Shareholder Chad Higgins Receives New England Innocence Project “Arc of Justice” Award

Portland and Augusta, ME and Manchester, NH (November 16, 2020) –Bernstein Shur is pleased to announce that the New England Innocence Project will honor Shareholder Chad Higgins with the “Arc of Justice” award. The award recognizes Higgins and a team of individuals’ tireless pro bono efforts in securing the release of their client, Keyon Sprinkle, after more than 20 years of incarceration for a crime he did not commit.

According to the NEIP, the “Arc of Justice” award recognizes a New England Innocence Project partner who has demonstrated unparalleled commitment, tenacity, and courage to ‘bend the arc of the moral universe toward justice’ for innocent people convicted of crimes they did not commit. Higgins first started working Sprinkle’s case while practicing at Goodwin and pursued it for almost 13 years.

“I’m honored to receive this award, along with my colleagues representing Mr. Sprinkle,” said Higgins. “It represents the immense importance of not only pro bono work, but collaboration within the legal community. This service can provide a life-changing impact on individuals, their families and communities that can continue for generations.”

Higgins and his fellow team members E. Peter Parker, Joseph Savage and Ashley Drake of Goodwin and the family of investigator Rick Hamilton will be formally presented with the award at a virtual event, Voices of the Innocent: Power in Community, on November 19^th.

About Chad Higgins
Higgins is a Shareholder and serves as Co-chair of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution Practice Group. He is a seasoned litigator with deep experience in a broad range of industries, including energy, pharmaceuticals, food and beverage, consumer products, and higher education. Prior to joining Bernstein Shur, Higgins was Counsel at Goodwin in Boston, and an associate at Arnold & Porter in Washington, DC. He earned his J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center and resides in Yarmouth with his family.

About New England Innocence Project
Founded in 2000, the New England Innocence Project (NEIP) is an independent 501(c)(3) non-profit that fights to correct and prevent wrongful convictions and ensure justice within the criminal legal system for innocent people throughout New England who are imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. They provide free forensic testing, investigation, experts, and an experienced legal team to exonerate the innocent and bring them home to their loved ones.  They also use their expertise about wrongful convictions to provide education and advocate for legislative and judicial reforms to prevent future tragedies.

Bernstein Shur
Founded in 1915, Bernstein Shur is a New England-based law firm advising clients across the U.S. and around the world. The firm’s 125+ award-winning attorneys and professionals provide practical and innovative counsel, and practice in more than 20 key areas across a variety of industries. Bernstein Shur is known for simplifying complex issues and winning through steadfast persistence. The firm is ME’s exclusive member of Lex Mundi, the world’s leading network of independent law firms. Find out more at www.bernsteinshur.com.

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