Gavin Milczarek-Desai has been

selected as the Outstanding Pro

Bono Attorney of the Month for June. 

Gavin has been involved with Southern

Arizona Legal Aid’s Volunteer Lawyers

Program since 2004.  Gavin recently

completed a VLP case in which he

assisted an aspiring non-profit

agency. The group is an international

movement consisting of hundreds of

local groups which strive to bring

together givers and getters of free

stuff in their local community in order

to reduce waste and help those in need.  The organization initially contacted

the VLP seeking assistance with basic start-up.  The group contacted the VLP

a second time when faced with some copyright issues.  Gavin provided the

organization with ongoing counsel and advice for seven years on U.S. and

international trademark matters, leading to trademark registrations in the EU

and Canada and advice going forward for strong branding and membership

strategies for the client’s non-profit organization.  Gavin dedicated 290 hours

to the case.  The VLP’s monthly award is a distinct honor: of the nearly 1300

attorneys who volunteer their time with VLP, only 12 receive the VLP’s

Outstanding Pro Bono Attorney award each year.  

 

Q & A with Gavin Milczarek-Desai:

 

Where are you from?  I had a parent in the service, so I grew up in Utah,

Germany, Arkansas, and England before going to New York and finally

settling down in Tucson.

 

Where did you go to college?  Bard College.

 

Where did you go to law school?  U of A.

 

How long have you lived in Tucson?  Almost 20 years.

 

What are your current practice areas?  Intellectual property law, primarily

helping inventors and companies to obtain and protect patents and trademarks.

 

Anyone you would like to acknowledge for contributing to your legal

career/pro bono service?  My mentor and friend, Tony Durando.

 

One reason you would encourage attorneys to volunteer with VLP?  Aside

from helping those who otherwise may not have access to legal representation,

I have gained experience and perspective from my VLP work that has helped

make me a better lawyer and person.

 

Things you do when not working or volunteering your legal services? 

Hiking with my spouse and little boy and listening to the Tucson Symphony

and AZ Diamondbacks.

 

Best thing about being an attorney in Tucson?  Despite being a good size

city, practicing in Tucson still feels like being among a tight-knit community.