Celebrating the 2026 Pro Bono Champions

The Pro Bono Champions of the Year Award is presented annually to an individual or team of pro bono volunteers who have demonstrated outstanding commitment, dedicating their time, expertise, and passion to investigating and litigating innocence cases in partnership with GNIP.

This year, the Great North Innocence Project is proud to honor the pro bono team members at Ringstrom DeKrey and Contreras Edin Law for their extraordinary advocacy alongside GNIP in Werner Rümmer-Kunkel’s fight for freedom.

Dane DeKrey
Managing Partner, Ringstrom DeKrey

I’ll never work on something more important than Werner’s case. It’s truly what law school dreams are made of.

Bruce Ringstrom Jr.
Managing Partner, Ringstrom DeKrey

“Representing Werner remains the professional privilege of my life. … Advocating for Werner felt like finally rebalancing the scales of justice.”

Gloria Contreras Edin
Founding Partner, Contreras Edin Law

Isabella Larco
Law Clerk, Contreras Edin Law

Kathy Santamaria El Bayoumi
Attorney, Contreras Edin Law

It has been an honor and a profound responsibility for our firm to stand beside Werner and his family and to work alongside the Great North Innocence Project in seeking a path forward for him. This is what we believe pro bono work is about: standing with people when they need an advocate, ensuring that their stories are heard, and working toward justice even when the road ahead is long and difficult.” – Contreras Edin Law Team

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