The Adams Benefit
Each year the John & Abigail Adams Benefit welcomes over 1,000 guests for an extraordinary evening benefiting the Boston Bar Foundation. The one-of-a kind event is held at the Museum of Fine Arts, and helps support the work of the BBF in its mission to facilitate access to justice for the underserved, fund and promote innovation in the delivery of legal services and support impactful public service projects & pro bono work by lawyers in our community.
About the Event
The 2026 Adams Benefit will take place on Saturday, April 11th at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Attendees will enjoy magnificent art, live entertainment and music, special performances, and gourmet food and drinks. The signature fundraising event of the Boston Bar Foundation, the Adams Benefit is one of the largest events of the Boston legal community, welcoming more than 1,000 attendees annually to support the work of the BBF in our community.
Late Night at the Museum
Part of the Adams Benefit, Late Night at the Museum is an event that brings together law students and newer lawyers to meet, dine and dance and as they get to know each other and begin to lay the groundwork for successful careers in the law.
About the BBF
The Boston Bar Foundation serves as a beacon of the legal community’s enduring commitment to enhancing the lives of the most underserved individuals in our community. Through a dynamic granting program, the BBF works to serve the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalized members of our community, including domestic violence survivors, immigrants, prisoners, workers, veterans, children and families.
As the charitable affiliate of the Boston Bar Association, the BBF supports projects and programs dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the legal profession, strengthening leadership development opportunities for young lawyers and engaging lawyers in serving our community.
2026 Richard A. Soden Public Service Award: Damon Hart
Damon, a longtime volunteer at the Boston Bar Association, started his tenure as chair of the New Lawyers Committee in 2003, before serving on Council and the Executive Committee as Secretary.
Damon currently serves on the Executive Leadership team at Liberty Mutual Insurance and is well-recognized in the Boston community. He joined Liberty Mutual in 2014 before assuming the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer in 2021 and Secretary in 2022. He is actively involved in Liberty Mutual’s Employee Resource Groups and ongoing mentorship programs, in addition to his extensive work in the Boston and legal communities as a youth sports coach, mentor and board member.
We are thrilled to present the Richard A. Soden Public Service Award to Damon Hart at next year’s Adams Benefit. Not only is Damon an exemplary leader in the legal community, he has also dedicated his time, his guidance, and his legal acumen toward the improvement of the lives of others in the Boston area through volunteering, board service and mentoring the next generation–including service as a past BBA Council member. We look forward to celebrating him and all he has accomplished next April.
Damon currently serves as a member of the boards of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, RAND Kenneth R. Feinberg Center for Catastrophic Risk Management and Compensation, and The Home for Little Wanderers, and he is a founding member of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund.
History of the Richard A. Soden Public Service Award
The Adams Benefit Public Service Award is given annually to business or civic leaders who have shown exemplary leadership in community service and philanthropy and whose work aligns with the BBF’s mission to promote justice by funding and promoting innovation in legal services, enhancing access to justice for the underserved, and supporting the public interest activities of the bar. In 2024, the award was renamed in honor of former BBA and BBF President Richard A. Soden. Learn more.
Past Honorees
2025
Ruth Ellen Fitch
2024
Paul W. Lee
2023
Fletcher (Flash) & Benaree (Benny) Wiley
2022
Damian Wilmont, SVP, Chief Risk and Compliance Officer, Vertex
2021
Chief Justice Ralph Gants
2020
Bob Rivers, Chair and CEO of Eastern Bank
2019
Diane B. Patrick
2018
Hon. Nonnie and Richard Burnes
2017
Chief Justice Margaret Marshall
2016
Roca
2015
John Hancock
2014
Thomas M. Menino
2013
Carol N. Fulp
2012
Paul S. Grogan
2011
John Fish
2010
Citizens Bank
2008-2009
James G. Keefe and Patrick A.T. Lee, President and Vice President of Trinity Financial
2007
Paul Guzzi, President & Chief Executive Officer Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce
2006
Jack Connors, Jr., Chairman of Hill Holliday Connors and Cosmopulos
2005
The Boston Red Sox & the Boston Red Sox Foundation
2004
William C. Van Faasen, Chairman and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts
2003
Edward C. Johnson, III, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Fidelity Investments
2002
Jeffrey Swartz, President and CEO of Timberland
2001
Teresa Heinz, Chair, Heinz Family Philanthropies
Sponsorship
For questions about sponsoring the Adams Benefit, contact [email protected]
Thank You to Our Gold Sponsor
Thank You to Our Silver Sponsor
Thank You to Our Bronze Sponsor
Thank You to Our Participating Sponsor
Steering Committee
Co-Chair
David J. Santeusanio
Holland & Knight LLP
Elaine Herrmann Blais
Goodwin Procter LLP
Matthew P. Cardosi
Robins Kaplan LLP
Melanie A. Conroy
Pierce Atwood LLP
Dallas Cruz
Cooley LLP
Shari I. Dwoskin
Brown Rudnick LLP
Jonathan M. Ettinger
Foley Hoag LLP
Mark R. Fitzgerald
Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati
Adam Gershenson
Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
Michael A. Hacker
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
J.P. Jaillet
Choate, Hall & Stewart LLP
James Kelleher
Kevin M. McGinty
Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C
Co-Chair
Damian W. Wilmot
BridgeBio Pharma Inc.
Wells W. Miller
Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP
Damon M. Seligson
Sheehan Phinney
Ellen Stephano
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP
Peter Obersheimer
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
James S. Parker
Boston Celtics
Mona Patel
Covington & Burling LLP
Peter Tobani
Liberty Mutual Insurance
Natasha N. Varyani
Sullivan & Worcester
Daniel V. Ward
Ropes & Gray LLP
Megan Watts
Goulston & Storrs
Kwamina Thomas Williford
Holland & Knight LLP
Steven H. Wright
2025 Photo Highlights
