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In the Service of Families
2011 Pro Bono and
Community Service Report
Inside This Issue
■■ Foreword 1
Sidley’s Firmwide Initiatives
■■ Capital Litigation Project 2
■■ Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Project 4
■■ Veterans Benefits Project
■■ Other Pro Bono in Sidley's U.S. Offices
10
12
■■ Ensuring Justice for Criminal Defendants
12
■■ Protecting Civil and Human Rights
13
■■ Helping Families
13
■■ Protecting Housing Rights
14
■■ Helping People With Disabilities
15
■■ Supporting the Community and Nonprofit Organizations
16
■■ Pro Bono From a Global Perspective
21
■■ Pro Bono Honors and Events
24
■■ Sponsorship of Pro Bono Graduate Fellows
29
■■ Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Committee Members
32
Foreword
I
n reviewing our nearly 100,000 hours of pro bono service over the last year, we are
struck by the impact our work has had on families, and the number of families we
have helped stay together or reunite after circumstances tore them apart. In our
immigrants' rights cases, we have helped scores of family members reunite, including
families from Cameroon, Eritrea, Togo, the Republic of Congo and Uganda. The father
of the family from Uganda (shown on page 9) was tortured for opposing the president's
efforts to end term limits. We obtained cancellation of removal for a man from Poland
who had been in the United States since he was a child and who had been acting as a
father to his fiancée’s young children. In our family law pro bono cases, we have helped
parents obtain custody, child support and restraining orders against abusive partners.
Our New York office has worked for many years with inMotion, an organization providing
legal services to low income and indigent women and children in domestic crisis. In
our landlord tenant work, we have helped clients avoid evictions that would have forced
families to break apart to find a place to live. Our work on a habeas petition in a criminal
case allowed our innocent client to reunite with his family after 15 years in prison. Finally,
Sidley's pro bono services serve families by providing corporate, real estate and other
advice to a wide range of organizations, such as New York Cares, Hope in Loss, and Small
Steps, School for Parents, that are on the front lines of serving and preserving families.
We are extremely proud of all of Sidley's pro bono efforts, but this year, we call special
attention to all that Sidley lawyers have done to protect and preserve our clients' families.
Thomas A. Cole
Chair, Executive Committee
Charles W. Douglas
Chair, Management Committee
Capital Litigation Project
S
idley’s Capital Litigation Project
year partnerships with the ABA Death
Tami Domeyer, attorneys from our client,
is a long-term, resource-intensive
Penalty Representation Project and
Exelon. Glenn Newman argued on Mr.
undertaking that in the last seven years
the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama
Bryant's behalf in the Court of Criminal
has provided needed legal assistance to
(EJI). EJI, a nonprofit organization based
Appeals.
21 prisoners incarcerated on Alabama’s
in Montgomery, Alabama, has achieved
death row. A team of lawyers and legal
national prominence for
assistants, often from two or more of
its advocacy on death
Sidley’s domestic offices, represents
penalty issues. EJI has
each client, traveling to Alabama to visit
provided ongoing expert
their clients, inter view witnesses and
g u i d a n c e t o S i d l e y ’s
participate in hearings. Some of Sidley’s
lawyers on Alabama post-
Capital Litigation teams include in-house
conviction practice and procedure.
law yers from two of the firm’s largest
clients, Aon Cor poration and Exelon
Corporation, who participate fully in all
aspects of the representation.
More than 100 Sidley partners, counsel
and associates, along with legal assistants
and project assistants, have volunteered
more than 100,000 hours to these cases
since the inception of the project. In 2011,
lawyers donated more than 8700 hours to
the representation of these men on death
row.
In March 2011, the Alabama
Supreme Court reversed the Alabama
Court of Criminal Appeals and concluded
that the circuit court had erred by adopting
verbatim the State’s answer as its order
dismissing Willie Scott’s habeas petition.
The case has now been remanded to the
circuit court for further proceedings. Tom
The Project had two significant achieve-
Hanrahan, Nitin Reddy, Meehan Rasch and
ments in 2011:
Christopher Gaul worked on Mr. Scott’s
In February 2011, the Alabama Court
appeal in the Alabama Supreme Court.
of Criminal Appeals reversed the circuit
court’s decision summarily dismissing
Alabama death row inmate Jerry Bryant’s
state habeas petition without discovery
or an evidentiary hearing. The Court of
Criminal Appeals concluded that Mr.
Bryant’s petition contained facially meritorious ineffective assistance of counsel
claims, and remanded the case for an evi-
Sidley’s ability to represent Alabama’s
dentiary hearing. Sidley lawyers John Gallo
death row inmates effectively has
and Serena Lee* worked on the appeal
been greatly aided by the firm’s seven-
with the assistance of Glenn Newman and
* Indicates former Sidley lawyer or staff member
2 • Sidley Austin LLP • 2011 Pro Bono and Community Service Report
Project History
In December 2004, judges from the Seventh Circuit and Northern District of Illinois invited Sidley and other large Chicago firms to
an ABA-sponsored meeting. Robin Maher, Director of the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project, spoke of the desperate need for
legal assistance for defendants on death row, citing Alabama as one state where the need was especially acute. In response, Sidley
established its Capital Litigation Project, through which the firm represents indigent inmates on Alabama’s death row in their postconviction proceedings. At the end of 2011, Alabama had 198 prisoners on death row. Approximately a quarter of the death sentences
in Alabama are the result of judicial override of jury recommendations of life in prison by elected judges. In 2011, Alabama executed
more people than any state other than Texas. John Gallo spearheads the Project, and Kelly Huggins manages the work from our Chicago
office.
Sidley Austin LLP • 2011 Pro Bono and Community Service Report • 3
Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Project
Reuniting Families:
Adjustment of Status Clinic
S
ince 2007 and with the assistance
and Mel Washburn supervised. An Exelon
Corporation intern, Bridget Trainor, helped
with the representation.
of the National Immigrant Justice
We o b t a i n e d p e r m a n e n t l a w f u l
Center (NIJC), Sidley’s Chicago office hosts
resident status for an asylee from the
quarterly clinics with our client Exelon to
Republic of Congo and her three daughters.
help asylees and refugees obtain lawful
Exelon attorney Traci Braun, Exelon
permanent resident status and bring
volunteer David Pabian, and Sidley’s Emily
family members to the United States.
Caveness handled the matter.
Each clinic begins with a training session
that NIJC conducts on how to complete
Through the clinic, an asylee from
the applications, and NIJC staff members
Colombia and her son obtained lawful
are available during the clinic to answer
permanent resident status. Exelon
questions. Together, Sidley and Exelon
volunteer David Pabian, Sidley Staff
have served over 150 clients; 41 clients
Attorney Juris Benitez and Sidley legal
attended the clinics in 2011. In 2011 alone,
assistant Lauren O'Keefe handled the
Sidley and Exelon obtained permanent
matter.
legal status for 38 clinic clients, and 17
Two sisters from the Democratic
people received approval to come to the
Republic of Congo obtained lawful perma-
United States to be reunited with family
nent resident status with the assistance
members who had been granted asylum.
of Exelon attorneys Julie Stevenson and
Among the clients who obtained relief
Nicole Nocera and Sidley’s Mike Gustafson
through the clinic this year are:
and Candice Kline. The sisters arrived in the
We o b t a i n e d p e r m a n e n t l a w f u l
U.S. through petitions filed by their asylee
resident status for an asylee from Malawi
mother. Exelon and Sidley had helped their
who had been granted asylum because of
mother obtain lawful permanent resident
persecution in his native country based
status in a 2009 clinic.
on his sexual orientation. Andrea Reed
We helped an asylee from Eritrea
and Kelly Huggins handled the matter
petition successfully for his wife to join
him in the United States. Brendan Bowes
handled the matter with Exelon attorney
Nicole Nocera.
We helped an asylee from Cameroon,
who feared for the safety of his family who
was left behind, petition to allow his wife
and four children to join him in the United
States. Tony Neuhoff* and Exelon attorneys
Scott Peters and Mike Pabian succeeded in
expediting the petition. After the petitions
were approved in 2010, the family was
finally reunited in the United States in
2011.
Other Pro Bono Immigration Victories
A f t e r a t w o- y e a r le g a l fig h t , we
successfully obtained lawful permanent
resident status for a man from Morocco
after immigration authorities granted a
petition we filed under VAWA. Our client
was a victim of domestic abuse in the
U.S. while married to his ex-wife. He was
divorced before he could complete the
process to become a lawful permanent
resident. The Sidley team included Andrea
Reed and Kelly Huggins under Steve
Carlson’s supervision, working with Debra
Cheng, an in-house lawyer from firm client
Caterpillar, Inc.
T h e t e a m o f J a s o n A d l e r, L a u r a
Bayard* and Allison Reimann obtained
Tony Neuhoff proudly poses with the family from
Cameroon he helped reunite.
asylum for a woman from Guinea in a
complex case where we successfully argued
for an exception to the one-year asylum
filing deadline. The immigration judge
found that extraordinary circumstances,
including a seven-month period during
which the client experienced severe anxiety,
depression and flashbacks arising from her
female genital mutilation, warranted an
exception to the filing deadline. Dan Neppl
supervised and Allison Triggs* assisted.
Project History
In 2006, Sidley established a second significant firmwide pro bono initiative to help indigent asylum seekers and other indigent
immigrants seeking legal status in the United States. Mel Washburn of our Chicago office and Martin Gold of our New York office
spearhead the initiative, and Kelly Huggins manages the Project out of our Chicago office. Through the Project, Sidley handles a wide
variety of immigration matters, including asylum cases, Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) cases, U visa cases, adjustments to lawful
permanent residence and representation of immigrant minors.
Federal law provides that individuals who have suffered or fear persecution in their home country based on their race, religion,
nationality, political opinion or social group may apply for asylum in the United States. The VAWA self-petition is a remedy for immigrant
victims married to abusive U.S. citizens and green card holders. Successful VAWA self-petitioners are granted employment authorization
and lawful status in the United States on an annual basis until they receive legal permanent residency. The U visa is a remedy
for immigrant victims of certain crimes who have helped with the investigation or prosecution of those crimes. Successful U visa
petitioners receive employment authorization and lawful status in the U.S. for four years when they become eligible to apply for lawful
permanent residency.
continued
Sidley obtained a U visa for a woman
from Mexico and her two teenage daughters, allowing them to remain in the U.S.
her sister was murdered in the DRC civil
war. The team included Stephen Rutenberg,
Elisabetta Assi and Tara Conroy.
and apply for permanent residency. The
Kate Falahee and Laura Bayard*, under
client suffered repeated physical abuse
Susan Stone's supervision, obtained lawful
by her then-partner and cooperated with
permanent residence and a Cancellation of
Chicago authorities in their investigation,
Removal order for a man from Poland. Our
despite her partner’s threats to harm her if
client has been a permanent resident since
she persisted. Sidley also obtained autho-
1989 (when, as a child, he immigrated from
rization for the client and her daughters to
Poland), but because of his criminal record,
work legally in the United States. Meena
he was placed in removal proceedings after
Datta and legal assistant Arturo Rodríguez
a 2009 vacation in Costa Rica. Because he
handled the assignment.
was statutorily eligible for cancellation
Sidley successfully obtained a remand
to the trial court for a client from Mexico.
After several years of struggle, including an
appeal to the Seventh Circuit, the client was
granted a hearing before an immigration
judge on the question whether he was
properly notified of the government’s intent
to rescind his legal permanent resident
status, as federal regulations require. The
Sidley team, led by Mel Washburn, included
Christina Coleman, Laura Jakubowski*,
Michelle Ramirez and legal assistant Zach
Haller.
Jen Peltz* obtained U visas for a
woman from Mexico and her three children.
The mother’s U visa was granted in March
2010 and U visas for her children were
granted in December 2010 and March 2011.
Mel Washburn supervised the matter.
of removal, the immigration judge had
discretion to allow him to stay in the United
States. After we showed that our client had
been rehabilitated, that he had been sober
for more than six years following a drug
addiction, and that he had been acting as
a father to his fiancée’s two young children,
the immigration court granted cancellation
of removal. The government waived appeal,
allowing our client to maintain his status
as a lawful permanent resident and clearing
the way for him to apply for U.S. citizenship.
Praju Tuladhar and Jamie Benjamin
obtained protection under VAWA and
lawful permanent residence for a woman
from Mex ic o w ho w as the vi cti m of
domestic violence in the United States.
She received her Permanent Resident card
in May and now no longer worries about
being separated from her young children,
I n a c a s e t h e N e w Yo r k L e g a l
Assistance Group referred to the firm,
Sidley obtained asylum for a woman
from the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC) who fled to the U.S. after the DRC
National Intelligence Agency imprisoned
and brutally tortured her for alerting a
political dissident to a threat against his
life. Sidley is currently helping the client
reunite with the children she adopted after
who are U.S. citizens.
We obtained relief for a client who
came to the U.S. in 2007 after escaping a
polygamous tribal marriage in Cameroon.
She filed for asylum immediately after
entering the country. After marrying in
2010, our client amended her court filings
to apply for adjustment of status. An
immigration judge found that our client
qualified for adjustment of status and
waiver of inadmissibility because she is
the spouse of a U.S. citizen and could
successfully demonstrate extreme hardship
to her husband in the event of her removal.
Laura Bayard*, Kate Falahee and Simone
Bonnet handled the matter.
divorced him in the U.S. rather than
return to Nepal after he was deported
from the U.S. for soliciting sex with a
minor. Our client obtained asylum on the
basis of her membership in a particular
social group—Nepalese women who had
divorced their husbands. The immigration
judge concluded that Nepalese society
views divorced women as a group of
social outcasts deserving stigmatization
and harm, and that her ex-husband’s
persecution of her was based on this
cultural and religious code. John Skakun
and Bryan Mulder handled the matter
under the supervision of Holly Harrison,
with assistance from Sheila Armbrust.
Lauren Grau and Feras Alkasab*, with
guidance from Charles Cotropia, obtained
asylum for an Orthodox Coptic Christian
family from Egypt. The family came to the
U.S. seeking asylum on the grounds of past
persecution and fears of future persecution
in Egypt on account of their Christian
faith. The immigration judge found (1) that
the client and his family were credible,
(2) that he established past persecution
on account of his religion and (3) that he
In a case referred by Sanctuary for
Families, we successfully concluded a
U visa case for a client who experienced
continuous abuse at the hands of her
husband. In 1997, the couple moved to
the U.S. from Mexico, hoping for a better
future. Since the beginning of their
relationship, the husband had threatened
and beaten his wife and hit their child. One
night, the husband came home drunk and
established past persecution on account
of membership in a particular social group.
The court also found that our client has a
well-founded fear of future persecution.
Sidley obtained U.S. asylum for an
aid worker from the Democratic Republic
of Congo who was persecuted because of
political beliefs that the ruling party had
imputed to him. Megan Walsh and Kristin
Seeger handled the matter, with assistance
from summer associate Jessica Rothenberg.
We obtained asylum for a Nepalese
woman who was persecuted from abroad
by her abusive ex-husband because she
continued
terrorized her and their three-year old son.
two-year effort. Although our client was
She applied for a U visa for her son and
granted U.S. asylum on humanitarian
herself. We helped the client throughout
grounds, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration
the entire process and her U visa was
Services (USCIS) had initially delayed
granted. She is now able to look for a job
consideration of her permanent residency
and start a new life as a legal alien, free
application without explanation. We filed
from fear. Elisabetta Assi and Ryan Cloud
a petition with the Ombudsman’s Office
handled the case.
of the Department of Homeland Security,
Sidley represented two Pentecostal
Christian sisters in their asylum
proceedings. Based on the past religious
persecution they suffered in Eritrea, one
sister was granted asylum in August, and
the other sister was granted asylum in
November. Both matters were handled
and USCIS subsequently granted the
application after a short interview with our
client. Jill Caiazzo handled the matter under
Lisa Crosby's supervision with support
from legal assistant Eva Brandon Mozena
and litigation support specialist Daniel
Rioja.
by Sarah Newman, Maria Post and
Our pro bono immigration work is not
Laura Bayard* under Mel Washburn's
limited to individual representations. In
supervision.
2011, attorneys Carlos Rodriguez, Jesselyn
Sidley obtained permanent lawful
resident status for an asylee from Togo.
In 2009, we had represented the client in
his successful asylum application, which
was based on the persecution he suffered
because of his opposition to the dominant
political party and his refusal to make
illegal contributions to the government. In
2011, Sidley helped the client reunite with
his family and obtain permanent residency.
Stephen Rutenberg and Elisabetta Assi
handled the matter.
Sidley recently obtained permanent
U.S. residency for a woman from El
Salvador, successfully concluding a
Pe, Tara Conroy and Raynard Jones helped
the New York Immigration Coalition by
advising on employment termination
matters, resolving a contract dispute with
its telephone/internet provider, advising
on what information may be obtained from
employees, advising on whether a fiscal
responsibility agreement is sufficient proof
of non-profit status and whether 501(c)(3)
status can be conferred on a sponsored
organization, and advising on taxes on
“political expenditures.”
Our client's family, together again, on a recent outing in San Francisco.
In 2006, Sidley took the case of a
high school principal from Uganda who
had been kidnapped and tortured by
government operatives for ten months
after organizing peaceful protests against
the president’s efforts to eliminate
presidential term limits. We helped the
client gain asylum and then applied for
lawful permanent resident status on
his behalf. Despite complications, his
application was approved and Sidley then
helped him apply for derivative status for
travel documents to the family after two
years. With financial assistance for travel
costs from the Sidley Austin Foundation,
and after five long years, our client was
reunited with his wife and three children
in San Francisco on November 23, 2011.
Ellen Trachman took the case under Peter
Kang’s supervision. Carrie Cotter*, Naomi
Igra, Michael Rugen, Kelly Huggins and
legal assistant Carly Brower also worked
on the case. Cliff Gerber advised on a tax
issue.
his wife and children, which was granted
in January 2009. Sidley petitioned the
U.S. Consulate in Kampala, and with help
from U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer’s office,
finally compelled the consulate to issue
Veterans Benefits Project
F
or those servicemen and
2011, we represent veterans who have been
servicewomen who have given so
medically retired by the Armed Forces and
much to our country, we want to ensure
awarded service-connected disability from
that they get the benefits they so richly
the VA, yet due to the traditional ban on
deserve to provide for themselves and
“concurrent receipt” of both benefits, are
their families.
having the benefits offset by one another. A
This initiative focuses on three types of
clients: (1) veterans seeking disability
benefits from the Department of Veterans
Affairs (VA), (2) current or recently-discharged service members seeking disabil-
service member whose disabling condition
is “combat-related,” however, is eligible for
additional compensation. Sidley prepares
these applications on behalf of the veterans
and in 2011, took 24 new cases.
ity benefits from the Armed Forces and (3)
Sidley obtained full disability
veterans seeking Combat-Related Special
benefits and a large retroactive award for
Compensation from the Armed Forces.
a Vietnam-era U.S. Army veteran based
In the first category, Sidley provides pro
on a finding that his bipolar disorder was
bono representation to veterans seeking
service connected. Sidley became involved
compensation from the VA for “service-
in the case in 2007 through the National
connected” disabilities. These clients need
Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP)
assistance locating records and explaining
after the VA rejected our client's application
why they have a compensable disability. In
for benefits. Sidley successfully appealed
the second category, Sidley represents cur-
the denial to the Court of Appeals for
rent or recently-discharged military service
Veterans Claims, which remanded the case
members whose disabilities render them
for further review. The veteran was then
“unfit” to serve and thus are eligible for
re-examined and ultimately prevailed,
a military medical retirement. We guide
obtaining a prospective award of full
them through the Physical Disability
benefits (approximately $32,000 per year)
System and ensure that their assigned
and a retroactive award worth more than
level of disability, which dictates pension
$200,000. Brian Rubens* and Linton Childs
and healthcare eligibility, is accurate and
handled the matter.
fair. In the third category, new to Sidley in
In a case of national
significance, Sidley prevailed in
an appeal of a U.S. Army decision
denying veterans benefits to our
client, the widow of a Bronze Star
recipient, and their four young
children. After serving two tours in
Iraq, Captain Samson Luke joined
the Arkansas National Guard, which
allowed him to sleep at home while
on a two-day training exercise.
Capt. Luke died in his sleep on
January 10, 2010. Although initially
assuring his widow that it would
provide benefits, the Army reversed
its position. Working with NVLSP,
Sidley represented Captain Luke’s
widow in her appeal to the Board for
the Correction of Military Records
(BCMR). After an 18-month legal
fight, the BCMR granted her appeal
and the Army has agreed to provide
substantial benefits, including a
$100,000 death gratuity, funeral
expense reimbursement and
various healthcare and education
benefits. On December 1, 2011,
the U.S. Senate passed the “Luke
Amendment,” which, if it becomes
law, will help ensure that other
survivors in our client's situation
receive veteran’s benefits. Craig
Knot and Peter Booth handled the
appeal.
In Padgett v. Shinseki, the Federal Circuit
reversed the Veterans Court and awarded
fees to Sidley’s client, a surviving spouse,
under the Equal Access to Justice Act
(EAJA) for attorney time expended after her
the medical nexus between the veteran’s
injuries and his wartime service. Sidley and
NVLSP successfully negotiated a remand
requiring the government to assist in the
development of the veteran’s claim.
Ed Petrosky, Patrick Troy and Janet
Zagorin, in partnership with our client Bank
of America, are helping establish the bank’s
new pro bono effort, Volunteer Lawyers
for Veterans (VLV). VLV is supported by
husband’s death. This decision is the latest
On behalf of a Vietnam-era Marine
the Yellow Ribbon Fund, a nonprofit dedi-
round in a 12-year legal fight in which our
Corps veteran, a team from Chicago
cated to helping injured service members
client’s spouse was wrongly and repeatedly
secured a claim for disability payments for
and their families. VLV is bringing together
denied benefits by the VA. Agreeing with
service-connected post-traumatic stress
attorneys from all areas of specialization
our principal argument, the Federal Circuit
disorder. The VA recently assigned our
to help veterans with their legal needs,
concluded that there is “nothing in the
client a 100% disability rating and awarded
including bankruptcy, business start-ups,
text of the EAJA or its legislative history to
him a monthly payment of nearly $2500
real estate, tax and family law.
support a per se rule denying recovery for
going forward and a lump sum payment of
fees incurred after a claimant’s death.” Eric
approximately $95,000 based on the VA’s
Shumsky argued the case. With him on the
determination that our client’s entitlement
briefs were Anand Das, Tara Mikkilineni*
began in December 2008. These awards
and NVLSP. This is Sidley’s second Federal
were the result of a nearly three-year
Circuit victory in the case.
process in which Sidley enlisted the
Sidley successfully represented the
surviving spouse of a decorated Korean
War veteran in the U.S. Court of Veterans
Appeals. The veteran had suffered cold
injuries and earned a Purple Heart during
his service in Korea, but was denied
assistance of a medical professional and
made numerous submissions to the VA
on our client’s behalf. Steve Carlson, Greg
Durkin and Louani Bascara handled the
matter. The Legal Assistance Foundation of
Chicago referred the case.
benefits for his wartime injuries. Working
with NVLSP, Richard Klingler, Donald Smith
and Katy Hitchins* established that his
widow was eligible to seek accrued benefits
after her husband’s death, and showed
that the VA had erred in failing to address
Project History
In 2007, Sidley Washington, D.C. partner and national Pro Bono Chair Ronald Flagg led the effort to establish the Veterans Benefits
Project as Sidley’s third firmwide pro bono initiative. Flagg also chairs the Board of the National Veterans Legal Services Program
(NVLSP). The bulk of the cases handled in the Veterans Benefits Project are cases NVLSP referred to Sidley as part of a nationwide
referral network, known as “Lawyers Serving Warriors,” designed to provide legal assistance to unrepresented veterans. Sidley has
since expanded the Project to accept cases from the Veterans’ Rights Project of the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan
Chicago and the Veterans Legal Support Center & Clinic at The John Marshall Law School. Emily Wexler manages the Project out of the
Chicago office.
Other Pro Bono in Sidley's U.S. Offices
Ensuring Justice for Criminal
Defendants
entitled to a new trial because, after the
juvenile police officer took a 13-year-old
jury had deliberated for four days and
seventh-grader from his classroom to a
o r o v e r 17 y e a r s , S i d l e y h a s
requested additional instruction on the
closed-door conference room, where police
participated in hundreds of criminal
meaning of reasonable doubt, the trial
and school administrators questioned the
cases in trial courts, the courts of appeals
court's reinstruction lowered the burden
boy for 30 minutes without advising him of
and the U.S. Supreme Cour t on a pro
of proof and signaled to the jury that the
his constitutional rights. Justice Sotomayor
bono basis, including many that resulted
judge believed the government had carried
wrote the 5-4 decision and, consistent with
in landmark decisions. During that time,
its burden. The Court of Appeals agreed
the arguments in our brief, held that a trial
Sidley has gained national recognition for
and ordered a new trial, with two judges
court may consider a juvenile’s age in a
its efforts to level the playing field and seek
holding that the reinstruction violated
Fifth Amendment Miranda custody analysis.
justice for indigent criminal defendants
due process by diluting the reasonable-
The Sidley team included Mark Hopson,
w ho s e f a m ilie s la c k t he p owe r a n d
doubt standard, and a third concurring in
Stephanie Hales, Jamie Rehman, Jeff Green
resources of the government on the other
the judgment. Jeff Green, Eric McArthur
and legal assistants D'Esprit Smith and
side. In addition to representing criminal
(argued), Matt Fogelberg, and Rob Porter*
Kevin Garvey (now a law clerk).
defendants at the Cour t, Sidley has
handled the appeal.
F
Freddy Chacon, a 34-year old
played a significant role in scores of other
Sidley filed an amicus brief on behalf of
Mexican national, has been incarcerated
Supreme Court criminal cases through
NACDL in support of the petitioner in J.D.B.
in California prisons since he was 14
its briefing and moot court program for
v. North Carolina. In this case, a uniformed
years old. For the past 12 years, he has
public defenders and its participation
in the amicus committee of the National
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Sidley's Supreme Court Clinic at Northwestern University Law School
(NACDL).
Since 2006, Sidley has sponsored
the U.S. Supreme Court Clinic at
Northwestern University Law School,
which primarily represents indigent
criminal defendants. Clinic students
draft briefs and identify court of
appeals’ decisions as candidates
for petitions for a writ of certiorari,
all in partnership with the firm’s pro
bono program. Carter Phillips, D.C.
Managing Partner, and Jeff Green,
D.C. Pro Bono Chair, are the Clinic’s
directors. Members of Sidley’s
Appellate Group who taught in 2011
include Joseph Guerra, Robert
Hochman, Constantine Trela and Paul
Zidlicky. Washington, D.C.’s Pro Bono
Counsel Becky Troth, law clerk Kevin
Garvey, and legal assistants D’Esprit
Smith and Heath Ingram support the
program’s activities.
Sidley filed suit in U.S. District Court
on behalf of six death-row prisoners from
California, Arizona and Tennessee against
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
seeking to prohibit the FDA from allowing
the importation or use of unapproved
sodium thiopental. During the past year,
the agency has knowingly permitted
unapproved sodium thiopental to be
imported by state corrections agencies
for use in executions by lethal injection.
Oral argument on the cross motions for
summary judgment are scheduled for
February 2012. Brad Berenson, Coleen
Klasmeier, Eric Shumsky, Sean Griffin and
Sara Beardsley are handling the case.
A client, who had been convicted of
second-degree murder for his alleged role
in an urban gunfight in which a bystander
was killed, prevailed in the DC Court of
In 2011, the Clinic filed 19 petitions
for a writ of certiorari and nine reply
briefs. In addition, Clinic students
drafted two briefs on the merits for
parties and several briefs as amicus
curiae.
Appeals. We argued that our client was
Guest speakers provided unique
insight into practice in the nation's
highest court. In the spring term,
Roy McLeese, Acting Deputy Solicitor
General, and the Honorable Gary
Feinerman of the U.S. District Court
spoke with students about Supreme
Court advocacy. In the fall, CBS
correspondent Jan Crawford and Tony
Mauro of The National Law Journal
debated the role of the press in
covering the Supreme Court.
Sidley’s Jeff Green instructs students on
effective Supreme Court advocacy in a
moot court at the Northwestern University
Law School.
been held in solitary confinement in the
appeal in early 2012, and expects argument
Jon Santamauro*, along with Richard
Secured Housing Unit at Pelican Bay State
in the spring of 2012. Meanwhile, Mr.
Menard* and Jeremy Mallory*, drafted the
Prison. At the age of 16, while serving a
Housler is back home working and enjoying
brief.
sentence in a California Youth Authority
life with his family.
facility, Mr. Chacon and a friend hatched
Helping Families
Protecting Civil and Human Rights
a misguided plan to escape, kidnapping
the librarian. They never made it outside
the gates, crashing a commandeered truck
about 150 feet from where they started,
and the librarian sustained only minor
injuries. For this offense, Mr. Chacon
was sentenced to life without parole and
transferred at age 17 to Pelican Bay State
Prison, one of the State's harshest adult
facilities. Last year, the U.S. Supreme
Court held in Graham v. Florida that lifewithout-parole sentences for juveniles
violate the Eighth Amendment’s ban on
cruel and unusual punishment. Sidley filed
a petition for habeas relief on Mr. Chacon's
behalf and, in June, the court recognized
We helped a client obtain custody of
Sidley’s clients, the Sikh American
her granddaughter and permission to move
Legal Defense Fund, the Sikh Coalition
with the child to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Our
and the Liberty Institute, prevailed in
representation spanned seven years and
Elijah Group v. City of Leon Valley, in which
included multiple meetings with the client,
the Fifth Circuit reversed a district court
discovery requests, several negotiations
ruling and held that the zoning ordinance
with the client’s daughter (the child's
at issue violated the Equal Terms provision
mother), hearings in multiple jurisdictions,
of the 2000 Religious Land Use and
a trial and post-trial briefs. Aaron Johansen
Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)—
and Meghan Berroya handled the case
an Act that Sidley helped develop and pass.
under Mark Guerrera's supervision. Anand
The Fifth Circuit decision is consistent with
Das, Peter Pfaffenroth, Marianne Caulfield*
Sidley’s amicus brief in which we argued
and Kristen Knapp* assisted in this case.
that the district court ruling should be
The grandmother sent the email reprinted
overturned for erroneously applying the
below.
narrow statutory test. Ed McNicholas and
Graham’s applicability to his sentence,
ordered it vacated, and directed that he be
re-sentenced “consistent with Graham.” The
trial court resentenced Mr. Chacon to life
with the possibility of parole. Douglas Axel,
Christopher Munsey and Jamie Bartlett
handled the matter. Legal assistant Thom
Berninzoni and staff members Rebecca
Allemand, Darlene Giusti and Dan Martinez
also worked on the case.
The team of Paul Hemmersbaugh,
James Owens, Jason Vendel, Mick Flanagan
and Bryson Bachman* filed a successful
petition for a writ of habeas corpus on behalf
of David Housler, a young man who had
served 15 years in prison for murders he did
not commit. Released in October 2010, the
State of Tennessee appealed, and in late
2011, the Sidley team filed a 112-page brief
in the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals
defending the trial court's historic grant of
09/01/2011
We, my granddaughter and I, thank you!
pared to my extreme gratitude to your
The phrase, “thank you” seems pale com
graciously accepted my custody case, as
Firm for its unwavering dedication. You
the status-quo, through its conclusion,
pro-bono, in summer 2004 and maintain
ion]
quest to save my grandchild, [in my opin
July 2011. Your generosity to me, in my
ys
alwa
were
case
neys assigned to my
went way beyond the call of duty. The attor
ly-like and at times were my calming
fami
rs,
confident professionals, good characte
agents.
me
were not going my way. Naturally, I beca
There were times when I felt like things
the
to
,
nsen
administered, by Aaron Joha
frustrated and impatient. The level of care
e
mak
r once did he or anyone at your Firm
success of my case was exemplary. Neve
ity case.
my granddaughter or me feel like a char
. My granddaughter is secure with me…
Thanks to you, we accomplished our goal
will never have to fight for her childhood
She is truly happy! She knows that she
ol and be a kid.
survival; all she has to do is her best in scho
ie,
an Delaney Berroya, Mark Guerrera, Jack
Thanks again to: Aaron Johansen, Meg
ns
perso
l
derfu
taries and all the other won
those who answer the phones the secre
s
and present. I pray that your Firm continue
who helped to make this possible, past
to grow and prosper.
From a sincerely grateful grandmother
habeas relief. The team finished briefing the
continued
Sidley lawyers partner with the
Protecting Housing Rights
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice,
We represented an elderly couple who
which is located in East Los Angeles and
have been tenants of a rent-controlled
has provided direct representation and
apartment unit for over 35 years. After an
education to low-income families for
accidental fire in their unit, their landlord’s
almost 40 years. In 2011, Sidley lawyers
insurance company paid for the property
helped three clients obtain restraining
damage. The insurance company then sued
orders against their abusive partners—
the couple for indemnification. The lawsuit
clients who had endured years of physical
was stressful for the couple, who also faced
and mental abuse and lived in constant
mounting medical bills because of the
fear for their safety and the safety of
husband’s deteriorating health. After a few
their children. The firm also obtained
months of litigation, we were able to secure
orders granting our clients custody of
the dismissal of the company’s subrogation
their children pending further divorce
action against the clients. Mike Kelley, Jodi
proceedings. The team included Amy Lally,
Lopez, Jennifer Lam and Yolanda Ochoa
Frank Broccolo, Andrew Dunbar, Cameron
worked on the matter.
Johnson, Christine Diaz-Herrera, Chris
Munsey and Lillian Park. Staff members
Sidley helps staff the Landlord
Rebecca Allemand, Claudia Espinoza,
Tenant Resource Center (LTRC) of the D.C.
Mirna Thompson and Lillian Ruiz played
Superior Court. Each year, landlords file
important roles in the representations.
over 40,000 cases in the Landlord Tenant
Branch of the D.C. Superior Court, seeking
Representing the mother of two
daughters, a Sidley team obtained an order
from the Superior Court of the District of
Note from the clients
represented in the insurance
dispute over fire damage.
Columbia mandating child support
payments to our client. The case
included conference calls with the
Office of the Attorney General
of the District of Columbia to
encourage service of process
upon the father, issuing a
s u b p o e n a t o t h e f a t h e r ’s
employer to obtain salary
information, negotiating an
agreement with the father,
drafting the agreement and
presenting the agreement
to the court. In an earlier
proceeding, the team
secured custody to the mother.
Paul Perkins, Eric McArthur and Danielle
Carter as well as Susan Lagana* handled
the case under Sam Gutter’s supervision.
summary evictions of tenants. Over 99%
of tenants and nearly 14% of landlords
proceed pro se through the court. The Bar
launched the LTRC in 2004 to improve due
process and access to justice in Landlord
Tenant Court. Sidley has been staffing
the LTRC every fourth Thursday. Georgia
Albert, Jill Caiazzo, Marinn Carlson, Hanna
Chouest, Kyle Fiet, Ronald Flagg, Ben
Friedlander, Mark Guerrera, Jim Hughes*,
Kurt Jacobs, Erica Jackson, Paul Perkins,
Lauren Roth, Amber Tofilon, Becky Troth,
Lawrence Walders and Nick Wimbush and
legal assistants D’Esprit Smith, Adam
Hartmann and Heath Ingram all staffed the
LTRC in 2011.
Sam and Becky:
"Thank you" letter from the Legal Counsel for the
Elderly for representing the J.W. King Tenants'
Association. Hanna Chouest and Adam Rusnak
handled the matter, supervised by Sam Boxerman.
Helping People with Disabilities
Through the D.C. Bar Advocacy and Justice
Clinic, Sidley has represented scores of
clients in appealing denials of disability
benefits. In 2011, Sidley's clients were
successful in the following disability
benefits cases that the Clinic referred to
the firm:
I wanted to take a mo
ment to thank you bo
th for lending the wo
Hanna and Adam to
nderful resources of
the JW King case. Th
e
74
-unit building had ser
I first met with the ten
ious defects when
ants. The roof was lea
king into individual
fireproofed, the carpe
units, the stairwells
ting lifted and beca
not
me a tripping hazard,
access the side entra
and tenants could on
nce of the building.
ly
Thanks to the assistan
ce of your firm, the ten
ants filed a HUD comp
Conditions Court co
laint and Housing
mplaint, which are
res
olv
ing the building issue
case involves a lot of
s significantly. This
court time, which Ha
nna and Adam devo
work reflects well on
ted zealously. Their
Sidley and has made
a
tremendous differen
seniors. Thank you ag
ce in the lives of ma
ain.
ny
Sincerely,
Jennifer L. Berger
Supervisory Legal Aid
Attorney
AARP/Legal Counsel
for the Elderly
We successfully represented a client
before a Social Security Administration
Sidley successfully appealed an SSA
(SSA) administrative law judge (ALJ). In
decision denying disability benefits. The
We obtained full benefits for a man
her fully favorable decision, the ALJ cited
woman had a history of mental illness and
seeking reconsideration of the SSA’s
our client's “host of impairments with a
longstanding back problems stemming
denial of disability benefits. The client is
psychological bent” and held that “it would
from scoliosis, but had nonetheless worked
HIV positive and was recently diagnosed
be impossible for the claimant to sustain
until suffering a permanently damaging
with full blown AIDS. He has experienced
competitive employment.” The team
ankle fracture. The team gathered the
painful side effects from his medication,
handling the case included Mark Langdon,
client's medical records and submitted
and has numerous AIDS-related health
Patrick O’Keefe, Sara Beardsley, Staff
a detailed letter brief explaining her
problems preventing him from sitting for
Attorney Heather Irwin and legal assistant
condition. After a hearing, the ALJ issued
more than 15 minutes or even leaving his
Beryl Dennis.
a favorable opinion providing back benefits
home. After submitting a detailed letter
of approximately $7,000 and disability
brief and medical documentation, the
benefits going forward. Ron Flagg, J High
SSA awarded our client full benefits. Ron
(argued) and Brian Fox handled the appeal,
Flagg, Kimberly Myers and Susan Lagana*
supported by legal assistant Amy Johnson.
handled the matter.
Sidley resolved a disabled veteran's
lengthy dispute with the SSA over the
agency’s demands for repayment of an
alleged overpayment. In a series of errorridden decisions, the agency contended
Sidley obtained a fully favorable
In addition to a back injury incurred
that it had overpaid benefits to our
resolution for a man in his lengthy legal
in a work accident in 2009, Sidley's client
client and sought repayment of close to
fight with the SSA over disability benefits.
suffered from HIV/AIDS, severe depression
$10,000. Sidley submitted multiple letters,
The man suffered from a number of chronic
and hepatitis C. The SSA, however, had
reconsideration requests, and waiver
and degenerative diseases but the agency
found that he was not disabled. After
requests, met with the agency staff a
denied benefits because he had not
requesting an ALJ hearing and submitting
number of times, and called the agency
provided sufficient medical documentation
extensive medical documentation, the SSA
repeatedly. Eventually, we were able to
to show that he was unable to work. After
issued a fully favorable “on the record”
elevate the issue and negotiate a complete
we submitted a detailed letter brief and
determination, finding our client disabled
waiver of the amount allegedly owed. In
thorough medical documentation and
since August 2010 and providing disability
addition, Sidley convinced the agency to
participated in an administrative hearing,
benefits going forward. David Hill, Katie
refund to our client money that the agency
the ALJ's decision provided nearly two
Durick and Rina Mady handled the appeal,
had withheld from his benefits as part of
years of back benefits and disability
supported by legal assistant D’Esprit
its effort to collect. The team included Juge
benefits going forward. Paul Kalb and Joel
Smith.
Gregg, Peter Keisler, Stephen Blank and
Visser handled the appeal, supported by
Rochelle Fink.*
legal assistant Adam Hartmann.
continued
Supporting the Community and
Nonprofit Organizations
Sidley filed a lawsuit on behalf of
Sidley represented the Evanston
Park Slope United Methodist Church, a
Community Media Center in lease negotia-
Alan Jakimo, Martin Gold, Ran Goel
congregation in Brooklyn, for breach of an
tions for its new broadcast and office space
and Benson Cohen have been negotiating
agreement to purchase commercial kitchen
with the City of Evanston. David Siegel
state-of-the-art agreements on behalf of
equipment to renovate the kitchen of the
handled this matter for the Center.
Seedco, a not for profit that helps people
Church’s community center. The kitchen
find jobs and other economic opportunities
facility was used to support the Church’s
in connection with a pilot project to launch
after-service social hours, Sunday school,
“social impact bonds” in the United States.
youth group programs and other meetings.
The pilot project would allow philanthropic
When the defendant contractor failed to
and other investors to fund innovative
deliver the equipment but kept the 50%
social service programs designed to
deposit, despite numerous requests for
generate costs savings for municipalities
a refund over several years, the Church
or other public agencies. The project
hired another contractor to complete the
would finance programs to address
renovation. Sidley lawyers John Lavelle,
criminal justice recidivism, post-foster
David Bacon, Kristen Caccavo*, Gabriel
care case management, public assistance
Bedoya, and summer associates Lucas
recidivism, de-institutionalization and/or
Test and Oliver Liao obtained a favorable
homelessness prevention. Costs savings
settlement of the matter soon after filing
generated by the social service programs
suit against the original contractor.
will be shared by the municipal agencies
and investors.
As its first item of business at its first
meeting, the Board of Directors of Digital
Sidley represented the Frank Lloyd
Promise thanked Sidley—and Mike Clark
Wright Preservation Trust throughout
in particular— for our pro bono work in
2011 on a number of pro bono matters,
forming the nonprofit and obtaining tax-
including real estate leasing transactions
exempt status for the organization in record
and contract negotiations for the Trust’s
time. An independent 501(c)(3), Digital
properties and operations relating to their
Promise is a national research center that
headquarters in the Rookery Building in
focuses on developing new technologies for
Chicago, their warehouse/distribution
teaching and learning in the public schools.
center in suburban Chicago, the Frank
The establishment of the center, created
Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park,
with bipartisan Congressional support,
and the Robie House in Hyde Park. John
is the culmination of a ten-year effort by
Rafkin and Anna Mommsen represent the
public television pioneers Newt Minow
Trust.
and Lawrence Grossman. The meeting on
September 16 was in the White House,
where Digital Promise was launched.
Michael Greenblatt and Mary Kate
Johnson, supervised by Sam Gandhi,
represented the nonprofit Association for
Hispanic Arts, Inc. (AHA) in a simplified
non-judicial dissolution. Working closely
with the Secretary of AHA and the Charities
Bureau of the New York Attorney General,
they drafted the required dissolution
documents and filed the executed versions
of those documents with the New York
State Attorney General, the Tax Department
and the Department of State. AHA was
incorporated in 1975 to encourage the
study of Hispanic arts.
Sidley helped with the formation
of Hope In Loss, Inc. as a not-for-profit
organization. Founded to provide
support and assistance to parents who
have suffered the loss of a child late in
pregnancy or soon after birth by a couple
in Brooklyn who had experienced such
losses themselves, the mission of Hope
In Loss is to create a safe, website-based
community where such parents, family
and friends can share comfort, emotional
support, and information about the
process of grieving, recovering and coping
with their loss. Sidley lawyers and staff,
including Marianne Bellucci, Anne Falvey,
Patti Wu, Alan Jakimo, Stephanie McLeod,
Shira Selengut and John Lavelle prepared,
filed, and amended the charter, drafted
bylaws and provided advice on general
organizational matters, online user
agreements and not-for-profit tax filings
and applications.
Sidley regularly provides licensing,
A group of 16 Sidley lawyers and staff
board and chairs the clinic), Christine
trademark, domain name and copyright
joined with professionals from KPMG’s
Kailus, Jed Rosenkrantz, Lindsey Smith,
advice to multiple nonprofit organizations.
Chicago Audit and Forensic practices to
Julie Klaff, Julie Weber, Jennifer Foster,
Julia Chester represents the Global Fund,
serve a holiday meal at a soup kitchen in a
Whitney Cox, Annie Wallis, Reena Jashnani,
Plan!t Now, Shape Up America!, Small
church basement in Chicago’s Humboldt
Raina Patel, Praju Tuladhar, Patrick Croke,
Press Expo, World Health Imaging, Citizens
Park neighborhood. The Sidley and KPMG
Gerald Angst, Frank Favia and Priscilla
United in Research for Epilepsy and Jewish
volunteers served more than 150 men
Ryan.
Family Services of Los Angeles. Charles
and women, many of whom are home-
Cotropia handles trademark registrations,
less. The event was organized by Chicago
clearance and advice for the Resolution
partner John Levi and KPMG partner
Project, the Spina Bifida Foundation of
Amanda Rigby. Other Sidley participants
America, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential
included Steve Catlett, Linton Childs, Jason
Library Foundation, PROMIS Health
Englund, Ericka Foster, Alicia Griffeth, Erik
Organization and the International Anti-
Ives, Melissa Kearney, Colleen Kenney,
Corruption Resource Center. Dusan Clark
Nancy Kevin, Rachel Margolis, John Skakun,
provides licensing, trademark, domain
Hille Sheppard, David Siegel, Megan Walsh
name, and copyright advice to Girl Scouts
and Mary Weber.
of Greater Chicago and NW Indiana, the
National Center for Missing and Exploited
Children, Abraham Low Self Help Systems,
Pathways Center, Exploratorium, Civic
Committee, Hoop Stars, Inc. and Soaring
Eagle Academy.
Nancy Kevin (Sidley financial controller),
Mike Romano (a regular volunteer at the food
pantry), and Alicia Griffeth (Sidley Accounting
Department) and a KPMG volunteer serving a
holiday meal at a Chicago soup kitchen.
Sidley has a growing relationship
with the Justice Resource Center (JRC),
a nonprofit group focused on the
administration of law-related and civic
education programs for school-age
youth. Since 2002, Sidley has participated
in JRC's MENTOR program, its premier
collaboration between the legal profession
and the school-age population. We are
paired with the High School for Leadership
Sidley continues to run the free legal
and Public Service in Manhattan,
clinic established in 2010 through Chicago
exposing the students to the practice and
Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS), Chicago's
study of law. Working with the school’s
oldest free legal services provider. The clinic
teachers and administrators, Sidley
operates once a month and volunteers
has provided mentors and coaches to
typically spend about one to two hours
students participating in annual New
meeting with clinic visitors about a wide
York Moot Court and Mock Trial statewide
variety of legal issues. Sidley takes on some
competitions. We also arrange for the
of the clinic visitors as pro bono clients
students to visit a federal court visit twice
and refers others back to CVLS’s “panel”
a year to observe a court proceeding,
volunteer network. Sidley clinic volunteers
participate in a Q&A with the judge and
include Kevin Fee (who is on the CVLS
tour the courtroom and judge’s chambers.
We also arranged summer internships in
our library and records department. Several
of the students we mentor have moved on
to college and hope to go to law school.
María Meléndez, James O’Connor, Karim
Aoun, Gabriel Bedoya, Joseph Doyle,
Luke Frankson, Matthew Hughey, Brogiin
Keeton, Trevor Rozier-Byrd, DeNae Thomas
and Patrick Troy served as coaches in 2011.
continued
Sidley recognized Pro Bono Week
by participating with more than 90 other
Washington, D.C.-based firms, nonprofits,
law schools and corporations in "Going
Casual for Justice." The event, organized
by the DC Bar Foundation, benefitted the
Foundation's Loan Repayment Assistance
Program (LRAP). LRAP helps D.C. poverty
lawyers pay their educational debts while
earning a public interest salary, essentially
increasing the compensation of the
attorneys serving our most vulnerable
residents. Individuals who contributed $5
could wear jeans on a Friday and for an
extra $5, could wear sneakers as well. To
The Washington, D.C. office’s “Spectacular Six (Minus One)”: Mark Hopson, Paul Moates, George
Jones, Alan Raul and Carter Phillips; Ron Flagg was unavailable for the photo.
inspire participation, six senior partners
(a.k.a. "The Spectacular Six") agreed to wear
Sidley’s New York office hosted its
In July, the Washington, D.C. office
jeans if the office raised at least $7000. The
first Sidley Service Day with New York
held its Fifth Annual Service Week.
office actually raised more than $8000, and
Cares, a premier nonprofit organization
A number of Sidley lawyers, summer
the Spectacular Six (minus Ron Flagg, who
that each year mobilizes more than 53,000
associates and staff participated in a variety
was out of town) donned denim for the
volunteers to support more than 1200
of volunteer activities during the week,
occasion. In a story on Go Casual for Justice,
nonprofit agencies, public schools and
including serving dinner to 200 homeless
the on-line publication Bisnow featured a
other organizations that provide services to
men, women and children at a local soup
picture of the Sidley partners in jeans.
nearly 400,000 disadvantaged individuals
kitchen, donating 17 pints of blood to the
in the New York metropolitan area. More
sick and injured, creating birthday cards
than 50 Sidley lawyers and summer
for more than 100 children on behalf of
associates volunteered to help revitalize
the Children’s Law Center, making more
a New York City public school during this
than 150 sandwiches for distribution by
The New York Committee on Retention
and Promotion of Women hosted its first
women alumnae reception and partnered
with Dress for Success, a nonprofit
organization that provides professional
clothing, career counseling and skills
training to disadvantaged women. Dress
for Success representatives provided
information on a wide range of volunteer
opportunities available throughout New
York. The reception also launched the New
day-long event. The day’s projects included
painting a mural in one of the school’s
main hallways as well as strengthening
the school’s library by cataloging and then
filling it with over 450 donated volumes
obtained from a book drive that the office
conducted before the event.
York office’s weeklong Dress for Success
clothing drive where more than 250 articles
of clothing were donated.
New York Office's first Sidley Service Day with
New York Cares. Sidley summer associates
Sara Reichstein, Rebecca Levenson, Sidley
associate Mary Kate Johnson and partner
Miki Navazio paint a school mural.
lped
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Excerpt from a letter from a parent of one
of the GeoPlunge students.
the Salvation Army, and donating more
than $8000 and essential toiletries to a
local homeless outreach center. The week
also featured a luncheon at which Rob
Falk, General Counsel of the Human Rights
Campaign, described HRC's work, its need
for pro bono help and available pro bono
opportunities.
In conjunction with New York Cares,
Sidley’s New York Committee on Retention
and Promotion of Women held its 2011
Women & Leadership event to benefit
the Partnership for Inner-City Education.
Volunteers made 500 creativity kits to help
students prepare for school and provide
them with tools to express their creativity.
Corporate Responsibility Manager Stacy
Rotner organized the event, working with
Laurie Kleiman, the firmwide Co-Chair
of the Committee on Retention and
Promotion of Women, and Laura Barzilai,
the New York Co-Chair of the Committee.
The 2011 GeoPlunge Team sponsored by Sidley,
with legal assistants Heath Ingram
and D'Esprit Smith.
For over 15 years, Sidley has partnered
with Thomson Elementary School through
the D.C. Public School Partnership Project.
The partnership project is directed by
the Washington Lawyers’ Committee
for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. In
November, Sidley coached two teams of
fifth graders from Thomson in the annual
GeoPlunge Tournament. GeoPlunge is a
multi-award winning geography game for
children. Seventy-eight schools and over
Sidley donated over 200 gifts for
230 students participated in this year’s
underserved children as part of New York
tournament, held at the National Portrait
Cares' annual Winter Wishes “Dear Santa”
Gallery. Both of Sidley’s teams competed
program. Sidley personnel in New York
in the championship round, with one team
also donated more than 60 coats to New
finishing in the top 25.
York Cares’ 23rd Annual Coat Drive, which
provides thousands of warm winter coats to
those in need. Stacy Rotner organized both
initiatives.
continued
Sidley personnel serve as reading
partners and mentors to public school
students at Ross Elementary through the
Power Lunch program run by Everybody
Wins! DC. The Power Lunch program pairs
one adult with one student for the school
year. Our participants visit the school one
day a week during lunch to share books
and the love of reading with the students.
Currently Andy Shoyer, John Hughes, Larry
Walders, Kathryn Roberts, Lindsay Solie,
Rachel Givens, Sherrice Flowers and Dick
Belanger read in the Power Lunch program.
Dick Belanger also has been on the Board
of Everybody Wins! DC for a number of
years, serving at different times as its
Chairperson and General Counsel.
The Washington, D.C. office happily sponsored families through the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program
during the holiday season.
For the second year in a row, we
participated in the Salvation Army’s Angel
Tree Program, which provides gifts of new
clothing, shoes and toys for children 12 and
under from needy families. At the Angel
Tree Adoption Party, Sidley employees
selected angel tags with the child’s name,
age, gender, clothing and shoe size, along
with a three-item wish list. Volunteers
ensured that all the gifts were packed and
organized. As a result of Sidley employees’
generosity and volunteer efforts, all 236
"Angels" received gifts during the holiday
season. All of the gifts were displayed in
Sidley’s Chicago office celebrated Chicago’s Seventh Annual Pro Bono Week
in October, recognizing the pro bono efforts of lawyers and educating the public
and the legal community about how lawyers are improving people’s lives through
their efforts. During the week, Sidley’s Constantine Trela, who has been active
in pro bono legal service throughout his career and who serves on the Advisory
Board of the Chicago Volunteer Legal Services Foundation, was recognized by the
Foundation for his work with one of his first pro bono clients, of whom he said:
“
I met Irene more than 20 years ago, when she needed help with a neighborhood
dispute. Since then, we’ve dealt with everything from pension issues, to health
insurance, to simply explaining that official-looking letters are really only junk
mail. Much of what I do for her isn’t legal work, but rather the sort of thing a
family member would normally do for an elderly relative. I’m glad that I can fill,
”
even if only partially, that role for someone.
one of our large conference rooms before
the Salvation Army picked them up for
distribution on December 16th.
Pro Bono From A Global Perspective
I
n recent year s, Sidley ’s domestic
Working with microfinance institutions
publication on which Alyssa, Ran Goel and
a nd foreig n of f ic e s have b e c ome
throughout the world, ACCION and its
Francesca Mead, all in our New York office,
increasingly involved in pro bono efforts
partners provide individuals the ability
also worked on a pro bono basis.
on an international level.
to become self sufficient through various
2011 Highlights
forms of microenterprise ventures, such
•A
major six-year pro bono effort
involving Sidley came to a successful
conclusion in March with the release of
human rights activist and Nobel Peace
Prize nominee Óscar Elías Biscet from
a Cuban prison, where he was serving a
25-year sentence on trumped-up charges
stemming from his non-violent promotion
of democracy. Andy Strenio and Lauren
Buckley* led the firm's efforts which, in
collaboration with the efforts of lawyers
at another international firm, were
instrumental in obtaining Dr. Biscet’s
release. The matter generated significant
global media coverage, including an article
in the March 23 issue of The National Law
Journal.
as selling vegetables, sewing clothes
or making papads. In early 2011, Alyssa
Grikscheit and Gladys Chang advised
ACCION and the Michael and Susan Dell
Foundation on various agreements in
connection with an investment in Vindhya
e-Infomedia Private Ltd., a company in
Bangalore, India, that employs people
with disabilities and provides data
management and processing services to
information technology and microfinance
clients. Alyssa Grikscheit and Michael
Greenblatt also represented ACCION
International in connection with the
c o m p a n y ’s i n v e s t m e n t i n s h a r e s o f
Swadhaar Finserve Private Limited, a
nonbanking financial corporation in
Mumbai, India. Swadhaar is a unique
•After President Mubarak relinquished
institution that provides microfinance
power, the Egyptian American Rule of
services in urban areas, while most other
Law Association (EARLA) asked Sidley
Indian microfinance institutions target
to help it incorporate in D.C. and register
poverty-stricken rural areas. Francesca
as a 501(c)(3) organization. EARLA was
Mead provided additional support to
formed to provide technical legal support,
ACCION projects in India.
research and analysis, training and
•Alyssa Grikscheit moderated a panel
strategic advice to its Egyptian partners as
they form a new government. John Hughes,
Kris Kirkwood and Kerry Lee, all in our
Washington, D.C. office, worked on the
matter.
•T h e
firm represents Stitching to
Promote Women’s World Banking (WWB),
a global non-profit based in New York that
supports women-focused microfinance
institutions around the world in a number
of corporate transactional matters,
including its recent investment in one of
its network members, Fundación WWB,
at the time of its transformation from a
nonprofit organization to a licensed bank
in Colombia. Alyssa Grikscheit leads this
representation, with help from Jaime
Senior, Eileen Plaza, Jonathan Brose,
Sara D’Agostini, Chiu-Huey Hsia, Aamir
Wyne, Stephanie Busse* and Ina M. Drago
Ludowieg*.
at the Responsible Investment Forum
2011, an event presented by Private Equity
International and the United Nations
Principles for Responsible Investment
(UN PRI). Alyssa’s panel addressed private
equity investment in emerging markets,
including environmental, social and
•S i d l e y
l a w y e r s i n N e w Yo r k h a v e
done several projects with ACCION
International, a nonprofit organization
that helps impoverished individuals by
providing microenterprise loans, business
training and other financial services.
corporate governance issues and political,
regulatory and reputational risks related to
such investments. The Forum took place in
connection with the launch of the second
edition of Responsible Investment in Private
Equity: A Guide for Limited Partners, a UN PRI
Pro Bono From A Global Perspective
continued
London office
grants or donations to charities in the
•Michael Constantine and Jade Williams-
United Kingdom working to prevent or
Adedeji of our London office advised the
Federation of City Farms and Community
Gardens (FCFCG) on the charity’s lease of
premises. FCFCG is a charity that supports,
represents and promotes communitymanaged farms, gardens, allotments
and other green spaces. After months of
negotiation, a deed of variation to the
existing lease was entered into between
the parties in October, thereby securing
the charity’s long-term future at its current
relieve poverty, and to help young people
by providing support and activities
that develop their skills, capacities and
capabilities to enable them to participate
in society as responsible individuals. Kids
4 Change currently is involved in a soccer
initiative designed for young people in
West London to use soccer as a way to
avoid gang membership and crime. The
Commission granted Kids for Change's
application in August.
premises.
•Bethany Burrow and Christopher Allen
•The
advised Hawkesbury After School Club, a
Community Youth Provisions
Association (CYPA) provides a variety of
educational services to the community
and currently focuses on providing
tuition to young people excluded from
mainstream education in Math, English,
I . T. a n d S c i e n c e . T h e C Y PA t a r g e t s
its services at black minority ethnic
individuals. Mark Menhennet and Michael
Constantine have been advising the CYPA
in its ongoing dispute with its landlord,
Southwark Council, for the past two years.
During such time, and with the assistance
of counsel whom Sidley assisted in
instructing, also on a pro bono basis,
not-for-profit unincorporated association,
in connection with the incorporation of
have cerebral palsy or other motor and
sensory impairments and their families
through classes, activities and advice in a
supportive environment.
a company limited by guarantee, on the
•Mark Menhennet continues to advise
transfer of its assets and liabilities to the
the Cheshunt Unit of the Sea Cadets, a
newly incorporated company and on the
charitable organization focusing on 13-to-
registration of the newly-incorporated
18 year boys and girls, in connection with
company as a charity with the Charity
new premises for their activities. The local
Commission for England and Wales.
authority has agreed to grant a lease of
Hawkesbury After School Club provides
land on which it proposes to construct a
facilities for the daily care, recreation and
new building and parking area.
education of children during non-school
hours and school holidays. Hawkesbury
After School Club was registered as a
charity in September 2011.
•Programme
for Arts, Therapy and
Health (PATH) is a London-based charity
working with disadvantaged individuals
and excluded groups in mental and
the CYPA has successfully defended the
•Small Steps, School for Parents (a
emotional distress. PATH found itself in
Council’s initial claim for possession of
registered charity) is an unincorporated
financial difficulties and unable to pay a
the premises. We are currently advising
association looking to incorporate as a
commercial creditor. The creditor initiated
the charity in its defense of the Council's
company limited by guarantee. Elizabeth
proceedings using the UK courts "money
second claim for possession, following the
Uwaifo, Bethany Burrow and Christopher
claims" process. Steven Pitt, Christian
issuance of proceedings earlier this year.
Allen are advising on the incorporation,
Lau and Max Dannheisser advised on
•Sidley's Howard Waterman, Bethany
the transfer of Small Steps, School for
defending the claim and on attempts to
Parents' assets and liabilities to a newly
reach a commercial settlement in April
incorporated company and the registration
2011.
Burrow and Christopher Allen advised
Kids 4 Change Limited in connection
with its application for registration as a
charity with the Charity Commission for
England and Wales. Kids 4 Change seeks
to prevent or relieve poverty by providing
of that newly incorporated company as
a charity with the Charity Commission
for England and Wales. Small Steps,
School for Parents serves children who
•XSE
Academy Limited is a charity
that provides various opportunities to
youth groups in Tower Hamlets, mainly
in the 11-to-19 year old age group. The
Running for Families
organization focuses on media training
On May 29, Sidley joined 30 other international law firms in Brussels for the 7th
projects but also provides recording studio
Legal Run. Setting a new record, the 2011 Legal Run raised €20,000 for Nasci, a
time, technical training, mentoring and an
Brussels-based charity dedicated to helping pregnant women, single mothers and
online radio station. Jade Williams-Adedeji
families facing particularly difficult living conditions, who do not have the means to
is advising the group on the occupation of
satisfy the basic day-to-day needs of their family. Nasci offers professional support
their current premises and their associated
to its clients and ensures that its aid is of high quality and easily accessible. The
rights, together with assisting the dialogue
Sidley participants in the race included Marc Appels, Carolina Däcko*, Maarten
between the client and the Local Authority
Meulenbelt, Kristina Nordlander, Hazel Pearson*, Emmanuel Saurat and Jessica
(their landlord). Jade has been carrying out
Walch.
this work since April 2011 and advises the
client on an ongoing basis.
area has significantly decreased over
the cross-party Brussels-Strasbourg Seat
•Peaceful Solutions Limited runs the
the past few years. The charity holds its
Study Group in relation to the defense of
Centre for Peaceful Solutions, which
premises under a license from West Sussex
Cases C-237 and 238/11 France v. Parliament.
provides mediation services to various
County Council (WSCC). The charity
When the seat of the European Parliament
clients, including families affected
understood that their license agreement
was fixed in Brussels, Luxembourg and
by divorce and separation, community
gave them the right to let out any part of
Strasbourg (France), it was also agreed
organizations and organizations in the
the premises to other groups, with rent
that the Parliament would hold at least
public sector. Throughout September and
payable to them, and that WSCC could
twelve plenary sessions in Strasbourg. Last
October, Jade Williams-Adedeji provided
only do this in consultation with them.
March, the Parliament voted a resolution
advice to the Centre on new leasehold
WSCC then let out part of the premises to
to hold two of its plenary sessions within
premises, negotiating the form of lease,
another organization and has not passed
the same week in October in order to
completion thereof and post-completion
on any rent payments to 39 Youth Club.
limit the time spent in Strasbourg. France
requirements.
Mark Menhennet, Gurminder Sanghera
challenged this resolution before the
•Clarity provides services for people
and Frances Macduff undertook a
European Courts against the Parliament.
document review and drafted a letter of
The Brussels-Strasbourg Seat Study
advice for 39 Youth Club.
Group, which consists of Members of the
Clarity aims to reduce social isolation and
Brussels and Geneva Offices
European Parliament, has sought our
enable people to improve their confidence
•B u i l d i n g
and self esteem, as well as learn new skills.
TransFarm Africa initiative, Brussels
Mark Menhennet, Gurminder Sanghera
associate Jung-ui Sul and Geneva partner
and Frances Macduff reviewed and
Scott Andersen have continued to
•Sidley is establishing a firm project to
negotiated a new lease for Clarity between
advise on trade and regulatory issues for
assist the International Commission on
November 2010 and July 2011.
supplying seed to smallholder farmers
Jurists, a prominent Geneva-based rule of
•3 9
Yo u t h C l u b p r o v i d e s v a r i o u s
in Tanzania. This work will result in high-
law/human rights NGO, and other human
constructive, social and educational
yielding seed potato varieties being
rights organizations on a pro bono basis.
activities for young people in an area of
available to farmers in Tanzania in the early
Sidley plans to provide assistance on
high social deprivation. The club works
part of 2012. Based on this experience,
projects (e.g., authoring amicus briefs in
extensively with the police to create
Sidley is developing a firmwide program
human rights cases), assisted by students
targeted projects that focus on less
for trade, investment and finance-related
in the Masters in International Dispute
affluent sections of the surrounding area.
legal assistance in Africa.
Settlement programme at the University of
As a result of the project, youth-related
•Since June, Stephen Kinsella, Yohan
crime and antisocial behavior within the
Benizri and Jessica Walch have advised
suffering from mental health problems. By
providing social and meaningful activities,
legal and practical advice to support the
on the project with the
Parliament’s resolution on the basis of
efficiency and sustainability arguments.
Geneva. Brooks Allen is spearheading the
initiative and David Roney is supervising.
Pro Bono Honors and Events
New York lawyers Algeria Aljure,
The chief judges of the District of
Marissa Alter-Nelson and Jon Muenz
Columbia federal courts honored Sidley’s
received inMotion’s 2011 Commitment
Washington, D.C. office at the “40 at 50”
to Justice Award for their exceptional
Judicial Pro Bono Recognition Breakfast.
advocacy on behalf of a mother of four
Established by the DC Circuit Judicial
from Chad who was the victim of severe
Conference Standing Committee on
physical abuse, rape and beating during
Pro Bono Legal Services, the “40 at 50”
pregnancy at the hands of her husband.
breakfast recognizes law firms reporting
The challenges faced by this team in the
that at least 40% of their lawyers devoted
divorce action were many: a client who
50 or more hours to pro bono work in the
was illiterate and spoke only a rare African
previous year. Ron Flagg, Jeff Green and
dialect, a trial to establish the validity of
Becky Troth represented Sidley at the
their client’s marriage in Chad that the
event, which was hosted by Judges Merrick
husband disputed, and discovering the
B. Garland of the U.S. Court of Appeals
husband’s true income for purposes of
and Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S. District
child support. The Sidley team prevailed
Court.
on all counts, in addition to persuading
the court to find egregious fault based
on the domestic violence suffered by the
client, resulting in the award of 100% of the
marital assets to the client. She and her
children can now live in safety and begin a
new life with greater financial security.
John Levi was honored as the first
recipient of the Abner and Zoe Mikva
Corporate Citizenship award at the Mikva
Challenge Spring Benefit in April. Mikva
Challenge, an organization that promotes
the development of civic leadership in
underserved Chicago high school youth, is
inaugurating the Civic Leadership awards
to honor civic and political leaders who
dedicated their lives. The organization was
founded as a tribute to former White House
Counsel, Judge and U.S. Congressman
Abner Mikva and his wife Zoe, a lifelong
education activist. In 2010, Mr. Levi was
named Board Chairman of the Legal
Services Corporation, which makes annual
grants of approximately $400 million and
is the single largest funder of civil legal
assistance to low-income Americans. John
has been instrumental in many of Sidley’s
pro bono programs, including its corporate
partnership with Gerald Delgado Kanoon
Magnet Elementary School, the longest
corporate partnership for any Chicago
public school.
At its Centennial Anniversary
celebration, the Infant Welfare Society of
Chicago awarded Sidley the organization’s
Angel Award for Sidley’s continuing
commitment to healthcare for women
and children. Sidley received the award
together with Abbott Laboratories. Mike
Davis serves on the Board of Directors of
the Infant Welfare Society.
exemplify the kind of commitment to public
Shelter House, the largest home-
service to which Abner and Zoe Mikva
less shelter in Northern Virginia, selected
Sidley to receive its 30th Anniversary
Champion Award in May in appreciation of Sidley's "high level of service and
commitment to preventing and ending homelessness and to those fleeing
domestic violence." Sidley has represented
Shelter House for about ten years. Julie
Allen, Rachel
Margolis and
Griff Green
were the primary lawyers
representing
Sidley’s Michael Davis with John Wilhelm, Executive Director and Kate Boege, President
of the Board of Directors, of Infant Welfare Society at the Angel Award ceremony.
Shelter House.
The Board of Directors and staff of
Chicago's Public Interest Law Initiative
(PILI) named Sidley to its inaugural PILI
Pro Bono Recognition Roster. The June
event highlighted law firms' achievements
at PILI’s Annual Pro Bono Reception:
Celebrating Pro Bono. Sidley received a
certificate commemorating its efforts and
PILI thanked Sidley "for the fantastic work
you are doing."
Sidley received a Defender of Freedom
Award from the Foundation for Criminal
Justice in recognition of the firm’s pro bono
work representing the criminal defense
bar before the U.S. Supreme Court. The
Foundation seeks to preserve and pro Robert Pietrzak received a Pro
Bono Publico Award for his service to
the board of the Legal Aid Society at its
annual pro bono awards ceremony.
Pictured above are, left to right, Fin Fogg,
President of the Legal Aid Society; Robert
Pietrzak; Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman of
the NY Court of Appeals; and Richard J. Davis,
Chairman of the Society.
mote the core values of the National
Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
and the American criminal justice system.
Jeff Green accepted the award on behalf of
the firm.
In his capacity as Board Chairman
At its annual event, the Family Defense
Center (FDC) recognized Sidley for our
pro bono efforts on behalf of FDC clients.
The award cites Sidley for “Excellence and
Abiding Commitment to Justice.” Erin Kelly
and Julie Weber accepted a plaque from
FDC on behalf of the firm. FDC's mission is
to advocate justice for families in the child
welfare system.
of the U.S. Legal Services Corporation
(LSC), John Levi launched the LSC Pro
Bono Task Force at Harvard Law School,
which will recommend to the Board
innovative ways to promote and enhance
pro bono initiatives throughout the U.S.
to address the growing unmet civil legal
needs of low-income Americans. John, Ron
Flagg, Chris Campbell* and many other
Sidley’s Richard O’Malley at PILI’s 2011 Annual
Pro Bono Reception.
distinguished lawyers, including state and
federal judges and law school deans, are
Sidley’s team awarded “Excellence and
Abiding Commitment to Justice” by the
Family Defense Center.
Front (l-r): Susan Brehm, Joseph Dosch,
Maria Post, John Levi, Julie Weber, Ben Frey
Back (l-r): Kees Vandenberg,
Richard O’Malley, Erin Kelly, Gerald Angst,
Brett Myrick members of the Task Force.
Ron Flagg spoke about corporate pro
bono as part of a panel at the Fall Meeting
of the Association of General Counsel in
Washington, D.C. Ron described Sidley’s
work on immigration matters with Exelon’s
law department and on Alabama capital
punishment cases with the Exelon and
Aon law departments. Ron also described
pro bono opportunities for corporate law
departments with the National Veterans
Legal Services Program, whose board
he chairs. The panel included Michael
J. Holston, General Counsel, HewlettPackard, and Esther Lardent, CEO, the
Pro Bono Institute. Attending the meeting
were the chief legal officers of over 50
companies, including General Electric,
Goldman Sachs, Johnson & Johnson,
J P M o r g a n C h a s e , M o r g a n S t a n l e y,
Raytheon and Wal-Mart.
Sidley’s work on behalf of the
Chesapeake Legal Alliance was featured
prominently in an article published by
The Capital newspaper in December. The
Alliance is a nonprofit organization
Gina DelChiaro*, is the new Leon Levy
that seeks to improve the health of
Fellow at Human Rights First. In this role,
the Chesapeake Bay by connecting
Gina will be working with Human Rights
environmental groups with pro bono
First to increase pro bono representation of
legal practices in the area. As a result of
asylum-seekers in New York. She success-
an Alliance connection, a Sidley team is
fully represented several asylum seekers
representing the Potomac Riverkeeper and
during her time at Sidley and the firm looks
West Virginia citizens concerned about the
forward to working with her in 2012.
opening of a quarry near Gerrardstown.
The article noted that Sidley has already
The Legal Assistance Foundation of
Chicago awarded Richard O'Malley, Chair
of the Chicago Pro Bono Committee, the
“Champion of Justice” award at its annual
benefit for his career-long commitment
to pro bono, including his recent success
in the Cabrini Green Fair Housing Act
appeared before two administrative
boards and persuaded the quarry owners
to make concessions. David Buente, Sam
Boxerman, Tom Echikson, Juge Gregg,
Monica Groat, Joel Visser, Jason James, Jim
Wedeking and legal assistant Duan Pryor
all worked on the matter.
litigation against the Chicago Housing
Authority.
Sidley’s Richard O’Malley and Newton
Minow at the Legal Assistance Foundation of
Metropolitan Chicago Annual Luncheon.
Sidley Honors Its Own
THOMAS H. MORSCH AWARDS
Each year Sidley’s Chicago Pro Bono Committee hosts its Pro Bono
Reception to recognize Sidley lawyers who have worked on pro
bono matters during the past year. The ceremony includes local
pro bono legal service agencies and organizations with whom the
firm has enjoyed a strong relationship over the years, allowing
us to introduce lawyers who are interested in pro bono work to
opportunities that are available from the organizations. Sidley's
Thomas H. Morsch Award is presented to the Chicago associates
who exemplify the spirit and principles of pro bono service that
Tom Morsch had demonstrated by his own work and leadership
for many years. The Thomas H. Morsch award includes a $1,000
firm contribution that the recipients can designate to a Chicago
pro bono agency of their choice. The Honorable James R. Epstein,
Appellate Judge, Illinois First District Court, 5th Division, graciously
accepted our invitation to serve as the guest speaker for this year's
ceremony.
The recipients of the 2010 Thomas H. Morsch Award were Ben
Keith and Thomas Heisler. Partner Mel Washburn presented the
award to Ben and Tom for their remarkable victory for Enka, a
Mongolian client seeking asylum on the ground that she feared
that her husband, who remains in Mongolia, would physically
and sexually abuse her if she were forced to return and that the
Mel Washburn with Thomas H. Morsch Award recipients Ben Keith and
Thomas Heisler.
government would not protect her from such abuse. Ben and Tom
faced logistical challenges, including trying to find a Mongolian
translator, as well as many substantive hurdles. Enka needed to
claim that she would be persecuted on the basis of her membership
in a “particular social group,” a term not defined in any statute
or regulation. Women applying for asylum based on their fear of
domestic violence almost never succeed in proving that the abuse
is motivated by their membership in a legally cognizable “social
group.” Ben and Tom persevered and Enka received asylum in
September 2010.
Kelly Huggins (center), Sidley’s Project Manager for the Capital Litigation
and Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Projects, with Latonia Keith*
(left) and partner Jaime Jones (right) at the Chicago Pro Bono Awards
reception.
Washington, D.C. lawyers, litigation staff and legal assistants who received the Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono Award for devoting more than 60 hours to pro bono
work over the course of the year.
VINCENT F. PRADA PRO BONO AWARDS
The Washington, D.C. office held its fifth annual Vincent F. Prada Pro
Bono Awards Ceremony in July, commemorating Sidley’s late partner Vincent Prada, who devoted 14 years of his life to representing
Central Jersey Legal Services and the CPBO Pro Bono Partner
Award. Bruce's remarks, explaining the importance of pro bono
work to in-house legal departments, were reprinted in the Pro Bono
Institute's on-line newsletter.
an inmate on death row. The firm presented the award to more than
Attendees at the event included Vince Prada’s widow, Jana Singer,
100 lawyers and 15 legal assistants and litigation staff in the office
their sons, Michael and Josh, and representatives of the legal
who devoted 60 or more hours to pro bono work in 2010. Recipients
services organizations with which Sidley works in the Washington,
are allowed to designate a legal services organization to which the
D.C. area.
firm contributes $100 in the recipient’s name.
The keynote speaker at this year’s event was Bruce Kuhlik, Executive
Vice President and General Counsel of Merck & Co., Inc. Under
Bruce’s leadership, Merck’s pro bono program has served as a
model for other corporate pro bono programs throughout the
country and has been formally recognized with the U.S. President’s
Volunteer Service Award, the New Jersey State Governor’s Jefferson
Award, the Pro Bono Award from the Union County Bar Association/
Los Angeles Pro Bono Awards
Los Angeles lawyers and staff gathered to recognize 27 partners,
counsel and associates for their outstanding commitment to pro
bono matters throughout the year. Among the lawyers recognized
were Debra Pole, Michelle Goodman, Jodi Lopez and Cameron
Johnson for their receipt of the President’s Award from Public
Counsel. The office also recognized Sidley Pro Bono Fellows Leah
Abeles and Cody Jacobs for their contributions to the ACLU. Also
honored this year were two USC and four UCLA law students as
Sidley Austin Public Interest Law Fellows.
Carter Phillips, Washington, D.C. office Managing Partner; Bruce Kuhlik,
Executive Vice President and General Counsel of Merck & Co., Inc.; and
Rebecca Troth, Washington, D.C. Pro Bono Counsel.
SPONSORSHIP OF PRO BONO GRADUATE FELLOWS
S
idley’s commitment to pro bono work is reflected in its Fellowship/Externship program, which allows associates to work at nonprofit
organizations in the community either before they begin working at the firm or, in the case of the New York office, after they have
been with the firm for some time. Through the program, Sidley provides a fellowship stipend or pays the salary of the Fellows or Externs to
allow them to work for a nonprofit organization for about 10 weeks. In Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago, they can choose among
a variety of nonprofit organizations, including those that provide direct services to indigent people, as well as those that engage in impact
litigation and policy work. In New York, associates work for three to four months at inMotion, Inc., an organization that provides free legal
services to indigent and low-income women and children in domestic crisis.
Fellowships with the nonprofit organizations allow associates to learn about the organizations, their staffs and their work. The Fellows
develop relationships that they can continue and expand when they come to Sidley. These relationships often are an important source
of pro bono matters for the firm and the Fellows throughout their careers. We benefit because the Fellows acquire experience in a short
period of time and develop skills dealing with clients, negotiating with other lawyers and advocating in court or in other settings in which
they need to persuade a decision-maker.
New York Office Sponsored Two inMotion Externs
Sidley has a long-standing relationship with inMotion, Inc., a leading provider of free legal services to indigent and low-income women
and children who need assistance in obtaining divorces, orders of protection, and/or assistance with other family law matters. In 2003,
we established the Sidley Externship Program pursuant to which associates in the New York office work at inMotion, Inc. on three or four
month rotations and who many times handle the most difficult cases.
Over the years, the firm has worked on hundreds of inMotion matters as part of its pro bono commitment and also has provided generous
financial support through its role as one of inMotion’s corporate partners. inMotion provides extensive training for its attorneys and
volunteers, as well as for its Externs, who can expect to have significant court appearances before New York’s Supreme and Family Courts.
Marc Hedrich spent five months as an Extern at inMotion where he represented new clients (women who were
indigent and/or victims of domestic violence) and continued work on matters initiated by prior Sidley Externs.
Marc worked on a variety of matrimonial and family court cases in all five of New York City’s boroughs. Notably, he
participated in a divorce trial in New York County, petitioned for a finding of willful violation of a child support order
in Queens County, sought dismissal of a petition for downward modification of a support order in Kings County,
argued petitions for child custody and support in Richmond County, and obtained dismissal of an unsupervised
visitation petition in Bronx County.
Shane Tattan served as the inMotion Extern where he successfully handled a broad range of cases for over 20 clients
residing in all five New York City boroughs, including contested divorces, child and spousal support actions, child
custody cases, paternity actions and family offense matters. In particular, Shane conducted a three-day trial in a
child support case initiated by a woman who was owed over $90,000 in child support arrears for her severely disabled
son. He also negotiated a divorce settlement awarding a woman sole custody of her two young daughters after her
husband’s repeated infidelity and emotional abuse. And in two cases, Shane conducted successful mediations
between highly acrimonious parties.
SPONSORSHIP OF PRO BONO GRADUATE FELLOWS
continued
Chicago Office Sponsored Four PILI Fellows
Sidley’s Chicago office sponsors graduate fellows in partnership with the Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI). Since its inception, PILI
has created educational and meaningful public interest law experiences for law students and lawyers at nonprofit organizations that
provide legal services to low-income people. The PILI Fellowship Program offers opportunities to those new associates who have accepted
employment with a Chicago firm that participates in PILI’s Fellowship program.
Barbara Barreno was a PILI Fellow at the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC), where she worked with NIJC’s
Immigrant Legal Defense and Asylum Projects. Barbara prepared U visa applications and drafted letters requesting
prosecutorial discretion to the Department of Homeland Security. In addition, she conducted client intakes and
met with Spanish-speaking clients to discuss their cases. Barbara also prepared applications for employment
authorization, drafted affidavits for applications for immigration relief, and prepared a client for an interview with
an asylum officer at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. She currently serves on PILI’s Board of Directors as a
Class of 2011 Fellows Representative.
Donovan Borvan served as a PILI Fellow at the International Human Rights Law Institute at DePaul University Law
School. During his fellowship, Donovan researched human rights violations in Egypt and Jordan and the historical
development of human rights protections in American constitutional law, and participated in the early development
of an educational program for attorneys in Vietnam. He also drafted articles on women’s rights in Jordan and
bankruptcy protection as a human right.
Catherine Starks served as a PILI Fellow with Health & Disability Advocates, a nonprofit organization that promotes
healthcare access and services for children, people with disabilities and low-income adults. During her Fellowship,
Catherine concentrated her efforts with the Chicago Medical Legal Partnership for Children, which partners attorneys
with local hospitals and pediatric medical clinics to provide legal services to low-income families. She researched
special education policies, drafted various position papers and worked with local school districts to improve access
to education for children with special needs.
Raj Sultanian was a PILI Fellow at Illinois Legal Aid Online (ILAO). ILAO’s mission is to use technology to
improve access to legal resources. Raj spent the summer creating and editing a wide range of legal content on
illinoislegalaid.org, a website designed to help pro se litigants who otherwise would not have access to free legal
aid, and illinoislegaladvocate.org, a website designed to help pro bono attorneys find clients in need and the
legal information required to represent them. He also helped develop an organizational framework for authorship,
versioning, access and control of third party content hosted through ILAO. He ended his summer helping with the
creation and launch of ILAO Mobile, a first-of-its-kind suite of mobile applications that allows users to quickly
access ILAO’s content through any smartphone or tablet device. Raj currently serves as a founding member and
Outreach Chair of ILAO’s Young Professionals Board.
Los Angeles Sponsored One Pro Bono Graduate Fellow
Francis Lam completed his six-week Pro Bono Fellowship at Lambda Legal’s Los Angeles office. Lambda Legal
is the nation’s oldest and largest legal organization dedicated to safeguarding and advancing the civil rights of
lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgendered people, and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and
policy work. While at Lambda Legal, Francis worked on issues involving marriage equality, anti-discrimination
laws, and domestic partnership benefits. Francis assisted with drafting appellate briefs to the Ninth Circuit Court
of Appeals, counseled clients on their constitutional rights and helped assess the viability of conducting impact
litigation.
Washington, D.C. Office Sponsored Six DC Bar Pro Bono Graduate Fellows
Sidley’s Washington office helped found the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Graduate Fellowship Program, which offers recent law school graduates an
opportunity to spend the summer immediately following law school graduation or the period immediately following judicial clerkships
doing legal work for local public interest agencies. Since 2002, 46 incoming Sidley associates have served as Graduate Fellows at 25
different nonprofit organizations in the D.C. area.
Rishi Chhatwal was a Fellow at the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition. CAIR assists detained
immigrants charged with deportation in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia by providing orientation on
their legal rights. Rishi interviewed detainees at several Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facilities,
screened cases for potential pro bono placement and appeared as detainee counsel in Immigration Court. As part of
CAIR’s legal team, he also helped draft motions and briefs in support of asylum, withholding and deferral of removal
under the United Nations Convention Against Torture.
Seema Kakad worked in the Trial Division of the Public Defender Service of the District of Columbia where she
helped represent indigent criminal defendants. Seema worked on a variety of matters, including a felony carjacking
and attempted murder case involving multiple complainants and multiple incidents, a Fourth Amendment motion
to suppress and a misdemeanor trial in which the client was found not guilty. She helped interview the clients in all
of these matters, as well as drafted numerous motions and discovery requests.
Marc Korman was a Fellow at the National Veterans Legal Services Program, working with the Lawyers Serving
Warriors Program on a class action suit to ensure that veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan diagnosed with
post-traumatic stress disorder receive appropriate compensation. Marc also helped set up a program for veterans to
file for Combat-Related Special Compensation, a program providing monthly compensation to military retirees with
combat-related disabilities.
Clay Northouse was a Fellow at the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia. Clay worked with Jack Keeney,
Director of the Barbara McDowell Appellate Advocacy Project, in writing briefs and motions in the D.C. Court of
Appeals. The goal of the appellate project is to pursue poverty law reform to protect the rights of low-income
residents. In particular, he assisted Legal Aid in seeking reimbursement for emergency healthcare services for a
client who was denied coverage by the District and her insurer under the D.C. Healthcare Alliance program. Clay also
worked on eviction and foreclosure cases and participated in moot courts in preparation for oral argument before
the D.C. Court of Appeals.
Lisa Taylor worked for the AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly (LCE), providing legal and advocacy services to lowincome seniors. Lisa helped LCE create a medical-legal partnership. She interviewed directors of medical-legal
partnerships around the country and created a report detailing medical-legal partnership best practices for LCE.
She also contacted and arranged meetings with local hospitals that serve LCE clients to facilitate the formation of a
partnership with the right local hospital. In addition to her work for the medical-legal partnership, Lisa also worked
with the home visit program where she helped home-bound seniors with a variety of legal issues.
Tami Weerasingha-Cote worked as a Fellow at the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project,
an organization dedicated to empowering victims of domestic violence by providing expert representation for
appeals and offering training and education for lawyers and judges on cutting-edge issues. During her Fellowship,
Tami researched the feasibility of bringing federal court claims alleging constitutional violations during state court
custody proceedings involving allegations of child abuse, and developed litigation strategies for overcoming the
significant procedural obstacles to bringing such cases into federal court.
2011 Pro Bono and Public Interest Law Committee Members
CHICAGO
LOS ANGELES
Richard O’Malley, Chicago Chair
312.853.7112
Frank Broccolo, Los Angeles Chair
213.896.6087
Frederic Artwick
312.853.7529
Bradley Ellis
213.896.6632
Susan Bart
312.853.2075
Russell Cass
312.853.2202
Linton Childs
312.853.2211
James Arden, New York Chair
212.839.5889
Michael Clark
312.853.2173
Maureen Crough
212.839.7323
Maja Eaton
312.853.7123
Martin Gold
212.839.5481
Kevin Fee
312.853.7919
Dennis Hensley
212.839.5731
John Gallo
312.853.7494
John Lavelle
212.839.5396
David Gordon
312.853.7159
Henry Minnerop
212.839.5555
Eric Grush
312.853.7855
Benjamin Nagin
212.839.5911
Scott Lassar
312.853.7668
James O’Connor
212.839.8613
Courtney Rosen
312.853.7669
Stephen Rutenberg
212.839.5608
David Siegel
312.853.7246
Michael Sackheim
212.839.5503
Melville Washburn
312.853.2070
Edna Basquill, Pro Bono Coordinator
212.839.5529
Neil Wyland
312.853.7869
David Zampa
312.853.4573
Kelly Huggins,
Capital Litigation Project and
Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights
Project Manager
312.853.3206
Emily Wexler,
Veterans Benefits Project Manager
312.853.7074
Angelyn Chester,
Pro Bono Coordinator
312.853.7871
214.981.3385
HONG KONG
Charles Allen, China Chair
SAN FRANCISCO and PALO ALTO
Michael Rugen, San Francisco Chair
415.772.1290
WASHINGTON, D.C.
DALLAS
Li Chen, Dallas Chair
NEW YORK
852.2509.7818
Ronald Flagg, National Chair
202.736.8171
Jeffrey Green, Washington, D.C. Chair
202.736.8291
Lisa Crosby
202.736.8754
Paul Hemmersbaugh
202.736.8538
Nathan Sheers
202.736.8085
Rebecca Troth, Pro Bono Counsel
202.736.8339
World Offices
Beijing
Hong Kong
San Francisco
Suite 608, Tower C2
Oriental Plaza
No. 1 East Chang An Avenue
Dong Cheng District
Beijing 100738
China
T: 86.10.5905.5588
F: 86.10.6505.5360
Level 39
Two Int’l Finance Centre
8 Finance Street
Central
Hong Kong
T: 852.2509.7888
F: 852.2509.3110
555 California Street
San Francisco, California 94104
T: 415.772.1200
F: 415.772.7400
Brussels
JPMorgan Chase Tower
600 Travis Street
Suite 3100
Houston, Texas 77002
T: 713.315.9000
F: 713.315.9199
NEO Building
Rue Montoyer 51 Montoyerstraat
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
T: 32.2.504.6400
F: 32.2.504.6401
Chicago
One South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60603
T: 312.853.7000
F: 312.853.7036
Dallas
Houston
London
Woolgate Exchange
25 Basinghall Street
London, EC2V 5HA
United Kingdom
T: 44.20.7360.3600
F: 44.20.7626.7937
717 North Harwood
Suite 3400
Dallas, Texas 75201
T: 214.981.3300
F: 214.981.3400
Los Angeles
Frankfurt
New York
Taunusanlage 1
60329
Frankfurt am Main
Germany
T: 49.69.22.221.4000
F: 49.69.22.221.4001
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
T: 212.839.5300
F: 212.839.5599
Geneva
Rue de Lausanne 139
Sixth Floor
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
T: 41.22.308.00.00
F: 41.22.308.00.01
555 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, California 90013
T: 213.896.6000
F: 213.896.6600
Palo Alto
1001 Page Mill Road
Building 1
Palo Alto, California 94304
T: 650.565.7000
F: 650.565.7100
www.sidley.com
Shanghai
Suite 1901
Shui On Plaza
333 Middle Huai Hai Road
Shanghai 200021
China
T: 86.21.2322.9322
F: 86.21.5306.8966
Singapore
6 Battery Road
Suite 40-01
Singapore 049909
T: 65.6230.3900
F: 65.6230.3939
Sydney
Level 10,
7 Macquarie Place
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
T: 61.2.8214.2200
F: 61.2.8214.2211
Tokyo
Sidley Austin Nishikawa
Foreign Law Joint Enterprise
Marunouchi Building 23F
4-1, Marunouchi 2-chome
Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-6323
Japan
T: 81.3.3218.5900
F: 81.3.3218.5922
Washington, D.C.
1501 K Street N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20005
T: 202.736.8000
F: 202.736.8711
03/2012
Sidley Austin LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership which operates at the firm’s offices other than Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palo Alto, Dallas, London, Hong Kong,
Houston, Singapore and Sydney, is affiliated with other partnerships, including Sidley Austin LLP, an Illinois limited liability partnership (Chicago); Sidley Austin (NY) LLP, a Delaware limited liability
partnership (New York); Sidley Austin (CA) LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Palo Alto); Sidley Austin (TX) LLP, a Delaware limited liability partnership (Dallas,
Houston); Sidley Austin LLP, a separate Delaware limited liability partnership (London); Sidley Austin LLP, a separate Delaware limited liability partnership (Singapore); Sidley Austin, a New York
general partnership (Hong Kong); Sidley Austin, a Delaware general partnership of registered foreign lawyers restricted to practicing foreign law (Sydney); and Sidley Austin Nishikawa Foreign Law
Joint Enterprise (Tokyo). The affiliated partnerships are referred to herein collectively as Sidley Austin, Sidley, or the firm.
Attorney Advertising. For purposes of compliance with New York State Bar rules, Sidley Austin LLP’s headquarters are 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300 and One South
Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000.
Prior results described herein do not guarantee a similar outcome.
www.sidley.com
www.sidley.com

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