Every day, legal professionals use their knowledge to solve complex problems for their clients. Many extend their expertise to create opportunities, expand access to justice, and strengthen communities. The Smokeball Beacon Award was established to recognize individuals whose commitment to service goes beyond their daily practice, demonstrating profound community impact.

Meet the 2026 Beacon Award Winners

The 2026 Smokeball Beacon Award recipients represent diverse paths to giving back, each creating measurable, meaningful change within their communities. Whether through pro bono representation, mentorship, legal education, or community leadership, these legal professionals exemplify how expertise can be a powerful force for good.

Empathy in Action Award: Elleni Kalouris

Elleni Kalouris, a family law attorney, built her practice with the vision of using it as a vehicle for pro bono work. While now serving as in-house counsel, she continues to operate Kalouris Law Firm to provide free and reduced-cost legal services to those who would otherwise struggle to access representation. A pivotal moment in her career came when she spontaneously volunteered to represent a deaf, Spanish-speaking woman seeking help to escape an abusive marriage, a decision that solidified her lifelong mission to help families in crisis.

Today, Elleni dedicates significant time to representing survivors of domestic violence and underserved families in divorce and custody matters, also serving as a Guardian ad Litem for children.

• Pro Bono Work: Donated approximately 100 hours of pro bono legal work in the past six months, Providing critical legal aid to vulnerable individuals.

• Targeted Support: Represents marginalized families, particularly immigrant women and survivors of domestic abuse, addressing systemic barriers to justice.

• Sustained Service: Continues providing free and reduced-fee legal services through her own practice, ensuring ongoing support for those in need.

Catalyst Award: Luke Shealey

Luke Shealey, a South Carolina death penalty defense attorney and Partner at The Shealey Law Firm, extends his impact beyond his own clients through volunteer work with the nonprofit Suzerain. He travels nationally, teaching specialized jury selection strategies to attorneys representing indigent clients facing capital punishment. This knowledge, developed through the National College of Capital Voir Dire, is often inaccessible to public defenders and appointed counsel in under-resourced jurisdictions.

Recently, his intensive three-day trial preparation and jury selection strategy training with a Michigan defense team helped secure a life plea offer instead of a potential death sentence for their client. Luke also mentors future attorneys through local law schools and speaks at South Carolina Bar programs, multiplying his impact.

• Volunteer Engagement: Volunteers with Suzerain 3–4 times each year, disseminating critical defense knowledge nationwide.

• Specialized Training: Provided 72 hours of trial strategy and jury selection training, equipping other attorneys with advanced defense tools.

• Client Outcome: Helped a defense team secure a life plea offer for their client, directly influencing life-altering legal outcomes.

People's Choice Award: Krystle I. Myers

Krystle I. Myers, Founder and Managing Partner of Eleven Law Firm, believes legal expertise should empower entire communities. While leading a successful practice serving entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and community organizations, she has dedicated over a decade to making legal education accessible. Through Stiletto Boss University, she teaches entrepreneurship, intellectual property, contracts, and financial literacy to girls and young women, inspiring them as future leaders.

She also works with the Black Executive Directors Network, providing nonprofit leaders with practical education on governance, compliance, and organizational sustainability. This approach creates a multiplier effect, equipping future leaders with knowledge to share and apply within their communities.

• Youth Empowerment: Reached 4,000+ girls and young women to foster future business owners and leaders.

• Educational Outreach: Delivered 50+ entrepreneurship and legal education workshops, expanding access to vital legal and business knowledge.

• Nonprofit Support: Trained over 90 nonprofit executives to strengthen 200+ community-serving organizations.

• Resource Contribution: Contributed 1,150+ volunteer and reduced-fee service hours, donating an estimated $170,000 in legal expertise and educational programming, providing substantial, otherwise inaccessible, professional guidance.

The Community Impact of Beacon Award Winners

Although their work takes different forms, this year's Beacon Award winners share a common purpose: using their legal expertise to improve the lives of others. Whether representing survivors of abuse, helping attorneys defend clients facing the death penalty, or equipping future entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders with legal knowledge, each winner demonstrates the profound impact lawyers can have beyond their daily practice. Smokeball is proud to recognize these remarkable attorneys and celebrate the example they set for the legal profession. We also extend our gratitude to every nominee whose dedication to service strengthens their communities and reminds us that the practice of law is, at its best, a profession rooted in helping others.