Tara Moss
Counsel
Pro Bono Counsel
As pro bono counsel, Tara leverages her background in corporate practice, nonprofit law, and community development when expanding pro bono opportunities globally. A creative problem solver and strategic thinker, Tara is committed to the continued growth of Winston & Strawn’s global impact in the legal community.
Tara is an experienced corporate and public interest attorney supporting the firm’s overall global pro bono program. She has expertise with respect to nonprofit formation, nonprofit governance, tax-exempt entities, public and private foundations, and small businesses. Tara is responsible for developing and managing pro bono opportunities in the New York, Washington, D.C., Charlotte, and Paris offices, and for expanding transactional (corporate) pro bono matters throughout the firm. With the support of firm partners and local legal aid agencies, Tara has developed and lead several critical projects focused on investing in our local communities at the firm. Tara regularly helps advise our nonprofit clients on governance matters and compliance concerns to help these entities thrive and provide sustainable impact.
Focused on strengthening and developing relationships with the firm’s commercial clients, Tara regularly facilitates and leads collaborative service days with corporate legal departments. Passionate about corporate pro bono opportunities, Tara initiated and mobilized the Transactional Working Group led by members of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel. In 2019, Tara was appointed to the Board of Directors of the global organization Association of Pro Bono Counsel and proudly served on the Board for six years during the highest volume of membership growth.
Key Matters
Prior to joining Winston & Strawn, Tara was a corporate associate at a Global 50 law firm managing various real estate, finance, joint venture, and fund formation transactions.
As a respected thought leader in the nonprofit and law firm pro bono space, Tara has been asked to speak at various conferences and programmatic panels. From 2022 to 2024 she led an engaging session on transactional pro bono at the American Bar Association’s Equal Justice Works Conference.
During her tenure at a Global 50 law firm Tara received a Pro Bono Leadership Award for volunteer service in promoting pro bono programs and clinics on behalf of the firm. She was also recognized as a Spotlight Lawyer by Start Small Think Big. Tara was elected to the Order of the Coif and is an active member of various bar associations throughout the tri-state region.
While in law school, Tara was the recipient of numerous public interest awards including the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award with cum laude honors for participation in pro bono fellowships with various organizations throughout New York City. She was a Mary Daly Scholar Recipient and an AmeriCorps Scholarship Recipient. Before starting law school, Tara served as a corps member with Teach for America and was named Teacher of the Year after advocating for equitable resource funding on behalf of her school. From 2008 to 2011, Tara founded and led a nonprofit organization focused on providing accessible and free athletic opportunities to youth in South Atlanta. Following time as an educator and nonprofit founder, Tara served as a legislative assistant in the United States Senate before pursuing law school.
- Start Small Think Big Spotlight Lawyer
- PIRC - Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award
- Mary Daly Scholar - Fordham University
- AmeriCorps Scholarship Recipient
- Teach for America - Teacher of the Year
- Legal Aid Society New York: Pro Bono Publico Award
- New York State Bar Association - Exceptional Pro Bono by a Large Law Firm
- Pro Bono Partnership - Law Firm of the Year
- Access Justice Brooklyn - Pro Bono Leadership Award
- DC Bar Pro Bono Center – Stephen J. Pollak Pro Bono Award
Tara served as a Director for the Association of Pro Bono Counsel’s Board of Directors (2019 - 2024). Tara is an active grant reviewer and advisor to the Community Fund of Darien.
Key Matters
Prior to joining Winston & Strawn, Tara was a corporate associate at a Global 50 law firm managing various real estate, finance, joint venture, and fund formation transactions.
Credentials
Education
Tara received her B.A. from Harvard University and her J.D., magna cum laude, from Fordham University School of Law with election to the Order of the Coif.
Admissions
- New Jersey
- New York
Related Insights & News
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- Speaker at the 2022, 2023, and 2024 ABA Equal Justice Works Conference on the topic of corporate pro bono and the development of transactional opportunities for law firm and in-house legal department volunteers
- Moderator and Participant at the Leadership Panel for Members of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel at the 2019 Equal Justice Conference, May 2019 in Louisville, Kentucky
- Speaker at the 2019 Academy Conference hosted by Association of Pro Bono Counsel, October 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Lead Presenter and Roundtable Discussion Facilitator on the topic of “Engaging Transactional Lawyers in Pro Bono Service” at the City Bar’s Committee on Public Interest & Legal Service, January 2020 in New York, New York
- Quoted, “Criminal Convictions Behind Them, Few Have Had Their Records Sealed,” The New York Times, July 4, 2018
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