On May 17, Laura Connor Smith, Andrew Dillon, and more than 30 other HKA colleagues will participate in the 2025 Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk in Washington, DC. This annual family-friendly event, sponsored by the American Heart Association (AHA), was first held in May 1991 and has grown bigger every year since then.

The story behind Lawyers Have Heart

Lawyers Have Heart was created in response to a November 1990 Washingtonian article titled “First, Kill All the Lawyers” (a play on a quote taken from Shakespeare’s Henry VI) that portrayed the DC legal community as being “heartless.” Two DC lawyers, Richard Frank and Alan Raul, who were motivated by both the article and personal ties to heart disease, wanted to prove that lawyers do indeed have a heart. They subsequently established a community event that would benefit the American Heart Association.  

The Lawyers Have Heart event raises funds for the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke, the nation’s No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death. Since its inception, the event, which is now held in both DC and Boston, has raised more than $20 million to support the AHA’s programs, research, and education. The funds support scientific research that equips healthcare professionals with the tools they need to save lives. Lawyers Have Heart also fosters a sense of camaraderie among colleagues and friends, uniting them in fulfilling and rewarding activities that contribute to improving the lives of those with heart disease.

“Heart disease is the number one cause of death in the United States. Everyone knows somebody affected, which is why the American Heart Association’s work, research, and health initiatives are so important. My involvement as a member of the Lawyers Have Heart Executive Leadership Team this year has been a truly rewarding endeavor, and I’m happy to help raise funds and awareness for such a worthwhile cause. I’m also proud that HKA was a major sponsor in 2024 and continues its support in 2025. It’s inspiring to see the entire DC legal community come together on this issue, and I look forward to seeing my HKA colleagues on the course this May!”

Andrew Dillon, Director

Laura Connor Smith has been involved with the AHA for over two decades, since almost the beginning of her career. She first joined the Executive Leadership Team about three years ago, but this year will be her first year serving as a Co-Chair of the event. Her responsibilities are primarily focused on fundraising activities, recruiting other sponsors, building her own team and teams for other companies, and individual fundraising. Andrew Dillon, who has worked alongside Laura to plan this event over the years, supports her as a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

How the race has changed over the years

Prior to 2023 and for over a decade, the Lawyers Have Heart event was held in the charming Georgetown neighborhood of DC. The racecourse mainly comprised the asphalt of a nearby freeway, which proved quite hot in the Capital’s steamy summer months. In 2023, the race returned to West Potomac Park (where it was first held in the 1990s) and was rescheduled for the spring months to avoid shutting down the U.S. National Park during the busy summer tourist season. Now, not only are the runners and walkers much cooler, but their route is also noticeably more scenic and enjoyable.

Participants pass by the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Jefferson Memorial, the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, and the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, among others. With more space for common areas, the event hosts a kids’ tent with fun activities for the youngest participants, a beer tent where participants can redeem their free beer coupons after the race, and a stage used as a venue for live music and the awards ceremony.

Why this cause hits home for Laura

For Laura, the cause is personal as heart disease runs in her family. Her father had his first heart attack at the age of 39. His illness greatly impacted her family both emotionally and financially, as he was a self-employed contractor. Still alive and well at 73, Laura’s father underwent triple bypass surgery after his first heart attack and another bypass surgery within the past year, as well as many other types of procedures over the years. Laura’s paternal grandmother also had heart problems and bypass surgery when Laura was quite young.

After Laura’s brother had his first heart attack at the young age of 23, while on his honeymoon in Jamaica, no less, she and her sister, both in their early 20s, underwent a battery of tests due to their family history. Her brother has undergone catheterization surgery, but is otherwise doing well.

“I have been involved with the American Heart Association’s Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk for 20 years. The funds raised are critical in advancing heart health, a cause that is personal for me. With a history of heart disease in my family and a father and brother who are heart attack survivors, I am proud to co-chair this event and raise much-needed funds for the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke, which are the No. 1 and No. 5 causes of death in the United States.”

Laura Connor Smith, Partner

Laura has also been affected by heart disease in her friend circle. A few years ago, one of her coworkers and close friends at Credibility International (acquired by HKA in 2023) suffered a cardiac event at age 38 and unexpectedly passed away. This series of unfortunate events has furthered her commitment to the AHA, leading her to participate in and assume leadership roles to support the Lawyers Have Heart event each year and enthusiastically fundraise for the cause.

HKA’s big role in the 2025 event

Throughout her career, Laura has found it easy to interest her employers and colleagues in Lawyers Have Heart. Consulting firms like HKA find value in supporting a worthy cause while also getting in front of the target audience – in this case, the legal community in DC. Companies appreciate the opportunity to simultaneously do good in the world and market themselves. This year, HKA is a Signature Sponsor, which allows us to have a dedicated logo on the giveaway bags, giving the company excellent exposure.

“Lawyers Have Heart has been a great annual event for the DC legal community to come together to do good for the American Heart Association. I have been involved since the early 1990s, first as a runner and then with each of my prior firms as sponsors of the event. I have also served on the Executive Leadership Team for years. It has been great to be involved in this cause and to help raise a tremendous amount of money over the past three-plus decades. I am very pleased to see Laura Smith co-chairing the 2025 race.”

Tim Hart, Partner

Laura and Andrew decided to spice up this year’s race with a bit of friendly competition between Team Laura and Team Andrew, both part of the larger HKA Global LLC Team. Here are the current stats (as of 4/29/25):

• The HKA Global LLC Team currently holds third place in the Top 5 Companies category, having raised over $13,000 of its $45,000 goal. We need less than $1,000 in donations to move into second place. Let’s do it!
• Team Laura, in third place in the Top 5 Teams category, has raised slightly more than half of its $22,000 goal. Go Team Laura!
• Team Andrew has raised over $1,800 of its $2,500 goal. Kudos to Team Andrew!
• Individually, Laura is also on the leaderboard, placing third in the Top 5 Participants category. She is very close to taking over second place. Congratulations, Laura!
• To date, the AHA has raised slightly over 50% of its $1.6 million goal, with a little over two weeks to go until the big day. Halfway there!

So, whether you’re looking to celebrate heart health, honor a survivor, or remember a loved one affected by heart disease or stroke, HKA hopes you’ll join in the spirit and camaraderie of the 2025 Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk. Your participation and/or donation will assist AHA in enhancing CPR training accessibility, improving bystander preparedness, increasing research funding, and, most importantly, saving lives!

The last day to register online is May 12, and the last day to donate is June 30.

To register for the event, contact Laura Smith or Andrew Dillon, or go to 2025 Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk and search for “HKA Global LLC”.

To donate to Team Laura: 2025 Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk: Team Laura – Heart Walk – American Heart Association

To donate to Team Andrew: 2025 Lawyers Have Heart 10K, 5K & Fun Walk: Andrew’s HKA Team – Heart Walk – American Heart Association

Lawyers Have Heart 2024— L to R, Standing: Tyler Smith Khoury; Ryan Groves; Matthew Lupo; Steven Thalblum; Anas Ibdah; Stephanie (Johns) Raizon; Joseph Berry (and Joe’s wife); Laura Connor Smith (and Laura’s daughter Reagan); Drew Hauge; Tom Reynolds; and Caitlin Crook. L to R, Kneeling: Karim Khoury (Tyler’s husband); Evelyn Kratovil (Ken’s daughter); Ken Kratovil; and Jeff Duval.

Lawyers Have Heart 2024—Tyler Smith Khoury and her children (Leila and Julien)

Lawyers Have Heart 2024—L to R: Matthew Lupo, Clément Lacoudre, and Ken Kratovil