Several of Nixon Peabody's "halo practices"—including affordable housing and real estate, community development and finance, and health care—stand out from the usual Big Law product mix with their focus on effecting social change.

Now, the firm is looking to unify this work more tightly with its pro bono efforts. And a major part of that effort is its recent hire of longtime Covington & Burling pro bono manager Sharmaine Heng to serve as director of pro bono and social impact.