosenthal were honored for their work helping people with disabilities find easier access to a Chicago, Illinois sports venue.
In 2023, Much partnered with Access Living, a leading disability service and advocacy center, to file a lawsuit against the Chicago White Sox alleging discriminatory ticket sales practices. In 2024, the case resulted in a landmark win for disability rights, as the White Sox agreed to update ticketing processes to ensure better accessibility for fans with disabilities.
“This is the type of work that reminds us why we chose to be lawyers in the first place,” said Blonder, who chairs Much Community, the firm’s social responsibility initiative. “I’m proud that we made a difference. Now, people with disabilities can purchase tickets and look forward to a baseball game, just like everyone else.”
The award was presented to the Much team, as well as Charles Petroff at Access Living, at the Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse on May 1.