Melbourne, 10 November 2008 – Baker & McKenzie is delighted that Ken Gray, the head of the Firm's Banking and Finance practice in Australia and the partner in charge of Baker & McKenzie's Peter MacCallum Cancer Patients' Legal Service, has been awarded the Law Institute of Victoria (LIV) President's Award for Pro Bono. Ken collected his award at the LIV on Friday, 7 November.

Ken was nominated for the award for the extensive pro bono work he has engaged in for many years with the Peter MacCallum Foundation (Peter Mac) and with Infoxchange Australia, a charity providing a range of information communication technology to empower disenfranchised and disadvantaged communities. In particular, Ken has been instrumental in successfully lobbying the government with Peter Mac to change laws so that terminally ill patients can access their superannuation without being subject to taxation. That change of law was introduced in September 2007.

On receipt of the award, Ken Gray said, "It is a privilege to represent our pro bono clients and we get far more out of it than we put in. This award is also a tribute to a very large team at Baker & McKenzie committed to the provision of legal services to those not otherwise able to access assistance.”

Mark Chapple, National Managing Partner, congratulated Ken on the receipt of the award saying, "We are very proud of Ken's outstanding achievement. The award is a fitting acknowledgment of the great skill, leadership and energy Ken brings to pro bono and community service."