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A History
of Service
2013
Pro Bono &
Community
SERVICE REPORT
Cover image: Sidley's first office on the third floor of the Marine Bank Building at Lake and La Salle Streets in Chicago in 1866.
Photo Credit: Chicago History Museum color reproduction of Lithograph; ICHi-63077; Jevne and Almini Lithograph: Marine Bank Building; Chicago, IL;
1866; Lithographer Jevne and Almini. Image has been cropped and edges faded for this publication.
www.sidley.com
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
SIDLEY’S FIRMWIDE PRO BONO INITIATIVES
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Capital Litigation Project
Political Asylum and Immigrants‘ Rights Project
Veterans Benefits Project
Africa & Asia Agricultural Enterprise Program
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS
13
PROTECTING CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
16
SERVING NEIGHBORS IN NEED
18
Protecting Economic Rights
Serving Families and Senior Citizens
Serving our Neighbors with Disabilities
Protecting Our Neighbors’ Homes
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
21
SUPPORTING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
21
SIDLEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY –
MORE THAN LEGAL SERVICES
23
PRO BONO HONORS AND AWARDS 28
SIDLEY‘S PRO BONO AWARDS CEREMONIES – HONORING OUR OWN
31
SPONSORSHIP OF PRO BONO GRADUATE FELLOWS,
EXTERNS, AND LOANED ASSOCIATES
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2013 PRO BONO AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
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A HISTORY OF SERVICE
In 2013, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of Sidley’s presence in Washington, D.C. Such milestones inspire us to
consider the road we have travelled as a firm and the values that have defined Sidley across the generations. Sidley’s
history reveals a firm whose commitment to the public interest is long-standing and deeply imbedded, as author Herman
Kogan described in his 1983 book, Traditions and Challenges: The Story of Sidley & Austin. Shortly after the firm’s
founding in Chicago in 1866, Sidley began representing charitable and educational institutions, including Northwestern
University and many other colleges. The firm has been a major supporter of the Legal Aid Bureau of Chicago since its
founding in 1905, and two Sidley partners were on the founding board of the Chicago office of the Lawyers’ Committee
for Civil Rights in 1969. A few years later, associate (now D.C. Circuit Judge) David Tatel and partner Jules Perlberg
filed a ground-breaking case on behalf of the Lawyers’ Committee in which the D.C. Circuit held that the Civil Service
Commission’s Federal Service Entrance Examination, which had an unjustified racially disproportionate impact, violated
the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Over the years, under the leadership of firm pro bono pioneers like Tom Morsch and Newt Minow, Sidley’s range of pro
bono work has expanded to cover all areas of the law. Sidley lawyers have protected First Amendment rights and religious
freedom, represented criminal defendants and prisoners on death row, preserved low-income housing, supported
community development, defended immigrants’ rights, ensured veterans receive benefits to which they are entitled, and
helped families and children combat every threat to their ability to grow and thrive. And, as Sidley’s geographic footprint
has continued to expand, so has the influence of its pro bono culture. We now have vibrant pro bono programs in all
of our U.S. offices and, in recent years, Sidley has developed a global pro bono program, which includes the recentlyestablished Africa-Asia Agricultural Enterprise Program.
This history forms the backdrop for the wide range of pro bono and community service reflected in this year’s report.
In 2013, Sidley’s lawyers devoted over 100,000 hours to pro bono service. That is in addition to the thousands of hours
and millions of dollars that the firm has contributed to serve other community needs—efforts ranging from supporting
students in under-performing schools, to participating on the boards of hospitals and community food banks, and to
mentoring kids just released from juvenile detention. Sidley’s $250,000 contribution to the Children’s National Medical
Center to commemorate the firm’s 50 years in Washington is but one example of how the firm always gives back to the
communities where we live and work. These contributions of time and resources mirror the dedication of our lawyers to
the firm's pro bono clients and their communities, but they also reflect the principles upon which the firm was founded
nearly 150 years ago. Our latest report confirms that this tradition remains as strong today as ever.
Carter G. Phillips
Chair,
Executive Committee
Charles W. Douglas
Chair,
Management Committee
SIDLEY’S FIRMWIDE PRO BONO INITIATIVES
Capital Litigation Project
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 a 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 post-conviction proceedings. At
the end of 2013, Alabama had almost 200 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. John Gallo spearheads the Project, and Kelly Huggins manages
the work from our Chicago office.
Sidley’s Capital Litigation Project is a long-
circuit court with respect to one claim in his
term, resource-intensive undertaking that
post-conviction petition. Although the court
provides hope to inmates incarcerated on
affirmed the dismissal of the other claims
Alabama’s death row. Since the project’s
in the petition, the court found that our
inception, more than 100 Sidley partners,
client’s juror misconduct claim was facially
counsel, and associates, along with legal
assistants and project assistants, have
volunteered more than 120,000 hours
to these cases. In 2013, Sidley lawyers
donated more than 11,000 hours to the
representation of these men on death row.
Sidley’s nine-year partnership with the ABA
Death Penalty Representation Project and
the Equal Justice Initiative of Alabama (EJI)
has been critical to our ability to represent
Alabama’s death row inmates effectively.
EJI , a non-profit organization based in
In the last nine years, Sidley teams of
Montgomery, Alabama, has achieved
lawyers and legal assistants from across
national prominence from its advocacy on
Sidley’s domestic offices have represented
death penalty issues and provides on-going
21 prisoners, traveling to Alabama to
expert guidance to Sidley’s lawyers on
visit their clients, interview witnesses,
Alabama post-conviction practice and
and participate in hearings. In addition,
procedure.
one of Sidley’s Capital Litigation teams
includes in-house lawyers from one of the
firm’s largest clients, Exelon Corporation,
who participate fully in all aspects of the
representation.
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meritorious and that he should have been
given an opportunity to submit evidence
on that claim. The Sidley team included
Richard Raskin, Chad Schafer (who argued
the appeal), Alison Potter, Ashley Martin,
Daniel Greenfield and Tom Heisler.*
Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP serves
as local counsel on the case.
This year, the Project achieved a
victory on behalf of Alabama death row
inmate James Yeomans. On March 29, the
Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals issued a
decision remanding our client’s case to the
* Indicates former Sidley lawyer or staff member
Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights Project
In 2006, Sidley established a 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
spearheaded the initiative, and Kelly Huggins manages the Project in 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 petitions, adjustments to lawful permanent residence, and representation of immigrant minors in Special Immigrant
Juvenile Status (SIJS) cases. In 2013, Sidley lawyers devoted 11,225 hours to matters that are part of the Project.
DC
The case was handled by Chris Gaul under
Brian Friedman* and Tatiana Zakharova*
detainee from Honduras who applied for
the supervision of David Gordon and
and legal assistants Stephanie LaPerle,*
and eventually received Special Immigrant
Rachel Niewoehner. Alyse Andalman,
Madeleine Buras* and Leroy Lee Prowse.*
Juvenile Status and permanent U.S.
Arturo Rodriguez, Daniel Ruiz Bucio.
residency after two years in U.S. custody.
Paula Spada* and Susan Brehm* provided
We represented the detainee before the
assistance.
A Sidley team represented a juvenile
Immigration Court in Arlington, Virginia,
NY
as well as before U.S. Citizenship and
behalf of a man who sought U.S. asylum
Immigration Services (USCIS). We also
because his family’s political affiliations
negotiated the juvenile’s placement in foster
put him in danger of future persecution
care in Portland, Oregon. Adam Rusnak*
if he were forced to return to his native
handled the case under the supervision of
DC
Haiti. The case took more than seven years
Lisa Crosby.
a 16-year-old boy who feared future
and involved difficult evidentiary issues
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persecution by Central American gangs
and numerous merits hearings in federal
because of his family ties if he were forced
Chilean national and her brother who
immigration court. The immigration judge
to return to his native country of El Salvador.
sought U.S. immigration relief through the
granted our client’s application for asylum,
The case involved difficult jurisdictional and
U visa program. The clients cooperated
taking the unusual step of issuing a detailed,
mental health issues, but through detailed
with the Grand Prairie police department
written opinion in which she found that our
supplemental affidavits and expert reports,
to prosecute her abuser. Kelley Conaty
client had presented “reliable, specific, and
Sidley lawyers successfully argued that the
represented the Sidley clients throughout
objective evidence” of a reasonable fear of
Arlington Asylum Office should grant the
the application process before USCIS.
future persecution. Stephen Rutenberg and
boy asylum, thus avoiding a merits hearing
Jon Muenz handled the merits hearings.
before an immigration judge. The result
Over the long course of the case, the
expands the body of law regarding gang-
team included lawyers Milan Markovic,*
based persecution on account of family
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Sidley successfully represented a
A Sidley team represented a woman
from Honduras who was the victim of
domestic violence. At a hearing on January
A Sidley team obtained a victory on
28, the immigration judge granted asylum.
Sidley lawyers successfully represented
ties under the 2011 Fourth Circuit case of
Crespin-Valladares, and will be included in
the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR)
Immigration Remedies
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
Coalition practice manual for pro bono
attorneys representing unaccompanied
children. The CAIR Coalition referred the
matter to us. Seema Kakad Jain and Paul
Sampson handled the matter under Kristin
Koehler’s supervision.
status in the United States on an annual basis until they receive legal permanent
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residency. The U visa is a remedy for immigrant victims of certain crimes who have
a young teacher from Eritrea who was
helped with the investigation or prosecution of those crimes. Successful U visa
persecuted in his native country for his
petitioners receive employment authorization and lawful status in the U.S. for four
political opinions. After opposing the
years and become eligible to apply for lawful permanent residency. Only 10,000 U
Eritrean Government’s curriculum and
visas may be issued in a fiscal year. Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) petitions
forced conscription of students, he was
provide immigration relief to immigrant minors who have been abused or neglected in
arrested and imprisoned for six months in
their native countries.
deplorable conditions and beaten daily
Sidley successfully represented
before he escaped. Because our client
Sidley Austin LLP • 2013 Pro Bono and Community Service Report
3
requested asylum at the U.S. border
and was detained by U.S. Immigration
authorities thereafter, the merits hearing was
Adjustment of Status Clinic
held six weeks after we took the case. Josh
Since 2007, with the assistance of the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC),
Avratin, Jason Griffith, Mike Wawszczak
Sidley’s Chicago office has hosted quarterly clinics with our client Exelon to help
and summer associate Jason Marisco
asylees and refugees obtain lawful permanent resident status and bring family
handled the matter.
members to the United States. Each clinic begins with a training session that
DC
NIJC conducts on how to complete the applications, and NIJC staff members are
Sidley prevailed in an ongoing effort
to obtain asylum for a Yemeni woman.
available during the clinic to answer questions. In its first six years, the clinic has
On appeal in the Fourth Circuit, Sidley
assisted more than 255 clients. In our quarterly clinics in 2013, we helped 32 asylees
challenged the holding of the Board of
and refugees apply for legal permanent resident status, and we helped asylee
Immigration Appeals that our client's fear of
future persecution—though genuine—was
objectively unreasonable. After defeating
DOJ’s jurisdictional challenge, Sidley
asked the court to vacate the Board's
decision. After receiving Sidley’s brief,
the government chose not to contest
the arguments raised and agreed to the
requested relief. The case is now back
before the BIA. The Sidley team included
clients petition to bring 19 family members to the United States. Lawyers Christina
Coleman, Dannia Altemimei, Emily Underwood, Cynthia Okechukwu, Menesh
Patel, Sarah Bermingham, Eric Schmitt, Samantha Spiro, William Bruce, Julie
Klaff, Marjorie Baltazar, Adam Murad, Katharine Falahee Newman, Kendra Stead,
Michael Gustafson, Audrey Austin, Alan Bielawski, Chad Vance, Emily Olson,*
Mel Washburn, Andrea Reed, Mike Wawszczak, Kevin White, Emily Wexler, Mark
Biggar, Susan Harris, and Kelly Huggins helped with the clinics in 2013. Project and
legal assistants and staff members who helped included Elizabeth Gleason, Debra
Amann, Katherine Cooper, Karen Smith,* Mari Barnes, Brigid Esposito, Daniel Ruiz
Bucio, Megan Scholl Lindberg, Svein Hoexter, Samantha Taylor and Carol Graf.
Robert Keeling, Aaron Wredberg, Katie
Strong Carner* and Ray Mangum.
because of his religion and because he had
LA
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fled the country. Because he was detained
and district court victories in Rodriguez v.
by U.S. immigration authorities upon
Robbins, a high-profile case that Sidley
entering the United States, his case moved
is handling with lawyers from the ACLU
very quickly—the merits hearing took place
and the Stanford Law School Immigrants’
just six weeks after we took the case. Sarah
Rights Clinic. In April 2013, the Ninth Circuit
Newman, Mel Washburn, Gerritt Wieringa
issued an order upholding a preliminary
and legal assistant Dana Velkovich handled
injunction in favor of a certified class of
the case.
noncitizens who challenged their prolonged
Sidley lawyers secured U.S. asylum for
a young Pentecostal Christian from Eritrea.
Before fleeing his native country, our client
was arrested at a secret prayer meeting,
tortured and imprisoned for a year because
he refused to recant his faith. He sought
U.S. asylum because he feared future
persecution if returned to Eritrea, both
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Sidley secured significant appellate
detentions, requiring the government to
provide each of them an individualized
ranging from direct participation in violent
bond hearing before an immigration judge
terrorist activities to indirect and unknowing
within six months of detention. Prior to
support of those who participate in terrorist
the injunction, some persons had waited
activities. The client filed a lawsuit alleging
for years without having a bond hearing,
that the denial of the visa implicated her
despite the fact that many of them were
constitutional right to freedom of personal
eligible for release based on the merits of
choice in matters of marriage and family
their claims. As the Ninth Circuit noted in
life and that citation to the very broad
its published decision, the injunction did
“terrorist activities” statute, without more,
not require the release of anyone. Rather,
was not facially legitimate and bona fide.
it simply stated that a detained person is
The district court granted the government's
entitled to have a hearing to determine
motion to dismiss the complaint. Sidley
whether a bond should be set for his or her
handled the appeal of that decision and,
release. “While [Immigrations and Customs
in a published decision, the majority
Enforcement is] entitled to carry out its duty
reversed and remanded, holding that the
to enforce the mandates of Congress, it
government's citation to a statute, in the
must do so in a manner consistent with our
absence of any allegations of proscribed
constitutional values.” Rodriguez v. Robbins,
conduct, was not a facially legitimate reason
715 F.3d 1127, 1146 (9th Cir. 2013).
to deny the visa. Heidi Larson Howell
Following remand, on August 8, 2013, the
argued the appeal with supervision from
district court granted summary judgment
Geoff DeBoskey. Doug Hart and Mark
and entered a permanent injunction on
Haddad helped Heidi prepare for oral
behalf of the entire class, ensuring that
argument.
the entire class receives the same benefits
and protections recognized in the Ninth
Circuit’s preliminary injunction ruling. These
twin victories have resulted in thousands
of persons receiving bond hearings, and
hundreds of persons being reunited with
their families. Due to the significance of
their work on this case, the Sidley team
received California Lawyer Attorney of
the Year (CLAY) awards. The Sidley team
primarily responsible for these victories
includes attorneys Sean Commons, Cody
Jacobs* and Jonathan Feingold* and legal
assistants and staff members Eva Fitzhugh,*
Lynn Westman,* Karen Nelms, John
Berry, Fidel Castaneda, Kelley Gmoser,
Jenny Borrelli, Tiffany Katata and Diliana
Stamatova.
LA
Sidley, working in conjunction with the
Asian Law Caucus, represented a United
States citizen who filed a visa petition
on behalf of her husband, a citizen and
resident of Afghanistan. The government
denied the visa petition but, rather than
provide a reason for the denial, simply cited
an extensive portion of the Immigration
and Nationality Act regarding “terrorist
DC
Sidley secured relief for a Somali
national who feared torture if he were
returned to his native country. In this
Convention Against Torture (CAT) case,
we argued successfully that our client
was more likely than not to be tortured
with the acquiescence of Somali public
officials because of his membership in a
minority clan. The U.S. Immigration Court
in Arlington, Virginia, ordered deferral of
removal under CAT; the result expands the
body of law regarding public acquiescence
in torture committed by non-state actors.
The CAIR Coalition referred the case to
Sidley, which was handled by John Hebden
under the supervision of Betsy Howe.
NY
We obtained a U visa for a client who
left El Salvador many years ago and came
to the United States with her two young
daughters to escape poverty and rampant
gang violence. The client was the victim of
her husband’s constant verbal and physical
abuse. She obtained her U visa because she
helped the police investigate her husband’s
domestic abuse. Mary Kate Leonard and
Aryeh Zarchan handled the case.
activities,” which contains six subsections
5
NY
to law enforcement and the many years of
escape from prison and flee to the United
with her child many years ago and was
abuse she suffered. Edward Fierro and
States, where he requested asylum on
the victim of domestic violence in at least
Aryeh Zarchan handled the case.
the basis of past persecution because of
two relationships since immigrating. At
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his faith and fear of future persecution if
times, her injuries were so severe they
young man who sought U.S. asylum after
required hospitalization. During the latest
being imprisoned and tortured in his
relationship, our client called the authorities
native Eritrea for converting to Pentecostal
to report her abuser and then cooperated
Christianity. Our client had been arrested
in his prosecution. We obtained a U visa
at a prayer meeting in Eritrea and was
for her based on her invaluable assistance
repeatedly asked to recant his faith while
Our client immigrated from Mexico
in prison for nearly a year. He managed to
returned to Eritrea. Agreeing with these
arguments, U.S. Immigration authorities
granted him asylum on August 1, 2013.
The case was handled by Mel Washburn,
Gerritt Wieringa, Catherine Kim and legal
assistants Dana Velkovich and Maud Such.
LA
17-year-old immigrant who came to the
United States after suffering many years
of abuse at home in Honduras, where he
was forced to work in construction from the
age of 14 rather than attend school. Soon
after arriving in the United States, he was
detained and deportation proceedings were
initiated against him. With our assistance,
he sought permanent U.S. residency as a
Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS)
applicant. U.S. immigration authorities
approved his application, and our client is
currently under the guardianship of his aunt.
Patrick Liu handled the case under the
supervision of Jeff Bjork. Mirna Thompson
provided translation services.
NY
Sidley obtained a U visa for a woman
from Ecuador who suffered from a long
history of domestic violence at the hands
of her husband, who was the legal, but not
the biological, father of her daughter. She
had left Ecuador to be with her husband
and for economic opportunities, but also to
escape the verbal and psychological abuse
of her husband’s family. Her husband often
insulted her and even threatened to kill
her. After years of abuse, our client finally
obtained a limited one-year family court
order of protection against her husband.
The abuse and her cooperation with
authorities led to the grant of the U visa.
Elisabetta Assi and Aryeh Zarchan handled
the case.
6
NY
We obtained a U visa for a a single
his naturalization interview, which was
mother from St. Vincent and the Grenadines
conducted at the U.S. Citizenship and
who was brought to the U.S. when she was
Immigration Services (USCIS) field office
a child and experienced years of abuse by
in San Francisco. The interview primarily
her former partner. The client had spent
consists of verifying the facts on the
her whole life in the U.S. and her child is a
naturalization application, fluency in English
U.S. citizen. She is now in status and able
and knowledge of U.S. civics. We prepared
to work and support her family. Jim Arden
our client for the interview and attended
and Pouneh Aravand handled the case,
the interview with him. In November, he
with assistance from Christine LiCalzi.
took the citizenship oath at a ceremony in
NY
Oakland. Sue Wang handled this under the
We obtained a U visa for a woman
from Mexico who suffered from physical
supervision of Peter Kang.
and verbal violence at the hand of her
former boyfriend and father of their two
young children. When our client was just
a teenager, she left Mexico for the United
NY
States, where she met her now-former
Pentecostal Christian who, like other
boyfriend. After some time, he became
members of his family, was severely
abusive. It started with verbal abuse but
persecuted in his native Eritrea because
soon escalated to physical violence. This
of his religious beliefs. Our client suffered
culminated with her boyfriend punching
repeated torture, imprisonment, abuse and
her in the eye in front of their daughter. He
humiliation for more than a decade before
was charged with assault in the third degree
escaping, embarking on a six-month journey
and harassment in the second degree. Our
through numerous countries in order to
client also obtained a six-month temporary
seek asylum in the United States. The man
order of protection from the court. Based on
had been detained by U.S. Immigration
these facts, Narimane Nabahi and Aryeh
authorities since July 2013 and was in
Zarchan were able to secure a U visa for
removal proceedings when Sidley accepted
their client.
the case from Human Rights First. We
NY
successfully represented our client in a
A Sidley team obtained political
asylum for a young man who fled his native
Guinea to escape political persecution.
Military forces targeted our client after he
helped organize a political rally at which
government security forces opened fire on
the protesters, killing our client’s brother
and subjecting our client to persecution.
A federal immigration judge in New York
hearing before a U.S. Immigration judge
in Elizabeth, New Jersey, who granted
him asylum on December 2, 2013. Josh
Levy, under the supervision of Stephen
Rutenberg, led the Sidley team, which
included Helena Haywoode, Aimee
Krause, Cliff Laney, Shaun McFall and Tian
Wang.
granted him asylum on November 21,
2013. The case was handled by Stephen
Rutenberg, Sara Reichstein, Erin Braatz*
and summer associate Angela Zhu.
SF/PA
an immigrant from Uganda in his efforts to
obtain U.S. citizenship. We had previously
obtained asylum and permanent residency
for the client. In October, he passed
7
Veterans Benefits Project
In 2007, then national pro bono Chair and alumnus Ronald Flagg led Sidley’s effort to establish
the Veterans Benefits Project. Sidley is a
leader in providing pro bono assistance to veterans, military service members and military families, and has represented them in more than 100
matters.
Sidley receives the majority of its cases from the National Veterans Legal Services Program’s (NVLSP) nationwide referral
network of “Lawyers Serving Warriors.” NVLSP is a longstanding partner of the firm. Over the past decade, Sidley’s LA office
has worked with the NVLSP on a class action in California representing Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange. The case
has secured more than $3.6 billion in veterans benefits for class members. The Project also accepts cases from the Veterans
Legal Support Center & Clinic at The John Marshall Law School, the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program, Swords to
Plowshares, and the Veterans Assistance Project of the New York City Bar Justice Center. Sidley is proud to work on behalf of the servicemen
and servicewomen who have given so much to our country, to ensure that they receive the benefits to which they are entitled to provide for
themselves and their families. Emily Wexler manages the Project out of the Chicago office.
This initiative focuses primarily on three types of clients:
1.Veterans seeking “service-connected” disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These clients must prove that they
currently have a disability that can be linked to an illness or injury during service, which requires locating records, obtaining medical opinions,
preparing briefs, and enduring lengthy waiting times to obtain a just result. In 2013, Sidley took 11 new VA benefit cases.
2.Current or recently-discharged service members seeking disability benefits from the Armed Forces. These clients have disabilities that
render them “unfit” to serve and thus are eligible for a military medical retirement. We guide them through the Physical Disability Evaluation
System and ensure that their assigned level of disability, which dictates pension and healthcare eligibility, is accurate and fair.
3.Veterans seeking Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) from the Armed Forces. These clients have been medically retired by the
Armed Forces and awarded service-connected disability benefits from the VA, yet due to the traditional ban on “concurrent receipt” of both
benefits, their benefits are offset against each other another. Proving that a disabling condition is “combat-related,” however, makes the
clients eligible for additional disability compensation. Sidley prepares these applications on behalf of the veterans and in 2013, took 23 new
cases.
In 2013, Sidley lawyers devoted more than
evidence and argument, the VA granted
DC
3,900 hours to matters that were part of
our client ongoing benefits, as well as
the U.S. Army Reserves obtain a medical
the Veterans Benefits Project. The Project
retroactive benefits dating from 2004. Emily
retirement from the military (and with it,
posted the following victories in 2013:
Wexler and Bob Scarborough handled the
disability and insurance benefits) that had
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matter.
taken more than five years to resolve. The
disability benefits from the VA for an
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client suffered from a laundry list of medical
86-year-old Navy veteran with hearing loss.
disability benefits for a Vietnam veteran
problems that were linked to her time and
Our client was injured during deep-diving
suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress
duties in service as a diesel truck driver,
amphibious training exercises during World
Disorder (PTSD). The VA had awarded the
including problems with her nervous and
War II. The Chicago VA Regional Office
veteran a 30 percent disability rating in
pulmonary systems. Finally, in the summer
previously had denied him benefits. The
2010. Sidley appealed the disability rating,
of 2013, the Army found her to be 70%
VA granted him retroactive and ongoing
arguing that it was too low. The VA then
disabled and thus eligible for a medical
benefits after we submitted his military
granted the veteran a rating of 100 percent
retirement. Scott Border, Paul Kalb, Dan
medical records from the 1940s, as well as
for his PTSD, retroactive to November
Twetten,* and Hannah Ruehlman* handled
new evidence from his current doctor. Chris
2009. As a result, his monthly disability
the matter.
Meyer and James Mizgala handled the
benefits jumped from $888 to $2,988, and
DA
matter.
he received a lump sum of $89,000 for the
peacetime Army veteran with his appeal
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retroactive rating increase. In addition,
to the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans
his wife now qualifies for military health
Claims. Our client sought service-
benefits, and they may now buy groceries
connected disability benefits from the
and other items from the Armed Forces
VA for an ankle injury, but had received
Commissary and Exchange. Priscilla Ryan*
an inadequate disability rating from the
and Sarah Konsky handled the matter.
VA Regional Office and the Board of
The firm obtained service-connected
disability benefits for a peacetime Navy
veteran with a recurring ankle disability. Our
client had previously lost three times before
the Chicago VA Regional Office. More
than two years after Sidley submitted new
8
Sidley helped a Staff Sergeant in
Veterans Appeals. On appeal, the VA
Office of General Counsel agreed that
the rating given did not fully consider all
of the evidence and entered into a joint
motion for remand, requiring the Board of
Veterans Appeals to re-evaluate the matter.
Demarron Berkley* and Michael Hatcher
handled the matter.
CH/DC/HN/NY/SF/PA
Sidley teams
in multiple offices obtained Combat-Related
Special Compensation (CRSC) awards for
19 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan in
2013. Lauren Cook Jackson (DC) and Neal
Sullivan (DC) obtained CRSC benefits for
a for a retired U.S. Army Staff Sergeant
who served in Iraq and who suffers from
PTSD, traumatic brain injury, and a knee
injury. Thanks to the award, the veteran
received $58,000 in a retroactive award and
will receive approximately $800/month in
additional disability compensation going
forward. In another case, Jocelyn Prepon
(NY) and Jim Arden (NY) obtained CRSC
benefits for an Army veteran who served
in Iraq and suffers from PTSD and tinnitus,
both of which were caused by his combat
duties. The veteran will receive additional
monthly compensation of approximately
$135/month and also received a retroactive
award of approximately $7,000. Other
attorneys who handled successful CRSC
matters for their clients in 2013 are: Greg
Sherman, Peter Kang, Jenny Cheung,
Marianne Bellucci, Joseph Kelly, Gerritt
Wieringa, Stephen Carlson, Paul Monson,
Caroline Schiff, Emily Wexler, David
Jorgensen, Kevin Blaugh, Vanessa Richelle
Wilson, Timothy Moran, Ariele Lessing,
Frank Bruno, Eric Schmitt, Stephanie Koh,
Sally Wagner Partin, Hae Won Min Liao,
Whitney Cox,* Richard O’Brien, Matthew
Powers,* Tracy LeRoy, Mark Glasser,
Jenna Gallagher, Robert O’Keefe, Salen
Churi,* Sean Siekkinen, Jana Jobes, David
Layfer,* Lindsey Cara, John Hutchinson,
Amanda Todd, Sean Higgins, Lisa
Schneider, and Andy O’Neill.
9
Africa & Asia Agricultural Enterprise Program
In 2012, Sidley launched its fourth firmwide pro bono initiative and its first firmwide international pro bono initiative, offering pro bono
assistance to clients in Africa and Asia. The Program harnesses the experience of Sidley’s team of lawyers around the world by using their
strategic and technical know-how for the benefit of the residents of rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa and less-developed countries
in Asia. The Program aims to empower farmers and businesses to expand their operations to improve the livelihoods of the world’s poorest
farmers and their communities.
The major components of the Program are:
Trade Advice. Helping exporters understand and navigate international trade agreements and rules can help remove barriers to markets as
well as increase the potential value of the product.
Market access through advice on compliance with regulatory measures. Complex and restrictive regulatory requirements can shrink
global market opportunities and present an onerous barrier to trade, especially for producers in developing countries who are neither aware
of nor able to cope easily with such regulations. Being able to navigate such regulations will empower producers to reach larger markets and
potentially generate significantly greater earnings.
Intellectual Property/Trademarks/Plant Variety Protection. Registering a unique characteristic of a product or commodity, whether it be a
technological improvement, a specific process, or a geographic provenance, can differentiate the product in regional or world markets and
improve prices. It also can be important to license a protected technology or seed variety to improve yields and quality.
Investment and Finance Advice. The Program helps entities seeking financing to meet donor/fund eligibility requirements and also helps
clients structure equity or loan deals of various sizes. Sidley lawyers provide best practice advice on governance for microfinance and other
financial entities working in the agricultural sector, as well as advice on innovative forms of collateral.
Franchising and Dealer Networks. Franchising offers huge opportunities to rural communities in the developing world. Extending distribution
networks to the village level creates entrepreneurial opportunities for individuals. Bringing agro-inputs and processing such as seed, fertilizer,
herbicides, and drying/storage facilities closer to the farmers facilitates access to markets and methods of higher productivity.
In developing the Program, Sidley engages with a range of entities working toward agricultural and economic growth in Africa and Asia. These
include producer and trade associations, cooperatives, not-for-profit organizations, foundations, funds, banks, microfinance and insurance
providers, private sector advisory services, intergovernmental organizations, universities, and individuals. Sidley also partners with a range of
NGOs, government and private sector entities, including the International Fund for Agricultural Development, the World Bank, Ernst & Young,
PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Technoserve, CNFA, ACDI/VOCA, FairTrade International, Trustlaw, Self Help Africa and government aid and finance
agencies.
This cross-border Program is led by Scott Andersen and Ronalee Biasca in Sidley’s Geneva office.
Under the Program, the firm helped Land
organization in the United States. Gene
selling solar powered battery packs to
O’Lakes International Development review
Elrod and Hanna Chouest (both in DC) are
accommodate energy needs of off-grid
Tanzanian cooperative law. We handled this
handling the matter.
communities in Africa and Asia. The
matter for the department of Land O’Lakes
that works on development assistance
projects, in collaboration with USAID. This
partial pro bono assignment was handled
by Dorothee Fischer-Appelt (London),
Caroline McHale (NY) and John Fordyce,
Robert Brown and Raj Sultanian (all in
Chicago).
Sidley is representing Suminter India
Organics, a marketing company specializing
in high-quality organic food and fiber
products produced by 15,000 marginal
farmers in India. Sidley is helping draft
and analyze purchase and sales contracts
relating to Suminter’s transactions with
international exporters, buyers and
Sidley is representing Africa Atlantic, a
suppliers. The matter is being handled by
private commercial farming venture in
Alexander Moon (NY), Buvini Kularatne
Ghana, in building a not-for-profit research
(London) and Prerna Gandhi (Singapore).
and training facility, the Agribusiness
Knowledge Center. Sidley is securing
registration for the facility as a 501(c)(3)
10
A cross-office Sidley team is advising
BBOXX Ltd., a UK-based company
products offer a cleaner, more efficient
alternative to kerosene-based generators.
The company was started by electrical
engineering students at Imperial College,
London, as an extension of a charitable
project and now sells in 14 countries. Sidley
has assisted BBOXX with its franchise/
distribution model in order to increase
operations throughout Africa and Asia. The
team includes John Box (Chicago), Michael
Yanowitch (NY), Tommer Yoked (Houston)
and Gaby Carnwath (London).
A Sidley team is advising Esoko, a Ghanaian
mobile technology company that operates
an Internet- and mobile-based information
Stephen Fronk (San Francisco) and Sarah
Verigan, Minhaj Rahman, Sha Hua (all in
platform used by farmers, traders and
Preisler (Palo Alto), with the support of two
Chicago), Cindy Change (New York) and
agribusinesses to access information
corporate in-house lawyers from Colgate-
John Wisse (Dallas).
on market prices for commodities and
Palmolive Co.’s Swiss affiliate, Rita Gomes
farming methods. Sidley has reviewed
and Lyse Pachoud.
agreements to establish reselling partners
in several African countries. Jeff Rothstein,
Yael Resnick (both in Chicago), Jay Huh
(Palo Alto) and Jonathan Adams* (DC)
are handling the matter. Jan Nicholls,
an in-house lawyer from Sidley client
Caterpillar, provided support for this
matter.
Mocambique, a maize mill in Mozambique,
Sidley is providing international trade advice
Sidley has drafted a franchise agreement
to Jasmine Bee, a start-up company that
to develop best practices for establishing
will work with over 1,000 rural beekeepers
maize-milling franchising opportunities.
in Tanzania to help expand their access to
Sarah Preisler (Palo Alto), Michael Rugen
new markets and market their products.
(San Francisco), Xiao Jiang (Hong Kong)
The company will provide modern
and James Hardgrove (Chicago) are
beekeeping facilities that are safer and
working on this matter.
more efficient than conventional methods
Farm Concern International seeks to
of beekeeping. Sidley is assisting with
support poorer households in Sub-Saharan
trademark registration, providing advice
Africa through market development
on trading honey to the EU and US, and
initiatives and commercialization. Sidley
reviewing agreements with honey buyers.
has helped with IP protection of Farm
Scott Andersen, Diana Kuitkowski,
Concern’s Commercial Village Model, U.S.
Laure-Helene Laissue (all in Geneva), and
non-profit organization registration and
Nicole Lai (New York) are working on this
UK charity registration. The team includes
matter with trainee Selena Bruderer and
Mary Critharis, Jonathan Adams* (both in
economist Andreas Lendle (also both in
DC), Whitney Cox, C.J. Loos and Elizabeth
Geneva). Three students from New York
Massaro (all in Chicago), Imran Islam,
University School of Law are providing
Bethany Burrow (both in London) and
research support.
Calamus Huang (Shanghai).
Working with Moageiras Milenio de
For Kenya Biologics, Sidley is reviewing
Ice Ice Baby supplies the fishing industry
distribution and purchase agreements
and consumers in Sierra Leone with ice, one
with their suppliers and their investment
of the water-starved West African country’s
agreements with private equity investors.
most sought-after products. Sidley is
Kenya Biologics is a bio-pesticide producing
reviewing an investment agreement and
company that provides 18,000 horticulture
other contracts. Sidley lawyers working on
farmers with green, safe and cost-effective
this matter are Raymond Oh and Joy Lam
crop protection. The team includes Rob
(both in Hong Kong), Louisa Kiu (New York),
Sidley is reviewing employment contracts
and developing forward contracts for seed
and fertilizer distributors of myAgro, a
service that allows farmers to purchase the
inputs they need on layaway via an SMS
platform and a network of local vendors
MyAgro’s mission is to help move small
farmers out of poverty. The team includes
Nathan Howell, Julie Klaaf, Raj Sultanian
(all in Chicago), Laure-Helene Laissue
(Geneva) and Marlon Layton (Singapore).
Sidley is representing Rent-to-Own, a
Zambian company that provides agricultural
equipment, technical training and business
planning support to entrepreneurs engaged
in rural farming and manufacturing
businesses. Sidley is reviewing Rentto-Own’s s hire-purchase contract and
contracts with its donors. The team includes
Tung Nguyen (Dallas), Josh Avratin
(Chicago), Sofya Abrams (LA) and Annie
Wallis (Chicago).
Program Statistics
Number of projects since the Program’s inception in 2012:
45
Number of Sidley lawyers participating in the Program:
170 (from 16 Sidley offices worldwide)
Countries in Africa with projects under the Program:
16
Countries in Asia with projects under the Program:
3
11
SeKaf Ghana specializes in shea-based bath
Cindy Chang (New York), John Wisse
up an international holding company and
and beauty products aiming to improve the
(Dallas) and Sarah Preisler (Palo Alto) are
reviewing donor and funder contracts Tim
economic status of shea nut pickers, who
working on this matter.
Devetski (Houston), Michael O’Brien,
are mainly rural women, and shea butter
processors in northern Ghana through
innovative and sustainable employment.
Sidley is providing IP advice and drafting
the agreement with the cooperatives with
whom SeKaf works. Lisa Schneider, Louani
Bascara, Alexandria Glispie (all in Chicago),
Sidley is advising SmartMoney, an
innovative mobile money project serving
rural farmers and large agricultural
companies in Tanzania and Uganda that
Gabriel Lopez, Ilan Hornstein, Charles
Cotropia, Eric Hoffman (all in New York)
and Courtney Hikawa (DC) are working on
this matter.
provides affordable, accessible, and
Emerging Cooking Solutions, a Zambian
secure financial services in the developing
company, promotes clean cooking by
world. We are helping SmartMoney set
distributing stoves that use fuel pellets
made with sustainable biomass and
agricultural waste, providing a healthier
alternative to the use of charcoal in rural
areas. Sidley’s advice is enabling the
company to negotiate investment terms
with larger companies and to plan for its
continued growth. Nancy Corbett (New
York), Charles Allen, Joy Lam (both in Hong
Kong), Kataryzna Orzolek (London), Jade
Williams-Adedeji (London), Sarah Preisler
(Palo Alto) and Christopher Bell (Houston)
are working on this matter.
Sidley is providing pro bono services to the
non-profit organization Bangladesh Shrimp
and Fish Foundation (BSFF) on trade and
food safety requirements. As part of that
representation, in January 2013, Sidley-DC
attorney Erica Jackson made a presentation
to Bangladeshi shrimp farmers, exporters
and stakeholders in Dhaka, the capital of
A Zambian woman using a clean cook stove.
Bangladesh. During her presentation, she
discussed U.S. food safety law and Sybilla
Fries from our Geneva office outlined WTO
Law and EU food safety law.
In March, Syed Mahmudal Huq, the Chairperson of the Bangladesh Shrimp and Fish
Foundation (second from right) and Asif Hossain, a Bangladeshi shrimp producer (far right),
came to Sidley’s D.C. office to meet with attorneys Erica Jackson, Brenda Jacobs, Raj Pal,
Sara Wexler, Gabriel Lopez and Becky Troth. Diane McEnroe in New York, and Sybilla
Fries and Josefine Sommer in Geneva participated by video conference.
12
SEEKING JUSTICE FOR CRIMINAL DEFENDANTS
Second Chances
SF
SF
a man who had pleaded no contest to
those forms of relief, but the process can
vehicular manslaughter and was granted
be complicated and many of these people
probation in 2000. His conviction caused
do not have access to the help they need
him to lose his DMV job and, despite
to navigate the system to receive a Second
his best efforts, prevented him from
Chance. Cabrini Green Legal Aid (CGLA)
finding full-time employment for the
has been providing this service since 2005,
past 13 years. Although he successfully
advising more than 4,000 people a year on
completed probation in 2005, he still
their options for moving past their criminal
owes approximately $7,000 in restitution.
backgrounds. That number is miniscule
Exercising its discretion, the court granted
compared to the 3.9 million people (1 in 3)
our petition to dismiss his felony conviction
in Illinois with a criminal record who could
and reduce the conviction from a felony to a
benefit from legal counsel, and while many
misdemeanor. Zeke Rauscher handled the
people do not qualify for expungement, a
matter under Peter Kang’s supervision.
large number could benefit from alternative
Clinic (EBCLC), which provides free legal
CH
forms of relief that would allow them to
help to eligible individuals who are seeking
participated in a program inspired by
to clean up their Alameda County criminal
a meeting between members of the
Sidley attorneys Susan Harris, Michelle
records.
Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo)
Halverson, Scott Stein and Angie Weis
and Vice President Biden in September
participated in the IMPACT Second
2012, in which they discussed access to
Chances Project Clinic in November.
justice issues and the role of pro bono
CGLA conducted intake before the clinic
attorneys in delivering legal services to the
to determine what legal assistance was
poor. The resulting IMPACT (Involving More
appropriate for individuals attending the
Pro Bono Attorneys in our Communities
clinic. Susan and Michelle helped their
Together) Program is a long-term effort
client apply to the Department of Public
to design innovative and sustainable
Heath for a Health Care Waiver, which allows
solutions that will increase access to free
a person with a criminal record to be hired in
legal services in major cities across the
a health care setting. Twelve years ago, our
country. After considering the critical
client had been arrested and charged with
issues facing the Chicago legal community,
theft by exerting unauthorized control over
the participating Chicago firms agreed to
property valued at about $700. Our client,
create the Second Chance Project to focus
who had strong family and community ties,
efforts on individuals who need a chance
had never been involved with the law before
to move forward in their lives despite past
nor after this incident. She had health-care
mistakes. The State of Illinois and Cook
related jobs before Illinois enacted a law
County have progressive laws providing
imposing liability on health care employers
California woman whose arrest record
prevented her from pursuing a career as
a firefighter. The Alameda Superior Court
ordered that our client’s arrest record
be sealed. The order came after Sidley
submitted a brief to the court, setting forth a
factual record not available to the arresting
officers, and made two court appearances.
Sheila Armbrust handled the case under
the supervision of Josh Hill. The case marks
the first matter that Sidley has handled as
part of its recent partnership with the East
Bay Community Law Center’s Clean Slate
In an email thanking Sidley, the
EBCLC’s director said:
“I really appreciate
how much support
the Sidley partners
supervising
these cases have
provided the associates. This has
included trekking to courtrooms
across Alameda County and doing
extensive prep beforehand. Seeing
Peter [Kang] in the courtroom
today (and Josh [Hill] in Oakland a
few months ago) gives me an idea
of how deep Sidley’s support for
high quality pro bono work runs.”
Under the EBCLC, we also represented
Sidley attorneys in Chicago
relief from criminal records and access to
demonstrate that their rehabilitation.
13
that hire a person with a disqualifying
conviction. Our client had begun working
for a public health institution but was laid
off when this 12-year old incident appeared
on her background check. The Department
granted the waiver. Although the waiver
does not prevent a public health institution
from denying employment, IMPACT is
continuing to educate local employers
about the waivers, and with this waiver, our
client will have many more opportunities in
her chosen field.
Sidley’s Supreme Court Clinic at Northwestern University Law School
Since 2006, Sidley has sponsored the United States Supreme Court Clinic with
Northwestern University School of Law. Students who participate help brief cases
on the merits and identify court of appeals and state supreme court decisions as
candidates for petitions for writ of certiorari, all in partnership with the firm’s Supreme
Court pro bono program. In 2013, the Clinic filed six petitions for a writ of certiorari
and seven reply briefs. The Clinic wrote seven briefs on the merits, as well as several
briefs as amicus curiae at both the petition and merit stages. The Clinic also hosted
several speakers in 2013. In early March, Jeffrey Minear, Counselor to the Chief
Justice of the United States, taught a class on cases falling under the Court’s original
jurisdiction. Later in the Spring, the Honorable Judge Gary Feinerman of the U.S.
Scott and Angie successfully petitioned
District Court of the Northern District of Illinois (and former Sidley partner) spoke
for a Certificate of Good Conduct for their
to students about Supreme Court advocacy. When the students visited Washington
client who, because of a 1994 conviction
and attended arguments at the Supreme Court, Justice Thomas took time from his
for possession of a controlled substance,
schedule to speak to them and offer his insights into Supreme Court practice. In the
had been subject to a statutory barrier
Fall of 2013, Donald Verrilli, the Solicitor General of the United States, taught the
that prevented her employment with
students about the role of the Solicitor General at the Supreme Court, while Dan
the Chicago Public Schools. Because it
Schweitzer of the National Association of Attorneys General taught a class on state
was the client’s only conviction, she was
attorneys general. Carter Phillips, Executive Committee chair, and Jeff Green,
eligible to apply for a Certificate of Good
firm-wide chair of Pro Bono, are the Clinic’s head instructors. Additional members of
Conduct, which is a court-ordered finding
Sidley’s Appellate Group who taught this year include Tacy Flint and Peter Keisler.
of rehabilitation that will help in the search
Washington Pro Bono Counsel Becky Troth and legal assistants Heath Ingram,*
for employment. A Certificate also provides
Kristyn Kenn, and Meg Huntington supported the program’s activities.
employers immunity for claims of negligent
hiring of the petitioner. The judge awarded
our client the Certificate after considering
her rehabilitation based on her employment
history, her dedication to raising her four
daughters, and the absence of further illegal
conduct.
CH
In Hooper v. Ryan, the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Seventh Circuit vacated the
district court’s denial of our client’s habeas
petition. The court held that the Illinois
Supreme Court had unreasonably applied
Batson in finding no prima facie case of
race discrimination where the prosecutor
struck all five eligible African-Americans
from the jury venire, thereby producing an
all-white jury. The court held further that
the defendant was entitled to an evidentiary
hearing in which the state must articulate
(and the district court must evaluate for
credibility) non-discriminatory reasons
for each of the prosecutor’s peremptory
challenges of African-Americans in the
original trial that occurred approximately
32 years ago. Nat Love argued the appeal
and wrote the briefs with assistance from
Rob Hochman and summer associate Neil
Conrad Housler.
DC
A Sidley team, working with
Northwestern’s Supreme Court Clinic,
helped secure a victory in Missouri v.
McNeely, a case the U.S. Supreme Court
decided in a 5-4 decision. The Court
affirmed the judgment of the Missouri
Supreme Court and rejected the state’s
argument that the natural dissipation of
blood alcohol presents a per se exigent
circumstance that would permit the police
to draw the driver’s blood in a drunkdriving investigation without a warrant.
We represented the National Association
of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the
At the IMPACT Second Chances Clinic in
Chicago. Standing: Angie Weis, Scott
Stein, seated (l-r): Michelle Halverson and
Susan V. Harris.
14
National College for DUI Defense as amici
in support of the respondent. Jeff Green
and Jeff Beelaert handled the matter.
Legal assistant Heath Ingram* and project
assistant Kristyn Kenn provided support.
DC
In a ground-breaking victory for our
David Housler’s Journey to Justice
DC
On January 30, 1994, police discovered four victims shot to death inside
a Clarksville, Tennessee, Taco Bell. The State convicted a man named Courtney
Mathews of the killings in 1996, based on overwhelming physical evidence, in a trial
clients on death row, plaintiffs-appellees in
in which the State argued he had acted alone in committing the murders. Nearly 18
Cook v. Food and Drug Administration, the
months later, David Housler was tried as an accomplice to the murders, based on
U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit
prosecutors’ new claim that Mr. Housler had acted as a lookout for Mathews, even
affirmed the district court’s holding that the
though the only evidence against Housler was his own “confession,” an uncounseled
FDA’s decision to allow state correctional
custodial statement that even prosecutors admitted was largely false. Mr. Housler
departments to import an unapproved new
nevertheless was convicted and sentenced to four consecutive life prison terms.
drug from an unregistered foreign source
for use in lethal injections violated the
Administrative Procedure Act. The United
States declined to seek certiorari in the
case. Coleen Klasmeier led the Sidley team,
which included Sean Griffin, Jennifer Clark
and Sara Beardsley.* Brad Berenson* (now
head of litigation at the General Electric
Company) was instrumental in this matter
and argued the case in the district court.
Eric Shumsky* argued the appeal.
DC
Shortly before oral argument, The
After his unsuccessful direct appeals, Sidley took Mr. Housler’s case in 2007. Partner
Paul Hemmersbaugh led the Sidley team of James Owens,* Jason Vendel,* Bryson
Bachman,* Michael Flanagan and legal assistant Rebecca Richardson.* After
extensive research, discovery, and case development, the team filed a Petition for
Post-Conviction Relief in January 2009, raising several constitutional claims as well
as claims based on newly-available evidence of Mr. Housler’s innocence. At a 10-day
evidentiary hearing in October 2009 in the Montgomery County Circuit Court, the
Sidley team demonstrated Housler’s innocence through the testimony and interview
notes and memoranda of the actual murderer’s defense counsel and investigators.
The team showed that lone gunman Mathews had waived his privilege to documents
recording his confessions to his trial team, prompting the court to order that the
evidence be admitted. Mathews’ own defense lawyers, forced to testify in the
Des Moines Register noted Sidley’s role in
proceeding, verified that Mr. Housler could not have been involved in the murders.
the pro bono representation of petitioner
Mathews had told his investigators and lawyers repeatedly that he had acted alone,
Marcus Burrage in a high-profile Supreme
and did not even know Housler.
Court case, Burrage v. United States. Sidley
wrote the merits briefs and aided trial
counsel as she prepared for the November
oral argument. Sidley and co-counsel
represented the petitioner in challenging
his conviction under 21 U.S.C. § 841(b)(1)(C)
for distributing heroin that resulted in death.
On September 23, 2010, the court issued a 244-page order granting Housler’s habeas
corpus petition, vacating his four homicide convictions and four consecutive life
prison sentences, and granting him a new trial. Ten days later, over the State’s strong
objection, the court granted Sidley’s request for reduced bail. Housler was released
on October 4, 2010. Now a free man, he was able to visit his wife and 17-year-old
daughter outside of prison for the first time in 16 years.
Petitioner contended that § 841(b)(1)(C)
The State of Tennessee appealed the court’s ruling to the Tennessee Court of Criminal
requires “but for” and proximate cause
Appeals. But—once again—the Sidley team prevailed, after devoting hundreds
for the imposition of a 20-year minimum
of additional hours to briefing and arguing Housler’s appeal. In September 2013,
sentence when death results from heroin
the Court of Criminal Appeals affirmed the historic trial court decision that vacated
use and cannot rely on mere “contributory
Housler’s convictions. The State of Tennessee declined to seek review by the
cause,” as the government argued. The
Supreme Court of Tennessee. In all, over the course of the six-year representation,
Court agreed with our client’s arguments
the Sidley team devoted more than 12,000 hours to their quest to vindicate David
and on January 27, 2014, unanimously
Housler. In addition to the attorneys who participated in the post-conviction hearing
reversed the conviction. The ruling likely will
in Tennessee, Karen Smith, Brian Fox (now in NY) and Kevin Garvey worked on the
affect a significant number of prosecutions
appellate phase of the case.
for drug crimes throughout the United
On January 6, 2014, the National Law Journal named Sidley to its Pro Bono Hotlist,
States. The Sidley team consisted of Jeff
Green, Ryan Morris and Jeremy Bylund,
as well as students from Northwestern
University Law School’s Supreme Court
honoring partner Paul Hemmersbaugh and the team for successfully representing
David Housler in his efforts to secure post-conviction relief after serving 16 years in
prison for murders he did not commit.
Clinic.
15
PROTECTING CIVIL AND CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS
DC
Maryland Attorney General challenged the
statutory protections for voters’ rights,
brief on behalf of a coalition of former
administrative law judge’s decision, which
as explained in greater detail below,
Secretaries of Defense, Department of
was reversed on appeal. The Maryland
LatinoJustice PRLDEF awarded Sidley
Defense officials, United States Senators
Court of Special Appeals held, without
its 2013 Pro Bono Publico Award, in part
and Members of Congress, Flag and
considering the conditions of release,
for Sidley’s efforts in this matter. The
General Officers, advisors for national
that the individual was not eligible for
Sidley team included Mark Haddad, Jose
security, and groups representing tens of
conditional release because it found that
Sanchez, Brent Wilner, Alex Doherty,
thousands of veterans in Windsor v. United
he posed some danger to the community.
Lillian Park, Amanda Lopez, Will Rosenthal
States, 133 S. Ct. 2675 (2013), the historic
Sidley took over the representation of the
and legal assistant Cecibel Alvarenga (all in
case challenging the constitutionality of
appellant and petitioned for certiorari in
LA) as well as Carter Phillips (DC/Chicago)
the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The
Maryland’s highest court. The Maryland
and legal assistants Randy Luce and John
brief argued that supporting all military
Court of Appeals granted certiorari and,
Meehan (both in DC). This pro bono
families is integral to national security
after merits briefing and argument, held
opportunity arose from Jose Sanchez’s
and demonstrated that DOMA harms
in a 7-0 decision that the court below
service on MALDEF’s National Board of
service members, undermines recruiting
applied the incorrect statutory standard
Directors.
and retention, and runs contrary to
for conditional release. The court vacated
military values. In the opening of his oral
the decision below and, on a 4-3 basis,
argument, the Solicitor General stressed
remanded to the ALJ for the limited
the unique adverse impact of DOMA on
determination that Sidley had requested of
the military. In a 5-4 decision, the Court
whether the original conditions of release
struck down the relevant section of DOMA
could be satisfied. Clay Northouse handled
as an unconstitutional deprivation of equal
the matter under the supervision of Paul
liberty. The amicus brief was featured on
Zidlicky and Kurt Jacobs.
national television news. Within hours of
LA/CH/DC
the Supreme Court’s decision, the Secretary
American Legal Defense and Educational
United States Senators and Members of the
of Defense announced that the Pentagon
Fund (MALDEF), Sidley filed an amicus
United States House of Representatives who
would grant equal benefits to gay service
brief in Shelby County v. Holder, the high-
were instrumental in the passage of the Act
members and their families. Carter Phillips,
profile Supreme Court case challenging the
and/or its 2008 reauthorization. The brief
Eamon Joyce (NY), Stephanie Hales, and
constitutionality of a provision in the Voting
challenged the government’s contentions
JP Schnapper-Casteras worked on the
Rights Act of 1965 that requires jurisdictions
that the Policy Requirement is permissible
matter.
with records of voting discrimination to
under the First Amendment. The Court
DC
preclear electoral changes. MALDEF’s brief
agreed and held the Policy Requirement
Sidley filed a Supreme Court amicus
Sidley took the case of a Maryland
On behalf of the Mexican
LA/CH/DC
Sidley pursued a First
Amendment challenge to a provision of the
United States Leadership Against HIV/AIDS,
Tuberculosis and Malaria Act, that requires
non-governmental organizations to adopt
a policy explicitly opposing prostitution
as a condition of receiving federal funds.
Sidley filed an amicus brief on behalf of a
bipartisan group of nine current and former
resident who has been involuntarily
stressed that these provisions remain vital
unconstitutional. Mark Haddad, Carter
institutionalized in a state mental health
to protecting the voting rights of Latinos.
Phillips, Robert Holland, Daron Watts,
facility since 2001. The resident sought and
Although the Court, in a 5-4 decision,
Joshua Anderson and Tacy Flint worked on
received conditional release in 2009, but the
ultimately struck down the long-standing
the brief.
16
DC
The U.S. Supreme Court let stand
a landmark decision by the U.S. Court of
Appeals for the Federal Circuit upholding
a Compensation Clause challenge to
judicial pay brought by a group of Article III
judges. In denying a petition for certiorari,
the Supreme Court left in place the en
banc decision of the Federal Circuit in
Beer v. United States, which agreed with
the position urged in the amicus brief
Sidley filed on behalf of the Federal
Circuit Bar Association. Four other bar
associations—the American Intellectual
Property Law Association, the Customs and
International Trade Bar Association, the
Intellectual Property Owners Association
and the Federal Bar Association—joined
our brief. Carter Phillips, Becky Wood and
Adam Doverspike* briefed the issue in the
Federal Circuit. Carter serves on the Board
of Governors of the Federal Circuit Bar
Association. Virginia Seitz* was involved
in a prior round of the case before entering
government service.
DC Sidley lawyers reached a favorable
settlement for our client in a housing
discrimination case referred by the
Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil
Rights and Urban Affairs. Our client, a
civil rights organization, sued a realty
company in D.C. Superior Court for refusing
to rent available apartments to housing
testers based on their perceived source
of income, which is illegal under District
law. As a result of the settlement, the
realty company agreed to implement a
new anti-discrimination policy, advertise
that it is housing-choice-voucher friendly
and train its staff to prevent discrimination.
Our representation included drafting the
complaint, multiple meetings with the client,
court appearances, multiple mediation
sessions with a court-appointed mediator
and settlement discussions with opposing
counsel. Justin Benson handled the case
under the supervision of Jim Bendernagel.
DC
Sidley represented an engineer for
the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Division in
negotiating a settlement agreement with
the Secretary of the Navy. In 2009, our client
filed a civil action against the Navy in U.S.
District Court in Washington, D.C., alleging
that the Navy discriminated against him
on the basis of age and race when it failed
to promote him to be Chief Engineer of
his division. After he survived a motion to
dismiss, the parties agreed to participate
in the District Court’s mediation program,
and Sidley was appointed to represent
the plaintiff on a pro bono basis in that
process. After lengthy negotiations, both
sides agreed to a Stipulation of Settlement
and Dismissal, which was filed at the end
of 2013. As part of the settlement, the
Navy awarded our client a retroactive
promotion to the position that he originally
applied for. Pete Jensen, under Jeff
Green’s supervision, helped negotiate the
settlement.
17
SERVING NEIGHBORS IN NEED
Protecting Economic Rights
The case was complicated because our
presented our client’s case at trial. The D.C.
DC
client was a minor living in foster care in
Superior Court found that guardianship with
South Carolina when she gave birth and
our client served the child’s best interests
her daughter’s father was incarcerated,
and granted our motion for permanent
making it difficult to serve him and obtain
guardianship. Paul Perkins handled the
his consent. Our client’s great aunt had
matter under Matt Warren’s supervision.
received temporary legal custody of the
The Children’s Law Center referred the case
daughter. After a prolonged mediation
to Sidley.
Sidley represented a D.C. resident
seeking unemployment compensation
benefits after she was discharged by
George Washington University Hospital. An
administrative law judge in the District of
Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings
found that our client had been discharged
for simple misconduct after she lied
during an internal investigation to protect
a co-worker. On appeal to the District of
Columbia Court of Appeals, Sidley argued
that mitigating circumstances precluded
the finding of simple misconduct and that
equitable estoppel precluded the denial of
benefits. The Court of Appeals vacated the
ALJ’s determination and remanded the case
to the ALJ for further consideration. Ryan
Morris argued and briefed the appeal with
the assistance of Peter Keisler and David
Morell.*
session, the great aunt agreed to allow our
client to have permanent legal custody of
her daughter. Our representation included
multiple meetings with the client, attending
hearings and mediation sessions, drafting
and serving amended complaints and
motions, and finalizing an agreement with
the great aunt and father, which the court
ultimately approved. Sara Wexler Koblitz
handled the case with the help of Legal
Assistant Jennifer Gordon and under the
supervision of Ron Flagg* and James
Brigagliano. The D.C. Bar Advocacy and
Justice Clinic referred the case to the firm.
Serving Families and
Senior Citizens
guardianship over her 11-year-old grandson,
LA
who had cycled in and out of five different
Sidley clients sought permanent
DC
A Sidley team helped our client obtain
guardianship of their four-year-old
foster homes over a two-year period before
granddaughter for whom they had been
finally living with his grandmother. The child
caring since birth. After a one-day bench
first entered the neglect system after his
trial, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge
mother threatened to kill him and his four
awarded our clients guardianship over the
siblings during 2010’s “Snowmageddon.”
objections of the child’s mother who lives
After moving for permanent guardianship,
in Louisiana and wanted the child to live
we secured consent from both parents and
with her despite evidence that she had
mistreated the child on the few occasions
when the child visited her. At one point,
prior to Sidley’s involvement, the child’s
mother filed false kidnapping charges
against the grandmother, which resulted
in the grandmother spending seven days
in jail. Bet Tzedek referred the matter
to Sidley, which Thomas Powell and
Andy Dunbar handled to its successful
conclusion. Bet Tzedek then awarded Tom
and Andy its Pro Bono Attorney for the Year
Award for their excellent work (see Honors
and Awards, below).
DC
Sidley negotiated a consent decree
giving our client full legal custody of her
seven-year-old daughter, allowing her to see
her daughter for the first time in months.
18
LA
Sidley helped a Los Angeles woman
in a domestic violence case in which our
client’s ex-boyfriend attacked her, sending
her to the hospital, and subsequently
threatened her and their children. After the
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice
referred this matter to us, Sidley obtained
a restraining order against the man for a
three-year period and also obtained an
order granting our client sole custody of the
children, with the ex-boyfriend receiving
no visitation rights, which is rarely ordered.
The ex-boyfriend had anger issues and even
threatened the process server who served
the notice of the restraining order hearing.
Erik Carlson handled the case under the
supervision of Ted Chandler and with the
assistance of Heidi Larson Howell, Miles
Fuller (who completed a fellowship at the
a secure placement for the woman, and in
judgment refunding 70 percent of the rent
Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice) and
2012, after she was injured because of the
our client paid during his tenancy. Sidley
Normarie Segurola.
negligence of group home staff, the State
took the appeal as part of its ongoing
LA
finally agreed to her transfer to an ICF/ID.
loaned associate partnership with the Legal
Chanda Betourney,* Marci Haarburger
Aid Society of the District of Columbia.
Rozen, Eric Ives (now in Chicago) and Dan
Kyle Fiet argued the case, which Jackie
Rabinowitz* handled the case under the
Cooper supervised.
supervision of Jeff Green and Becky Troth.
LA
been attacked by her former partner, who
DC
mother of three who lived in a rat- and
had pushed her head into furniture in the
been denied disability benefits by the U.S.
cockroach-infested apartment that sustained
presence of their child, and made threats of
Social Security Administration (SSA) despite
periodic electricity losses for over eight
violence to her. He then began to stalk our
the chronic pain, fatigue and dizziness
months. When our client withheld her rent
client at home and work. Amanda Lopez
associated with her multiple conditions.
because of the apartment’s deficiencies, her
and Lauren McCray handled the case under
After we presented our case through the
landlord filed an unlawful-detainer action
Geoff DeBoskey’s supervision.
administrative reconsideration process, the
against her, seeking her eviction or payment
SSA accepted our argument that, under its
of eight months of back rent. Upon Sidley’s
regulations, our client was legally entitled to
engagement, the firm quickly obtained
a directed conclusion that she was disabled
evidence and testimony that established
and granted her benefits retroactive to
the severity of the apartment’s problems,
2011. Judah Ariel led the Sidley team,
and the landlord ultimately agreed to waive
which included Mark Schneider and staff
his right to collect any prior rent from our
members Colleen Campbell* and Adam
client, allowed our client to remain in her
Hartmann.*
apartment for another six weeks for free,
DC
and to pay her nearly $3,000 in relocation
Sidley obtained a five-year restraining
order against our client’s abusive
ex-boyfriend and an order providing our
client full legal and physical custody of
their two-year-old child. Our client had
NY
We represented a Her Justice (f/k/a
inMotion) client in her custody battle for her
six-month old son, obtaining a favorable
custody order in the Bronx Family Court.
The client, a single mother, reported a
history of domestic violence and was
concerned with continued threats from the
father. The judge issued a final order of joint
legal custody, and sole physical custody,
to the client. Jesselyn Pe and Maria
Meléndez handled the representation.
Our client, a 56-year-old woman, had
The SSA denied a homeless man
disability benefits although he experienced
depression, pain and limited mobility as
a result of the lasting effects of gunshot
benefits. Emily Watkins led the team,
Sidley had represented the two since 2004,
when the guardian became concerned
about the sub-standard care provided at
the ward’s group home and sought her
transfer to an Intermediate Care Facility for
People with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/
ID). Maryland’s Secretary of the Department
of Health and Mental Hygiene denied the
request without a hearing. On appeal to
the Maryland Court of Special Appeals,
Sidley successfully argued that the failure to
provide a hearing violated our client’s due
process rights. On remand at the hearing,
however, the ALJ affirmed the Secretary’s
denial. Sidley continued to advocate for
Ratner’s supervision.
and submitting them to the SSA. After
DC
developmental disabilities and her guardian.
and Jonathan Feingold under Jennifer
collecting additional client medical records
reviewing the records, the SSA claims
of a 68-year-old woman with severe
costs. The case was handled by Francis Lam
injuries. Sidley’s representation included
Serving Our Neighbors
with Disabilities
Sidley achieved a victory on behalf
We represented a low-income, single
examiner quickly reversed the denial of
working with Mark Schneider and legal
LA
assistant Katharine Sullivan.*
represented an elderly man who had rented
Protecting Our
Neighbors’ Homes
DC
Sidley obtained a victory in the
In another housing case, we
a guest house (an unlicensed rental unit) for
approximately 20 years. When the property
was sold to a small investment company, a
representative of the new owners informed
District of Columbia Court of Appeals for
our client that he would need to vacate
a homeless District resident. The Court of
the property. The representative failed
Appeals reversed a decision of the D.C.
to inform our client how and to whom he
Superior Court, which declined to enforce
should pay future rent. Instead of clarifying
an administrative award against our client’s
how rent could be paid, the new owners
former landlord for refusing to make repairs.
served our client with a Notice to Quit form
The Court of Appeals held that the Superior
that (improperly) failed to state the amount
Court erred by allowing the landlord to
of rent that was purportedly due and/or
challenge the merits of the administrative
how the default could be cured. Then, only
award during an enforcement proceeding,
days before Christmas, the owners filed an
and remanded with instructions to enter
unlawful-detainer action against our client
19
to forcibly remove him from the property.
a licensed exterminator. After purchasing
the security deposit. They also provided a
Jonathan Feingold served the new owners
pesticide on the Internet, the landlord
reference letter for our client to use during
with extensive discovery and identified
sprayed the pesticide in the building’s
his (ultimately successful) apartment search.
numerous deficiencies in the notice. In
apartments, causing several of the tenants
Robert Conlan and Ellen Crisham handled
response, the new owners dismissed
to become sick, including our client and
the matter.
the unlawful detainer action. Jonathan
her four-month-old child. Together with
ultimately obtained an excellent settlement
Public Counsel, which was representing
LA
for our client, including seven months
other tenants, we negotiated a settlement
of free rent, over $18,000 in relocation
that included coverage for medical bills and
compensation and all of our client’s court
personal property loss, and an emotional
costs. Frank Broccolo supervised the
distress component totaling $17,000 for our
matter.
client and her child. David R. Carpenter
DC
and summer associate Adam Micale
Sidley lawyers successfully represented
a low-income resident of the District in a
lawsuit against the D.C. Housing Authority,
handled the case, which Public Counsel
referred to us.
Sidley partnered with the Western
Center on Law and Poverty and Inland
Counties Legal Services to help two low
income clients who were denied rental
assistance from the Upland Housing
Authority (UHA) without due process of
law. Amy Lally, Alex Doherty, and Lauren
McCray and our co-counsel filed and won
a motion for preliminary injunction, leading
the UHA to grant our clients’ permanent
which had terminated her Section 8
vouchers for rental assistance. They have
payments, and defended her in a related
both since located and moved into new
lawsuit her landlord filed seeking possession
apartments and UHA agreed to implement
of her apartment for nonpayment of rent.
critical changes to its review process for
After Sidley lawyers argued a preliminary
Section 8 applicants to ensure compliance
injunction motion in D.C. Superior Court
DC
to reinstate the client’s Section 8 voucher,
favorable settlement for our client, ending
opposing counsel agreed to court-
his years-long dispute with his landlord
ordered mediation. The parties reached a
and property manager. Our client and his
settlement agreement that allows our client
two young children had endured years
to keep her Section 8 voucher and move
of unsanitary and uninhabitable living
into a larger apartment. The D.C. Housing
conditions, including mold, exposed wiring
Authority also agreed to pay half of the back
in the living areas, and a rodent infestation.
rent it had failed to pay, while the landlord
Sidley sued the landlord and property
forgave the rest. Kurt Jacobs and Jeff
manager to recover damages and the
Beelaert handled the case.
return of three years’ rent. After months of
LA We represented a woman in a dispute
discovery, Sidley negotiated a settlement in
with her landlord stemming from his
decision to handle a cockroach infestation in
her building by himself rather than engage
20
A Sidley team obtained an extremely
which the defendants, in addition to making
a lump sum payment, agreed to help our
client rent a new apartment by paying his
application fees, his moving costs, and
with minimum due process requirements.
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
DC
Sidley’s client, Potomac Riverkeeper,
Inc., successfully appealed the West Virginia
Department of Environmental Protection’s
(WVDEP’s) issuance of a permit authorizing
the discharge of industrial wastes into
the Potomac River. After briefing and oral
argument, the West Virginia Environmental
Quality Board found that the permit lacked
adequate protections for monthly effluent
limitations as well as for the water quality
standards of Maryland. The board granted
Riverkeeper’s motion for summary judgment
and remanded the permit to WVDEP. Jim
Wedeking, who argued the motion before
the board, handled the matter with David
Buente and John Hebden.
SUPPORTING NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
LA
NY
Nicole Lai and Alexandra Shear
provides fresh produce in what was once a
the Economic Roundtable, a nonprofit
represented the North Bronx Youth Sports
food desert. Added Value produces large
organization that conducts economic and
Association (NBYSA), which is an afterschool
harvests of fresh produce for donation, sale
related research on a number of public-
program for kids in the Bronx. NBYSA had
and consumption; serves as an educational
policy subjects, including homelessness,
a football team they tried to enter into the
and work site for community youth; leads
affordable healthcare and environmental
league run by Grid-Iron (the defendant).
educational programs and workshops for
sustainability, in lease negotiations with its
Grid-Iron put the entire NBYSA team in the
school children; and generates revenue for
landlord. Katie McCarthy, working with Ed
15-17 year old bracket, which our client
youth stipends. Benjamin Burry and Peter
Prokop, handled the matter.
was not even aware existed. NBYSA asked
McGowan handled the case under John
NY
Grid-Iron for a refund since the coach didn’t
Lavelle’s supervision.
Sidley is providing corporate law
want his 13-14 year old kids playing football
NY Sidley continues to advise the New
against 15-17 year-olds. Grid-Iron told
York Immigration Coalition on their lease
him that the deposit was non-refundable.
and employment contracts, among other
Alexandra Shear litigated and won the case
corporate issues. The Coalition is an
in the Commercial Claim Court of Nassau
umbrella policy and advocacy organization
County, 4th District, for the deposit amount
representing approximately 200 groups in
plus interest and other fees. Grid-Iron
New York State that work with immigrants
refused to pay, and we have obtained an
and refugees. Their membership includes
order for execution and the local Sheriff will
grassroots community organizations,
collect the judgment.
non-profit health and human services
homes and community were devastated
NY Sidley successfully represented an
organizations, religious and academic
by Hurricane Sandy. As part of this
organic farm in Brooklyn in a landlord-tenant
institutions, labor unions, and legal, social,
project, Sidley is representing the group
dispute. The New York Supreme Court
and economic justice organizations.
in a co-branding relationship with Michel
granted Sidley’s motion to dismiss all claims
The NYIC advocates for better laws and
Cluizel Chocolate, set to coincide with
against the client, ruling that, under the
policies at the local, state and national
Mother’s Day. The project came to the firm
terms of the lease, the landlord could not
levels to improve the lives of immigrants
through a client relationship at Goldman
shift blame to our client for alleged injuries
and all New Yorkers, with a particular focus
Sachs. Stephen Rutenberg, Jessica Ho
on a public sidewalk. The client, Added
on the needs of low income immigrant
and Michelle Galvez* are handling the
Value and Herban Solutions, is a non-profit
communities. Carlos Rodriguez handles the
assignment.
urban farm in Red Hook, Brooklyn, that
representation.
and related advice to Doctors of the
World—USA Inc., the U.S. branch of the
international humanitarian organization
that provides medical care to vulnerable
populations affected by war, natural
disasters, disease, famine, poverty or
exclusion. We are helping the group launch
its “Treat, Connect & Restore” initiative to
help hundreds of former residents of The
Rockaways in Queens, New York, whose
21
DA/NY
We successfully registered with
conduct. The Sidley team included Mark
Hopson, Tom Green, Angie Xenakis, Jeff
BRUSSELS
for the client’s umbrella line, Marisol .
Young and Stephen Blank, as well as Amy
Brussels is providing pro bono
The client, Joyaux Marisol LLC, is a small
Markopoulos,* John Meiser* and Ben
advice to a campaign to abolish
business that designs and hand-makes
Mundel.*
the European Parliament’s “two
umbrellas using African wax prints,
DC
seat” arrangement under which the
and donates 20% of its net profits to
717 F.3d 72 (2d Cir. 2013), Sidley worked
parliament’s working headquarters
women survivors of sexual violence in the
with New York City’s Corporation Counsel in
are in Brussels, but the parliament
Democratic Republic of Congo. The client
briefing a Second Circuit appeal challenging
must move all of its operations to
also designs and hand-makes one-of-a-kind
a judgment entered against the City on
Strasbourg, France for four days
jewelry, for which Sidley also successfully
a claim that the City had intentionally
each month. Ken Daly recently
registered the trademark. Jesselyn
discriminated in hiring New York City
presented on the legal issues
Pe and Charles Cotropia handled the
firefighters. On appeal, the Second Circuit
at a hearing in the European
representation.
ruled, inter alia, that (i) the trial court
Parliament and participated in a
DC
improperly granted summary judgment
press conference after the hearing.
of Attorney General, Sidley successfully
against the City on the private plaintiff’s
In an article covering the event, The
defended former District of Columbia
claim of disparate treatment, (ii) the trial
Parliament Magazine noted that
Deputy Attorney General Robert J. Hildum,
court properly dismissed discrimination
Sidley is “an international law firm
one of multiple defendants who was sued
claims against Mayor Bloomberg, and (iii)
which has advised the single seat
by three D.C. police officers under the
portions of the remedial order entered by
campaign,” and quoted Ken as
District’s Whistleblower Protection Act for
the trial court, especially those predicated
saying that the European Parliament
alleged retaliatory actions. After extensive
on the improper intentional discrimination
“had exhausted all its powers” on
discovery, depositions and briefing, the D.C.
determination, exceeded the trial court’s
the issue, adding that the “ball is
Superior Court granted defendants’ motion
remedial discretion. Paul Zidlicky handled
now in the court of member states”
for summary judgment, finding no genuine
the matter.
and it is up to them to trigger the
the U.S. Trademark Office the trademark
®
Working with the District’s Office
dispute that Mr. Hildum or the other OAG
defendants had engaged in any retaliatory
In United States v. City of New York,
A Sidley team in
change to a single seat arrangement
by changing their treaties. Stephen
Kinsella and Jessica Walch* also
advise the campaign.
Raj Sultanian participates in the Thanksgiving
basket packing event at Kanoon Elementary
Magnet School.
22
SIDLEY’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE BROADER COMMUNITY – MORE THAN LEGAL SERVICES
CH
contributions of time, funding and resources
CH
office has held an annual collection drive
have helped the school in numerous ways
annual Thanksgiving Food Drive. The food
for the United Way. Sidley associates and
and improved the educational experience of
drive typically generates enough revenue
staff donate approximately $20,000 and the
its students. Under the leadership of John
to feed 250 families. In 2013, we raised
Sidley Foundation contributes the balance,
Levi and Michele Ilene Ruiz, Sidley lawyers
$11,205 from 130 Sidley lawyers and staff.
for an annual donation of $150,000. In
and staff became involved in mentoring
2013, Sidley associates and staff contributed
activities at Kanoon as well as book, winter-
$19,663.12. Jonathan Lotsoff chairs this
clothing, school-supply and food drives.
program.
During our annual back-to-school drive for
CH
Kanoon in 2013, 107 Sidley lawyers and staff
For more than 20 years, the Chicago
Since 1995, the office has participated
in the annual Chicago Cares event. This
event involves staff and lawyers spending
one day at a local Chicago school cleaning,
painting and decorating the school and
contributed almost $10,000. Sidley also
provided ad hoc in-kind donations to the
school, including used computers, furniture
and office supplies. Sidley sponsors Baile
CH
In November, the office held its an
Sidley lawyers participate in the
Lawyers in the Classroom program at
Kanoon and Woodlawn Schools, where they
meet with students from January to May to
conduct Constitutional Rights Foundation
Chicago (CRFC) training. In 2013, Pascale
Thomas headed this program with help
from Scott Berliant.
Follkoric and Suzuki Violin lessons for
DC
Kanoon students, and holds two Jeans
Washington, Sidley was among 36 law firms
Days per year, with proceeds benefitting
recognized for donating a total of more than
the school’s literacy efforts. In 2013, we
$3.6 million to local legal service providers
collected $8,508 for Kanoon from the two
as part of the inaugural ”Raising the Bar
Jeans Days. Chicago staff and lawyers also
in D.C.” fundraiser. The Honorable David
participated in the 2013 Book Chat with the
Tatel of the United States Court of Appeals
participated in the annual Heart Walk to
Kanoon 5th graders. Fifty-two lawyers and
for the D.C. Circuit and Washington, D.C.
benefit the American Heart Association.
staff read a book that the school selected
Mayor Vincent Gray spoke at the event
Sidley staff raised $10,000 for the event in
and then exchanged questions and answers
honoring those firms responding to the
2013.
with the students by email. This event
D.C. Access to Justice Commission’s call
culminated with the Sidley participants
for increased funding for legal services for
chatting with the students about the book.
vulnerable D.C. residents. This initiative
playground. On June 15, 2013, six Sidley
personnel volunteered at Sherman School
of Excellence., and we presented a $2,500
donation to Chicago Cares. Richard Astle is
the chair of this program.
CH
CH
Since 2000, the Chicago office has
The Chicago office participates in an
annual clothing drive for the Cara Program,
During an April 2013 reception in
a non-profit organization that provides
training and job placement services to
individuals who are homeless. The office
donated 30 boxes of clothing in 2013.
CH
Since 2001, the Chicago office has
collected used/outdated cell phones and
accessories for victims of domestic violence.
Mark Kaufmann spearheads this program,
which collected about 100 phones in 2013.
CH
The office held a clothing drive for
College Bound Opportunities (CBO),
which helps CBO graduates prepare to
seek employment—teaching them to dress
appropriately for job interviews through
their “Suited for the Job” program. In April
2013, Sidley lawyers and staff donated two
racks of clothing and several boxes of shoes,
sweaters, and shirts to the program.
CH
Thirty years ago, at the urging
of Newt Minow, Sidley adopted the
Gerald Delgado Kanoon Magnet School,
a public elementary school, as part of a
private-public initiative. Since then, Sidley
DC
Senator Al Franken, Maria Foscarinis, Executive Director of the National Law Center
on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP), G.W. Rolle, member of NLCHP’s Board, and Sidley
lawyer Ed McNicholas, NLCHP Board Chair, attend NLCHP’s Annual McKinney-Vento
Dinner. NLCHP, based in Washington, D.C. is the only national legal group dedicated
to ending and preventing homelessness. It operates programs across the United States
that serve America’s more than 3.5 million homeless families, children and individuals.
23
during the week included: interviewing
detained immigrants at a regional jail to
help them find pro bono representation
and seek relief from deportation; a panel
discussion with the leaders of five local
legal services organizations on how to be
effective pro bono counsel; a blood drive;
stuffing backpacks for disadvantaged
children; making lunches for the Salvation
Army; preparing dinner for Miriam’s Kitchen;
and the screening of a documentary and
panel discussion about the atrocities
committed during the war in Sri Lanka
and Sidley’s pro bono efforts to pursue
charges against individuals involved
in Sri Lanka’s war crimes. Throughout
Jeff Beelaert, DC Pro Bono Chair Betsy Howe, Caroline Fleetwood, Raphaelle Monty,
Becky Troth, Beth Kelley and Joel Visser kicked off “Go Casual for Justice” week.
the week, the entire office donated over
$1,000, along with hundreds of articles of
men’s and women’s business clothing, to
reflects lawyers’ unique obligation to ensure
entire office participated in a variety of pro
support two organizations committed to
equal access to justice for low-income
bono and service-related projects organized
providing professional attire, a network of
individuals in their own communities.
by the Associate Relations Committee, the
support, and career development training
Sidley’s D.C. office, which was honored as
Diversity Committee, the Pro Bono Program,
to low-income men and women in the DC
a silver-level donor, was one of the eight
the Summer Associate Program, and the
community.
original law firms that joined in the launch
Women’s Committee. The week kicked off
of the Campaign by pledging funds to local
with the annual Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono
legal services providers and by joining the
Awards Ceremony, where D.C. attorneys,
Commission in an appeal to the law firm
legal assistants, and litigation support staff
community.
were recognized for meeting the ABA
DC
Challenge of providing at least 60 hours
The D.C. office held its seventh annual
Sidley Service week in mid-July, in which the
of pro bono assistance in 2012. Activities
DC
In October, the D.C. office
participated in the D.C. Bar Foundation’s
Go Casual for Justice fundraiser to support
loan repayment assistance for legal services
lawyers. Lawyers and staff contributed
$5 to wear jeans and another $5 to wear
sneakers on Go Casual for Justice Friday.
Each office floor competed to raise the most
money. The winning floors (5 and 10) won
the right to wear jeans and sneakers every
first Friday of the month for a year. A team
that included Beth Kelley, Becky Troth,
Joel Visser, Jeff Beelaert, Rishi Chhatwal,
Caroline Fleetwood, Erica Guy and
Raphaelle Monty, led the fundraising effort.
Sidley raised over $15,000 – more than any
other firm in the city.
DC
Sidley raised more than $15,500 as
part of the Legal Aid Society of DC’s 24th
Annual Generous Associates Campaign.
The Campaign—organized, led, and driven
Staff members Julia Kennedy, D’Esprit Smith, Alexis Atkins, and Sara Sisco and summer
associate Ashwan Phatak volunteering during DC Service Week at Miriam’s Kitchen.
24
by associates across the Washington, DC
area—aims to raise funds for the Legal Aid
Society, the city’s oldest and largest civil
DC
legal services program. Clay Northouse,
Washington, D.C., Sidley Austin marked
community at all economic levels. “Sidley’s
Kyle Fiet and Jeff Morrow led the
its anniversary by giving back to the
partnership helps us provide the best
fundraising effort in 2013.
community with a $250,000 donation to
treatment to critically ill children, regardless
DC
the Children’s National Medical Center,
of their families’ ability to pay,” said David
partners and mentors to public school
the premier provider of pediatric care
L. Wessel, M.D., Executive Vice President
students at Ross Elementary through the
in Washington, D.C. Sidley’s donation
and Chief Medical Officer, Hospital and
Power Lunch program run by Everybody
supports the hospital and its efforts to
Specialty Services, Children's National
Wins! DC. The Power Lunch program
provide the best treatment possible to its
Medical Center. “On behalf of Children’s
Sidley personnel serve as reading
In celebration of its 50 years in
patients and to serve children in the D.C.
pairs one adult with one student for the
school year. The adult partner visits the
school once a week during lunch to share
books and the love of reading with the
student. Currently Andy Shoyer, Larry
Walders, D’Espirit Smith, Audrey Prescott,
Keith Matthews, Warren Storrs, Rachel
Christmas, Amber Tofilon, Nicole Brown,
Ellen Chrisham, Amy DeLine, Patricia
Richter, 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.
DC
In 2013, Sidley sponsored two teams
of Thomson Elementary School fourth
and fifth graders in the annual Spring
GeoPlunge Tournament, an initiative that
teaches children U.S. political geography.
Over 100 students from various D.C.
Carter Phillips presenting the $250,000 check to Dr. Bear and Dr. David Wessell of the
Children’s National Medical Center.
public elementary schools competed. The
tournament is an outgrowth of the D.C.
Public School Partnership Project of the
Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil
Rights and Urban Affairs. Our involvement
came through our long-time partnership
with Thomson Elementary School and our
support for the Committee. D.C. Sidley also
sponsored two teams for the 9th annual Fall
GeoPlunge Tournament held at the National
Portrait Gallery. Sidley coaches volunteered
at the school twice a week to help students
prepare for the competition. Sidley also
runs a spring math program, Challenge24,
with Thomson Elementary. In 2013, legal
assistants Heath Ingram,* Kristyn Kenn,
Meg Huntington, Hilary Peterson, Alaric
Smith, Zeno Lantos and associate Adam
Rusnak* donated time to the program.
From left to right, Heath Ingram,* Adam Rusnak,* Alaric Smith, and Zeno Lantos with
students from Thomson Elementary.
25
money for Public Counsel than any other
firm or other business – $17,000. Patrick
Kennell led the effort.
LA
For the ninth year, Sidley participated
in the Revlon Run/Walk for Women,
which raises money for cancer research,
counseling and outreach programs
nationwide. Sidley raised over $11,000 this
year, bringing our total contribution over the
years to over $85,000. Josh Hofmeier was
the driving force behind this year’s effort.
LONDON/BRUSSELS
A Sidley
team prevailed over other members of the
UK legal and media establishment to take
first prize at the recent Reprieve House of
Hilary Peterson, Trey Hilberg, Alaric Smith, and Zeno Lantos
attend the Angel Tree Adoption Party.
Trivia event, a celebrity-studded evening
to benefit Reprieve, a charity (and Sidley
pro bono client) that promotes the rule
National, we thank Sidley for its continued
Governors and its CEO, a Sidley partner has
support and look forward to working
served as General Counsel of the Bar for
together to advance pediatric critical care
nearly 10 years.
medicine.”
LA
DC
recognized Sidley as a “Gold Partner” for
Review founder Callum Campbell
participated in the Salvation Army’s Angel
its efforts to raise money and food as part
and British actress Celia Imrie. Global
Tree Program, which provides gifts of new
of the 2013 “Food for the Bar” campaign.
Competition Review reported on the event,
clothing, shoes and toys for needy children
The Los Angeles Food Bank sources,
noting that the “highly competitive quiz
age 12 and under. At the Angel Tree
acquires and distributes food and other
lasted for an intense eight rounds and
Adoption Party, Sidley employees selected
products to needy people (feeding one
covered all manner of general and less
angel tags that included the child’s name,
million people in LA County every year),
general knowledge.” The publication also
age, gender, and their present wish list. As
conducts hunger education and awareness
noted our victory and quoted Kinsella, who
a result of Sidley employees’ generosity and
campaigns and advocates for public
said: “I have been a Reprieve supporter for
volunteer efforts, more than 175 “Angels”
policies that alleviate hunger. Andy Dunbar
a number of years. What attracted me was
received gifts during the holiday season.
organized Sidley’s effort this year.
the creative ways in which they use the law
The gifts were organized for pick up and
LA
to achieve just outcomes, as well as being a
For the fourth year in a row, Sidley
distribution by the Salvation Army, and
given a festive sendoff.
The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank
Sidley’s pro bono work and our
relationship with long-time client Public
of law around the world, from “death row
to Guantanamo Bay.” Stephen Kinsella
(Brussels/London) led the Sidley team,
which also included Global Competition
lively and fun group to work with.”
Counsel, the largest public interest law
NY
firm in Los Angeles, were highlighted in
Frankson participated in the New York
appointed General Counsel to the District
an interview that KTLA-TV in Los Angeles
County Lawyers’ Association’s annual Law
of Columbia Bar, the second largest Bar
conducted with Thomas Powell a few
Day by speaking to 300 students at Flushing
in the United States, with nearly 100,000
days before Sidley runners participated
High School about civil rights and civil
members. Working with a number of other
in the Run for Justice, a 5K run/walk
liberties, and answering questions about
Sidley lawyers, Paul provides volunteer legal
held in conjunction with the Los Angeles
a career in the law. In conjunction with the
advice and services to the D.C. Bar and its
Marathon. Running and/or raising money
New York office’s Corporate Responsibility
Board of Governors, the D.C. Bar Pro Bono
this year on behalf of Public Counsel were:
program, this event was part of Sidley’s
Program, the Office of Bar Counsel and the
Stuart Edmiston, Claudia Espinoza,
participation in “A Billion + Change,” a
Board on Professional Responsibility, and
Jonathan Feingold, Mark Haddad, Patrick
national campaign in which companies and
the many divisions and programs run by
Kennell, Heidi Larson Howell, Patrick Liu,
professional firms pledge to increase skills-
the Bar. At the request of the Bar Board of
Thomas Powell, Will Rosenthal, Helena
based volunteer hours to address issues in
Tseregounis and Mark Woodside. For the
their communities.
DC
Paul Hemmersbaugh serves as the
second year in a row, Sidley raised more
26
On May 1, Sara Reichstein and Luke
Sidley is a Corporate Sponsor of
New York Cares, New York City’s
premier non-profit organization
for bringing volunteer support services to non-profit agencies, public
schools and other organizations.
Our ongoing volunteer work with
New York Cares is part of the firm’s
Corporate Responsibility Program in
New York.
NY
On June 19, the office hosted its
annual Sidley Service Day, which was
Robert Auray (summer associate), Patti Wu (partner) and Toi Carrion (summer associate)
volunteering, alongside 60 Sidley lawyers and summer associates, at the Brooklyn High
School of the Arts with New York Cares. The New York office hosted its annual Sidley Service
Day in June 2013, which is part of the firm’s Corporate Responsibility Program.
presented in conjunction with New
the New York office’s Diversity Committee,
four Legal Outreach high school students
York Cares and the firm’s Corporate
Benson Cohen, chair of the New York
at our office for a one-week internship
Responsibility and Summer Associate
Associates Committee, Stacy Rotner,
and provided financial assistance to cover
programs. Continuing the firm’s ongoing
Corporate Responsibility Manager, and
SAT prep costs. During their time with us,
relationship with the Brooklyn High School
Client Services Officer Janet Zagorin
these rising10th grade students learn a fact
of the Arts, more than 50 Sidley lawyers and
organized the event.
pattern developed from actual Sidley cases,
summer associates volunteered during this
NY
research relevant case law, and present oral
day-long event. The day’s projects included
painting the school’s new dance studio as
well as three other rooms and assembling
bookshelves. This was Sidley’s third time
volunteering at this public high school in
Brooklyn.
NY
On July 16, the office hosted a
On November 20, Sidley hosted a
volunteer event to benefit mothers and
infants living in homeless shelters. The event
was co-sponsored with long-standing firm
client KPMG LLP, and was presented in
association with New York Cares. Attendees
included both Sidley and KPMG lawyers,
as well as KPMG consultants, auditors and
argument at the end of the week before
partners and associates who serve as
judges. Maria Meléndez, Karim Aoun and
Helena Haywoode are among the many
volunteer associates, partners, and summer
associates who have been instrumental in
the success of this program.
volunteer event to benefit members of the
accountants. The attendees assembled
NY
U.S. military. The event was co-sponsored
over 600 infant care kits, which eventually
on behalf of U.S. veterans, Sidley has
with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney’s Legal
will be used by mothers in the shelters.
partnered with Volunteer Lawyers for
and Compliance Division and presented
The volunteers were welcomed by KPMG
Veterans (VLV), a nonprofit pro bono
in association with New York Cares.
partner Marc Miller, who praised Sidley and
organization which works in conjunction
Attendees included lawyers, compliance
KPMG’s shared commitment to giving back
with Public Counsel to help veterans
professionals and summer associates
to the community. This event was organized
address their legal needs. As part of the
who assembled over 600 care kits for U.S.
by Stacy Rotner and Janet Zagorin,
firm’s partnership with VLV, Client Services
service members stationed overseas. The
working with Gary Bendinger, Greg Ballard
Officer Janet Zagorin and Practice
volunteers were welcomed by Nate Saint-
and Kevin Burke.
Group Coordinator Marianne Bellucci
Victor, an executive director of Morgan
NY
volunteered their time on September 11,
Stanley and chair of the Morgan Stanley
Legal and Compliance Division’s Diversity
and Inclusion Committee. In his opening
remarks, he praised Sidley’s and Morgan
Stanley’s shared commitment to the goals
of inclusion, community involvement and
philanthropy. María Meléndez, chair of
Legal Outreach is a 28-year old non-
profit organization dedicated to working
with inner-city youth in partnership with
law firms and corporations in NYC. Since
2009, Sidley has been a proud sponsor
of Legal Outreach’s work and initiatives.
As part of Sidley’s ongoing initiatives
2013 to commemorate 9/11 and provided
in-take assistance at a legal services clinic
in downtown Manhattan and subsequently
authored an article describing why the
experience was so meaningful.
Each summer since 2009, we have hosted
27
PRO BONO HONORS AND AWARDS
Sidley frequently is recognized for its unwavering commitment to pro bono service and the work we do.
DC
Judges Merrick Garland of the U.S. Court of
Justice Award for Pro Bono Attorney of the
Bono Week in October 2012, the District
Appeals and Royce C. Lamberth of the U.S.
Year to Andy Dunbar and Thomas Powell
of Columbia Court of Appeals and the
District Court.
at an awards ceremony on July 9, 2013.
Superior Court of the District of Columbia
DC
They received the award for their work
In conjunction with National Pro
launched the “Capital Pro Bono Honor
Roll” to recognize D.C. Bar members who
provide 50 hours or more of pro bono
service per year. Those providing 100 hours
of pro bono service are recognized on the
“High Honor Roll.” 120 Sidley lawyers (up
from 108 the year before) were listed on the
Court’s honor roll posted in March 2013 for
their pro bono work in 2012, and 69 of the
120 Sidley lawyers devoted more than 100
On May 8, City Year of Washington
presented DC (and now firmwide) Pro
Bono Chair Jeff Green with its Idealist of
the Year Award at its Idealism in Action
Gala. City Year is an education-focused
successfully representing the couple who
sought permanent guardianship of their
four-year-old granddaughter (see “Helping
Families and Senior Citizens” above).
nonprofit that partners with public schools
to keep students in school and on track
to succeed. In Washington, D.C., City
Year sends 264 young people between
the ages of 17 and 24 to 16 high-need
schools, where they serve full-time for a
DC
year. Jeff was honored for his leadership of
Committee Outstanding Achievement
the DC Pro Bono and Public Interest Law
Award on June 10, 2013, for our pro bono
Columbia federal courts honored Sidley’s
Committee for the last 11 years, where he
efforts on behalf of the Committee. This
DC office at the “40 at 50” Judicial Pro
has specialized in protecting the rights of
award was presented in recognition of
Bono Recognition Breakfast. Established by
poor individuals, and argued and won two
Sidley’s work with the Fair Housing Project
the DC Circuit Judicial Conference Standing
cases in the Supreme Court on behalf of
on Johnson v. Wingate, in which we
Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services,
pro bono criminal defendants. The citation
collected a judgment on behalf of a pro
the “40 at 50” breakfast recognizes law
noted that “Jeff’s unbounded energy
bono client with a visual disability who was
firms reporting that at least 40 percent of
and determination to seek justice for his
denied an upper floor apartment because of
their lawyers devoted 50 or more hours to
indigent clients, and the example he has set
her disability. The defendant management
pro bono work in the previous year. Jeff
for lawyers in the firm, certainly qualify him
company went into bankruptcy, significantly
Green and Becky Troth represented Sidley
as the “Idealist of the Year.’”
complicating efforts to collect on the
at the April 9 event, which was hosted by
LA
judgment. The Lawyers’ Committee
hours to pro bono service in 2012.
DC
The chief judges of the District of
Bet Tzedek, a non-profit in Los Angeles
that provides free legal services to lowincome people, presented its Elyse S. Kline
Jeff Green with his Idealist of the
Year Award.
28
Sidley received a Washington Lawyers’
recognized the Sidley team of David Kuney,
Kurt Jacobs and Jeff Morrow.
Bet Tzedek Attorney Erickson Albrecht presenting the Elyse S. Kline Justice Award for Pro
Bono Attorney of the Year to Thomas Powell and Andy Dunbar.
Anton Pulung Hartanto (Marjorie’s client), Senator Durbin, and
Marjorie Baltazar at the National Immigrant Justice Center’s
(NIJC’s) annual awards luncheon. NIJC awarded Senator Durbin, the
event’s keynote speaker, the Jeanne and Joseph Sullivan Award.
CH
At the ADL National Commission Meeting: Barry Curtiss-Lusher, ADL
National Chair; Karen Ginsberg-Greenwald; Rob Velevis; Abraham
H. Foxman, ADL National Director.
Richard (Dick) O’Malley, Jr., Chicago
Chair of the Pro Bono Committee, accepted
the Cabrini Green Legal Aid’s (CGLA) Dr.
Kenneth and Margaret Taylor “Spirit of
Generosity” Award on behalf of the Chicago
office. CGLA honored Sidley as a long-time
CH
In June, Marjorie Baltazar was
supporter of CGLA and leader in the legal
awarded the Rising Star Award by the
community. CGLA noted that the firm has
National Immigrant Justice Center. She
maintained a constant engagement with
received the award at NIJC’s 14th Annual
CGLA through Board service on CGLA’s
Human Rights Awards luncheon, where U.S.
Board of Directors, Advisory Board and
Senator Dick Durbin also was recognized
Young Professionals Board, from retired
for his legislative commitment to immigrant
partner Jim Archer’s contributions for
and human rights. Marjorie was recognized
over 40 years, to Richard “Brad” Kapnick,
for her work on behalf of a gay man from
who served as Chair of both the Board of
Indonesia who obtained U.S. asylum
Directors and Advisory Board, to Courtney
following a three-year effort. Our pro bono
Rosen, who served as Secretary and
representation included filing an affirmative
Treasurer on the Board of Directors. Sidley
asylum claim with U.S. Citizenship and
attorneys and staff also have provided
Immigration Services (USCIS), obtaining
hundreds of hours of direct service to CGLA
employment authorization for our client
clients over the years.
Mark Taylor, the son of Dr. Kenneth and
Margaret Taylor, the benefactors of CGLA
for which the award is named, presented
the Spirit of Generosity Award to Dick
O’Malley.
and subsequently defending against an
order of removal before the Executive
Office of Immigration Review (EOIR). At
the evidentiary hearing, the EOIR heard
testimony from our client as well as from his
husband and partner of over 12 years. The
EOIR also heard telephonic testimony from
a distinguished professor who provided
background regarding living conditions
for gay men and lesbians in Indonesia.
After nearly four hours, the Immigration
Judge issued a grant of asylum. Tim Payne
supervised the matter.
Rob Velevis, counsel in the firm’s Dallas
office, was honored by the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL) with the 2013 Daniel R.
Ginsberg Leadership Award at its National
Commission Meeting. This honor is given
in recognition of leadership in the fight
against anti-Semitism, racism and all forms
of prejudice. Rob has been a member of
the ADL’s North Texas/Oklahoma Regional
Board since 2010.
29
NY/LA
Sidley was honored to receive
the 2013 Pro Bono Publico Award at
LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s Annual Awards
Gala on October 23 in New York City. The
letter announcing the award cites the ways
in which Sidley has supported LatinoJustice
over the years, including preparing the
Supreme Court amicus brief in Shelby
County v. Holder. Our partner Maria
Meléndez serves on LatinoJustice’s Board,
and she and Tom Cole accepted the award
on the firm’s behalf.
LA
On June 3, 2013, the Los Angeles
Center for Law and Justice (LACLJ)
honored Sidley with its Pro Bono Partner
of the Year Award in recognition of Sidley’s
Juan Cartagena, LatinoJustice PRLDEF’s President and General Counsel, Sidley partners
Maria Meléndez and Tom Cole.
widespread participation in its programs to
combat domestic violence. The award
recognized the pro bono service of
Frank Broccolo, Andy Dunbar, Bridget
Johnsen, Amy Lally, Jennifer Zargarof,
Stuart Edmiston, Francis Lam, Chris
Munsey, Brent Nichols, Lillian Park,
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30
Clarence Rowland, Mirna Thompson
and Claudia Espinoza, as well as the
service of Ellyce Cooper and Jodi
Lopez on LACLJ’s board of directors.
Frank Broccolo accepted the award
on behalf of the Los Angeles office at
LACLJ’s annual gala.
LA
Sidley received two awards
from the ACLU in 2013, in addition
to the award received in 2012.
Sidley received the ACLU’s 2013
Community Service Pro Bono
Award for the work performed
for the Citizens’ Commission on
Jail Violence by Kim Dunne,
Doug Axel, Brent Wilner, Pat
Kennell, Yolanda Ochoa, and
KK O’Connell. The ACLU also
awarded Sidley its 2013 Pro Bono
Service Award in appreciation of
the real estate work performed by
Mitchell Poole, Erin Natter and
Drew Norman. Frank Broccolo
serves on the Board of the
ACLU Foundation of Southern
California.
SIDLEY‘S PRO BONO AWARDS CEREMONIES – HONORING OUR OWN
Chicago – The 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 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
award includes a $1,000 firm contribution
that the recipients can designate to a
Chicago non-profit organization of their
choice.
Chicago’s Pro Bono Reception honoring
pro bono work performed in 2012 was
held on March 6, 2013. The Honorable
Thomas L. Kilbride, Chief Justice of the
Supreme Court of Illinois, was the keynote
speaker. The ceremony’s guests included
local legal service agencies and non-profit
organizations with whom the firm has a
strong relationship, allowing us to introduce
our lawyers to new pro bono opportunities.
For their pro bono work in 2012, the firm
honored eight Chicago attorneys.
The office honored Kate Falahee Newman,
malpractice, which required retaining an
Donielle McCutheon, and Barbara
expert and extensive discovery. The case is
Barreno for their work on behalf of a
pending.
native Cameroon woman who had fled
her country in 2007 after she was forced
to marry a polygamous village chief and
suffered repeated physical, sexual and
emotional abuse. After extensive research,
briefing, and hearing preparation, the team
argued that the client had been persecuted
because of her political opinion and
membership in a particular social group.
The client was granted asylum on Feb. 1,
2012.
Susan Brehm* and Christopher Gaul
represented a woman who fled Honduras
in 1997 to escape her abusive ex-husband.
Sidley took her case approximately 10
years ago, after an immigration judge
denied her asylum. While her case was on
appeal, the guidelines for domestic abuse
claims of asylum changed, and her case
was remanded for further investigation.
Chris, Susan and others worked tirelessly,
tying the abuse that our client suffered to
Daniel Craig was honored for dedicating
her political opinion that she—and not her
more than 500 hours to representing a
ex-husband—is entitled to control her body
pro bono plaintiff in a Section 1983 action
and, separately, that her abuse resulted from
in the Northern District of Illinois. Dan’s
her status as a Honduran woman unable to
client, an inmate at Stateville Correctional
leave an intimate relationship. Our client
Center, had an ear infection that was treated
obtained asylum and, at the judge’s strong
inadequately by the prison’s medical staff.
suggestion, the government waived appeal.
What was a curable condition deteriorated
into a life-threatening illness. He required
major surgery, including the removal of a
portion of his skull, and suffered permanent
hearing loss. Dan’s work on behalf of his
client entailed adding a claim for medical
Sidley was appointed to represent a client
in a civil rights case that the client had filed
pro se against two Chicago police officers
who had arrested him after a purported
domestic dispute. Although the charges
were dismissed, the arrest itself was a parole
violation and as a result, the client lost
At the Thomas H. Morsch Awards ceremony: Front row l-r: Richard O’Malley, Chicago Pro
Bono Chair; Kristen Seeger; Thomas H. Morsch; Katharine Falahee Newman; Barbara
Barreno; Donielle McCutcheon; John G. Levi, Sidley partner and Chair, Legal Services
Corporation; Melanie Walker; and Steve Carlson. Back row l-r: David Gordon; Guest
speaker Hon. Thomas L. Kilbride, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois; Daniel
Craig; Christopher Gaul; Susan Brehm;* Timothy Hargadon; and Lawrence Fogel.
Charles Hoffman (left) from the Capital Post
Conviction Unit chatting with Thomas H.
Morsch (center) and our guest speaker,
the Hon. Chief Thomas L. Kilbride, Supreme
Court Chief Justice of Illinois.
31
both his liberty and his vehicle. Lawrence
as successfully defending against the State’s
Awards Ceremony, commemorating Sidley’s
Fogel took the case, making multiple visits
motion to dismiss. Tim made multiple trips
late partner Vincent Prada, who devoted 14
to the correction facility, correcting and
to Alabama to interview jurors and other
years of his life to representing an inmate
overcoming defects in the pro se filings,
witnesses and was involved in the week-
on death row. At the ceremony, D.C.
dealing with a bright but difficult client,
long evidentiary hearing in Mobile in 2010.
Managing partner Mark Hopson recognized
finding and dealing with a difficult witness
Tim prepared multiple fact and expert
120 D.C. attorneys, legal assistants, and
(the transgendered individual involved in
witnesses for the hearing, including highly
litigation support staff for meeting the ABA
the domestic dispute), and conducting
emotional evidence from family members
Challenge of providing at least 60 hours of
the trial. While the jury ultimately found for
whose testimony during the mitigation
pro bono assistance in 2012. Recipients
the defendants, Larry’s performance and
phase of the original trial was presented
of the Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono Awards
dedication were exemplary.
ineffectively by trial counsel. As the court
are allowed to designate a legal services
found in granting relief to Mr. Ziegler in
organization to which the firm contributes
2012, the conduct of the original trial fell far
$100 in the recipient’s name.
Tim Hargadon was honored for his
contributions to the William Ziegler pro
bono death penalty appeal. Tim joined the
case when he was a new associate in the
New York office and has been an integral
member of the Ziegler team ever since,
spending long hours researching, writing,
and fact finding during the investigation and
pleading phase of the proceedings, as well
below minimum constitutional standards.
Washington, DC –
The Vincent F. Prada
Pro Bono Awards
On July 12, the Washington, D.C. office held
its seventh annual Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono
Carter Phillips, Rachel Ketner, Jordan Ketner,
Paul Moates, Ron Flagg,* Jana Singer, Josh Prada,
Bart Stichman, Becky Troth, and Betsy Howe attend
the 2013 Vincent F. Prada Pro Bono Awards Ceremony.
Recipients of the 2012 Vincent F. Prada Awards.
32
Bart Stichman, Joint Executive Director
of the National Veterans Legal Services
Programs (NVLSP), introduced the keynote
speaker for the ceremony, Jordan Ketner.
Jordan is an Iraq War veteran and a member
of the Sabo class action NVLSP brought on
behalf of veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress
Disorder. His moving remarks brought home
representatives of local legal service
Alexis Buese and Chris Munsey were
the impact of our pro bono work on the
agencies and non-profit organizations with
recognized for representing an elderly
lives of the individuals we serve. Attendees
whom the firm has a strong relationship. The
couple who were the victims of a Ponzi
at the event included Vince Prada’s
speakers from our legal services partners
scheme. The team obtained a favorable
widow, Jana Singer, their son, Joshua,
included Hector Villagra and James Gilliam
settlement for our clients whereby the
and representatives of the legal services
of the ACLU, Diego Cartagena and Erickson
perpetrators were jointly and severally
organizations with whom Sidley works in the
Albrecht from Bet Tzedek, and Hellen Hong
liable for all the money that our clients
Washington, D.C. area. We also welcomed
from the Los Angeles Center for Law and
invested, and our clients received a deed
Ronald Flagg, former firm-wide pro bono
Justice. Pat Kennell, an associate who
of trust on the investment property and an
chair and now Vice President and General
organized the LA office team for Public
agreement that a lien would remain on one
Counsel of the Legal Services Corporation.
Counsel’s Run for Justice and helped with
perpetrator’s home until the amounts owed
the legal program with Dorsey High School,
our clients were fully paid. Liesl Schweizer
also spoke. LA Managing Partner Mike
helped on the real estate aspects of the
Kelley gave the closing remarks.
settlement and Amy Lally and Michelle
The Los Angeles Pro
Bono Awards
On July 25, 2013, the Los Angeles office
honored attorneys and staff for their pro
bono service over the past year. Frank
Broccolo, Los Angeles partner and Pro
Bono Chair, was the keynote speaker at
the expansive ceremony, which included
In addition to the lawyers mentioned for
Goodman supervised the matter.
their pro bono successes in other parts
Rollin Ransom and Amanda Lopez were
of this report, the Los Angeles office
recognized for their work with the National
recognized the following teams for their
Veterans Legal Services Program as a part
2013 pro bono work:
of the firmwide Veterans Benefits Program.
They obtained a victory for a retired U.S.
Summer associates Andrew Talai,* Andria Montoya,* Charlie Sarosy,* Laura
D’Iorio,* Rachael Rezabek,* and partner Jodi Lopez and Adam Grajewski (military
veteran) attend the LA Pro Bono Awards ceremony.
The LA Pro Bono Awards ceremony: Brent Nichols, and summer associates Andrew
Talai,* Lauren Goldman,* Lauren De Lilly* and Emily Culbertson.
33
Army staff sergeant suffering from PTSD
proceeding by her landlord seeking their
from the Upland Housing Authority (UHA)
who had served with U.S. forces in both
immediate eviction. The matter resulted in
without due process of law (see “Protecting
Iraq and Afghanistan. The Army retired our
a settlement agreement that preserved our
Our Neighbors’ Homes”).
client because of his condition, but failed
client’s eligibility for Section 8 benefits and
to provide him the compensation to which
provided her with months to relocate. Also,
veterans who are retired due to combat-
while working with Bet Tzedek, Jonathan
related disabilities are entitled. The client
Feingold was recognized for his work on the
was awarded monthly compensation and
unlawful detainer action mentioned above
nearly five years of back pay. The office also
(see “Protecting Our Neighbors’ Homes”).
recognized Amanda Lopez for successfully
representing an immigrant detainee at his
bond hearing, for which he had waited
nearly a year.
Amy Lally, Alex Doherty, and Lauren
McCray were recognized for their work with
Western Center on Law and Poverty and
Inland Counties Legal Services in which they
We recognized Max Fischer and Francis
successfully represented two low income
Lam who, with Bet Tzedek, successfully
clients who were denied rental assistance
represented a disabled single mother
of three facing an unlawful detainer
Paul Tepper (Western Center
on Law and Poverty), Amy
Lally and Frank Broccolo at
the LA Pro Bono Awards.
Patrick Liu and Helena Tseregounis
receive their Pro Bono Advocate awards.
Hector Villagra, James Gilliam, Mitchell Poole and Drew Norman
at the LA Pro Bono Awards.
34
SPONSORSHIP OF PRO BONO GRADUATE FELLOWS, EXTERNS, AND LOANED ASSOCIATES
Sidley’s Fellowship/Externship program allows associates to work at
The time spent with the non-profit organizations allows associates
non-profit organizations in the community either before they begin
to learn about the organizations, their staffs and their work. The
working at the firm or, in the case of the New York office, after they
associates develop relationships that they can continue and
have been with the firm for some time. Through the program, Sidley
expand when they come to Sidley. These relationships often are an
provides a fellowship stipend or pays the salary of the Fellows or
important source of pro bono matters for the firm and the associates
Externs to allow them to work for a non-profit organization for 4 – 10
throughout their careers. We benefit because the associates acquire
weeks. In Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and Chicago, they can
experience in a short period of time and develop skills dealing with
choose among a variety of non-profit organizations, including those
clients, negotiating with other lawyers and advocating in court or in
that provide direct services to indigent people, as well as those that
other settings in which they need to persuade a decision-maker.
engage in impact litigation and policy work. In New York, associates
work for three to four months at Her Justice (f/k/a/ inMotion, Inc.),
an organization that provides free legal services to indigent and lowincome women and children in domestic crisis.
Chicago Office Sponsored Nine 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 non-profit 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.
Heather Benzmiller was a PILI Fellow at the McArthur Justice Center before starting a clerkship.
Jaya Gupta was a PILI Fellow with Illinois Legal Aid Online, whose mission is to make legal
content and resources more accessible to low-income individuals and those who cannot
afford an attorney. Jaya created and revised content on common legal issues that could be
understood and used by individuals with no legal training and often, little education.
Jessica Krull served as a PILI Fellow with the Edwin F. Mandel Legal Aid Clinic’s Criminal and Juvenile
Justice Project, which provides legal representation to juveniles accused of crime and works to improve the
system of justice in the juvenile and adult criminal court. During her Fellowship, Jessica worked on several
cases representing incarcerated minors in the Cook County Juvenile Justice System. She helped with
client and witness interviews, memoranda drafting, pre-trial strategy development, and motion practice.
Greg Oguss served as a PILI Fellow in the civil rights department of Access Living, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization committed to fostering a fully inclusive society for people with disabilities. During his
fellowship, Greg principally advocated on behalf of Chicago area public housing residents with disabilities
who were seeking disability accommodations from landlords and building managers under federal fair housing
laws. In connection with this advocacy, Greg drafted briefs on behalf of clients with disabilities, performed
legal research and interviewed prospective clients and witnesses. In addition, Greg researched and drafted
a strategic memorandum concerning a proposed class action lawsuit on behalf of deaf and hearing-impaired
renters against housing providers engaged in systemic patterns of unlawful disability discrimination.
35
Kristen Rau served as a PILI Fellow at the Southern Africa Litigation Centre before starting a clerkship.
Nadan Sehic served as a PILI Fellow with The Young Center for Immigrant Children’s Rights at
the University of Chicago. During his Fellowship, Nadan conducted research and drafted letters
advocating for the best interests of unaccompanied minors in immigration and other proceedings.
He also prepared a survey of the U.S. juvenile court system and drafted memoranda to help advocate
for comprehensive reform of the U.S. immigration system’s treatment of unaccompanied minors.
Laura Sexton served as a PILI Fellow with Health and Disability Advocates, working primarily with
the Chicago Medical-Legal Partnership for Children (CMLPC). The CMLPC is dedicated to providing
legal services to low-income families on a variety of issues, including housing, domestic violence,
Medicaid and private insurance, public benefits, and early intervention. In addition to providing
direct legal services, the CMLPC provides training to medical staff and works on policy development
at the state and local levels. As part of her work with the CMLPC, Laura researched the medical
policies of local Chicago schools and wrote a report identifying possible areas of improvement.
Amy Timm served as a PILI Fellow with BPI (Business and Professional People for the Public
Interest), a public interest law and policy center working to create solutions to the Chicago
region’s most compelling social justice challenges. During her Fellowship, Amy focused on public
education reform and expanding early childhood education opportunities in Chicago, particularly
in Altgeld Gardens and other public housing communities. She also researched state foreclosure
law and drafted and reviewed various contracts with BPI’s outside service providers.
Nicholas Tygesson was a PILI Fellow at the Center for Disability and Elder Law before starting a clerkship.
36
Washington, D.C. Office Sponsored Seven D.C. 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, 63 incoming Sidley associates have served as
Graduate Fellows at 35 different non-profit organizations in the D.C. area.
Sean Dickson was a Fellow at the Domestic Violence Legal Empowerment and Appeals Project (DV LEAP),
the only organization devoted to appellate advocacy and impact litigation for survivors of domestic violence.
There, Sean led a docket monitoring program, evaluating whether cases pending in the Supreme Court would
benefit from amici detailing the domestic violence impact of the litigation. Sean also conducted a 50-state
survey of cases involving Parental Alienation Syndrome, a debunked concept often used by abusive fathers
to gain custody of children. This survey is currently being adapted into an article demonstrating the gender
bias in courts’ treatment of parental alienation claims. Sean is continuing to work with DV LEAP as a pro
bono Sidley client, helping expand their docket monitoring program to circuit and state supreme courts.
Fran Faircloth served as an Education and Employment Fellow at the National Women’s Law Center.
During her fellowship, Fran worked primarily on Title IX issues, including a complaint advocating for better
access to high school athletics for girls in D.C. Public Schools and a letter supporting the Department of
Education’s Office for Civil Rights in its enforcement of Title IX’s ban on sexual harassment and assault
at colleges and universities. Fran also helped draft an amicus brief in the U.S. Court of Appeals for
the Third Circuit in a case involving alleged civil rights violations by a government subcontractor.
Kevin Garvey was a Fellow at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a non-profit, public-interest legal and
educational institution with a mission to protect the free expression of all faiths, both domestically and
internationally. Kevin worked primarily with the appellate litigation team on the Hobby Lobby v. Sebelius
case. Kevin was involved at the Petition for Rehearing En Banc stage in the Tenth Circuit, and participated
in the preparation for oral argument. Kevin also helped the Becket Fund’s litigation team with its active
docket of First Amendment, RFRA and RLUIPA cases in federal district courts around the country.
Nick Giles was a Fellow at The Constitution Project (TCP), a bipartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.
dedicated to safeguarding the rule of law through consensus-based policy solutions. Nick worked with
the TCP staff on a number of their ongoing projects, on issues ranging from ensuring adequate due
process for detainees at Guantanamo Bay to achieving meaningful Brady reform. In addition, Nick
helped spearhead one of TCP’s newest projects: assembling a blue-ribbon committee to examine
and suggest reforms to the myriad state and local laws governing DNA collection of arrestees.
S. Yasir Latifi was a Fellow at the Brookings Institution. He worked on issues ranging from foreign work
permits and unemployment benefits to class action lawsuits and compliance with federal disabilities laws. Of
note, Yasir led internal efforts to craft an emergency response plan for staff located throughout the world.
37
Julia Mirabella served as a law fellow at the Center for American Progress (CAP), a think tank dedicated
to progressive ideas and action. During her fellowship, Julia helped CAP’s Legal Policy team prepare
for the beginning of the 2013 Supreme Court term by researching and writing articles assessing
upcoming cases. She also helped plan and execute a Why Courts Matter event on religious liberty.
Whitney Nebolisa served as a Fellow for Whitman Walker Health (WWH), a Washington, D.C.
based non-profit community health center that specializes in HIV/AIDS care, and lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender care. During her fellowship, Whitney concentrated on drafting
healthcare privacy and compliance policies. She also helped assess potential internal
compliance policy violations, and helped educate WWH’s staff on compliance matters.
Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia Loaned Associate Program
In April 2012, the D.C. office inaugurated a loaned associate program with the District of Columbia Legal Aid Society. Under
the program, an associate spends approximately four months working with the Barbara McDowell Appellate Advocacy Project
and is able to argue one of the cases on which he/she worked in the D.C. Court of Appeals either while at the Legal Aid Society
or after returning to the firm. Kyle Fiet was the inaugural Loaned Associate and had his first argument in the D.C. Court of
Appeals on November 21, 2012. Since the program started, six Sidley associates have completed a rotation with the Legal Aid
Society. In addition to Kyle, these associates include Stephen Blank, Elisa Jillson,* Christian Huebner,* William Doolittle, and
Christopher Bates.
New York Sponsors the Her Justice (f/k/a inMotion) Externship Program
Sidley has a long-standing relationship with Her Justice (f/k/a/ inMotion, Inc.), a leading provider of free legal services
to indigent and low-income women and children in domestic crisis who need assistance in obtaining divorces, orders of
protection, and/or assistance with other family law matters, including spousal/child support, custody and visitation. In 2003,
the Firm established the Sidley Externship Program pursuant to which associates in the New York office work at Her Justice on
three- or four-month rotations, and many times handle the most difficult cases.
Over the years, the firm has worked on hundreds of Her Justice matters as part of its pro bono commitment and also has
provided generous financial support through its role as one of Her Justice’s corporate partners. Her Justice provides extensive
training for its attorneys and volunteers, as well as for its Externs. Externs can expect to have significant court appearances
before New York’s Supreme and Family Courts. Sidley had three externs at Her Justice in 2012. In 2013, no associates were
detailed exclusively to Her Justice, but the office handled many Her Justice matters in-house. The externship program will
continue with the placement of a new Her Justice extern in February 2014.
38
Los Angeles Sponsored Six Pro Bono Graduate Fellows
Sidley-LA has a program where incoming associates can spend their first four – six weeks with the firm interning for the public
interest organization of their choice. Sidley pays their full salary and benefits during this time. Those involved with the program this
past year are:
Niccolo Barber was a Fellow at the ACLU of Southern California where he focused on
immigrants’ rights. He worked on a wide variety of matters, including an extended research
project on the due process rights of illiterate immigrant detainees. Niccolo also worked
with a team of ACLU attorneys challenging a federal program that permits U.S. immigration
authorities to indefinitely delay immigration benefits to applicants from Muslim countries.
Miles Fuller was a Fellow at the Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, a non-profit organization
that provides legal services to low-income families. During his fellowship, Miles helped two
clients obtain restraining orders for domestic violence. He also guided two young immigrants
through the process of requesting deferred action for childhood arrivals, which would allow
them to work legally in the United States for two years without fear of deportation.
Matt Light served as a Pro Bono Fellow at Bet Tzedek Legal Services, where he worked primarily with the
impact litigation team, fighting for low-income tenants’ rights in several slumlord cases and one wrongful
eviction case. Matt researched the viability of potential tort claims, helped amend a complaint to add
a new defendant, interviewed clients and witnesses, and propounded and responded to discovery.
Laura Richardson served as a Pro Bono Fellow at Mental Health Advocacy Services (MHAS), an organization
in Los Angeles dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of people with mental disabilities. As
a Fellow, Laura collaborated with Maggie Brandow and Professor Jyoti Nanda in the creation of the MHAS/
UCLA School of Law Youth and Justice Clinic. In this clinic, student teams work directly with detained youth
to represent the youth’s interest and with the youth’s attorney on civil legal matters. Laura also helped
Maggie Brandow prepare a practice guide to help defense attorneys who represent juvenile clients with
mental health needs. In addition, Laura researched and wrote memoranda on various special education
topics such as state reporting requirements, home-hospital instruction, and online public education.
Mark Scoville served as a Fellow at the Western Center on Law and Poverty, a non-profit
organization in Los Angeles that works to help secure housing, health care and a strong safety
net for low-income Californians. During his fellowship, Mark reviewed a large number of county
General Relief programs for compliance with state law and conducted research on a proposal
that would have allowed a public housing authority to evict families with truant children.
Wen Shen was a Fellow at the ACLU of Southern California. During her fellowship, she worked on
several immigration-related projects, including a motion for compliance with the permanent injunction
in Rodriguez v. Robbins, in which Sidley, as co-counsel of the ACLU-SC, helped the ACLU-SC obtain
a permanent injunction requiring the government to provide bond hearings to immigrant detainees
experiencing prolonged detention. She also researched issues relating to the limitations period to file
motions to reopen removal proceedings, intercountry adoption and how it confers citizenship on adopted
children, and immigrant detainees’ right to written transcripts of certain immigration proceedings.
39
2013 PRO BONO AND PUBLIC INTEREST LAW COMMITTEE MEMBERS
FIRMWIDE CHAIR
Jeff Green (Washington, D.C.)
HONG KONG
+1.202.736.8291
BRUSSELS
Ken Daly
Charles Allen, China Chair
+852.2509.7818
HOUSTON
+32.2.504.6439
CHICAGO
Mark Glasser, Houston Chair
+1.713.495.4502
LONDON
Richard O’Malley, Chicago Chair
+1.312.853.7112
Struan W. Oliver
+44.20.7360.2063
Susan Bart
+1.312.853.2075
John Woodhall
+44.20.7360.3722
Russell Cass
+1.312.853.2202
Linton Childs
+1.312.853.2211
Michael Clark
+1.312.853.2173
Frank Broccolo, Los Angeles Chair
+1.213.896.6087
Maja Eaton
+1.312.853.7123
Bradley Ellis
+1.213.896.6632
Kevin Fee
+1.312.853.7919
NEW YORK
John Gallo
+1.312.853.7494
David Gordon
+1.312.853.7159
Erin Kelly
+1.312.853.7272
Scott Lassar
+1.312.853.7668
Courtney Rosen
+1.312.853.7669
David Siegel
+1.312.853.7246
Melville Washburn
+1.312.853.2070
Neil Wyland
+1.312.853.7869
David Zampa
+1.312.853.4573
Kelly Huggins,
Capital Litigation Project and
Political Asylum and Immigrants’ Rights
Project Manager
+1.312.853.3206
Emily Wexler,
Veterans Benefits Project Manager
+1.312.853.7074
Angelyn Chester,
Pro Bono Coordinator
+1.312.853.7871
+1.214.981.3385
GENEVA
Scott Andersen,
Africa & Asia Agricultural Enterprise
Program Managing Partner
+41.22.308.00.35
Ronalee Biasca,
Africa & Asia Agricultural Enterprise
Program Coordinator
+41.22.308.00.20
40
James Arden, New York Chair
+1.212.839.5889
Maureen Crough
+1.212.839.7323
Martin Gold
+1.212.839.5481
John Lavelle
+1.212.839.5396
Henry Minnerop
+1.212.839.5555
Benjamin Nagin
+1.212.839.5911
James O’Connor
+1.212.839.8613
Stephen Rutenberg
+1.212.839.5608
Michael Sackheim
+1.212.839.5503
Edna Basquill, Pro Bono Coordinator
+1.212.839.5529
SAN FRANCISCO & PALO ALTO
DALLAS
Li Chen, Dallas Chair
LOS ANGELES
Joshua Hill,
San Francisco and Palo Alto Chair
+1.415.772.1248
WASHINGTON, DC
Betsy Howe, Washington, D.C. Chair
+1.202.736.8338
Lisa Crosby
+1.202.736.8754
Paul Hemmersbaugh
+1.202.736.8538
Dennis Hensley
+1.202.736.8163
Nathan Sheers
+1.202.736.8085
Becky Troth, Pro Bono Counsel
+1.202.736.8339
Offices
BEIJING
GENEVA
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
Rue de Lausanne 139
Sixth Floor
1202 Geneva
Switzerland
T: +41.22.308.00.00
F: +41.22.308.00.01
555 California Street
San Francisco, California 94104
T: +1.415.772.1200
F: +1.415.772.7400
HONG KONG
BOSTON
60 State Street
34th Floor
Boston, Massachusetts 02109
T: +1.617.223.0300
F: +1.617.223.0301
Level 39
Two Int’l Finance Centre
8 Finance Street
Central Hong Kong
T: +852.2509.7888
F: +852.2509.3110
BRUSSELS
HOUSTON
NEO Building
Rue Montoyer 51 Montoyerstraat
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
T: +32.2.504.6400
F: +32.2.504.6401
1000 Louisiana Street
Suite 6000
Houston, Texas 77002
T: +1.713.495.4500
F: +1.713.495.7799
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
SYDNEY
LONDON
CHICAGO
One South Dearborn
Chicago, Illinois 60603
T: +1.312.853.7000
F: +1.312.853.7036
Woolgate Exchange
25 Basinghall Street
London, EC2V 5HA
United Kingdom
T: +44.20.7360.3600
F: +44.20.7626.7937
DALLAS
2001 Ross Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75201
T: +1.214.981.3300
F: +1.214.981.3400
LOS ANGELES
555 West Fifth Street
Los Angeles, California 90013
T: +1.213.896.6000
F: +1.213.896.6600
FRANKFURT
Taunusanlage 1
60329 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
T: +49.69.22.221.4000
F: +49.69.22.221.4001
Level 31
Six Battery Road
Singapore 049909
T: +65.6230.3900
F: +65.6230.3939
NEW YORK
787 Seventh Avenue
New York, New York 10019
T: +1.212.839.5300
F: +1.212.839.5599
PALO ALTO
1001 Page Mill Road
Building 1
Palo Alto, California 94304
T: +1.650.565.7000
F: +1.650.565.7100
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: +1.202.736.8000
F: +1.202.736.8711
www.sidley.com
Attorney Advertising - For purposes of compliance with New York State Bar rules, our headquarters are Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, 212.839.5300; One South
Dearborn, Chicago, IL 60603, 312.853.7000; and 1501 K Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20005, 202.736.8000. Sidley Austin refers to Sidley Austin LLP and affiliated partnerships as explained at
www.sidley.com/disclaimer. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
05/14

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