March.07.2013
Silicon Valley intellectual property managing associates Elizabeth McBride and Sally Lee, and San Francisco litigation associate Lacey Bangle, supervised by Portland intellectual property managing associate Kristin Cornuelle, recently secured victories for their clients in court in connection with securing a final order of protection against their former abusive partners, and also securing custody rights to their clients' children. These cases are part of Orrick's long-standing commitment to the domestic violence collaborative in San Mateo County, which is focused on providing representation to victims of domestic violence who are trying to regain their independence and dignity.
Elizabeth and Sally's client was in an abusive relationship with her boyfriend, with whom she had a 2-year-old daughter. There were many incidents where the client faced severe physical and verbal abuse. At the hearing, Elizabeth successfully argued that the court should enter a final, three-year restraining order and grant the client full physical and legal custody of her daughter with no visitation rights to the father.
Lacey's client was also in a physically and verbally abusive relationship with her boyfriend, with whom she had a daughter. Lacey first represented the client successfully at a hearing in which the court granted the client a final restraining order. Approximately three weeks later, Lacey represented the client in a child custody hearing, through which the client was awarded full legal and physical custody of her daughter, while the father is allowed only once-per-week supervised visitation.
Lawyers in the San Francisco Bay area who would like to take on a DV restraining order case should contact pro bono counsel Rene Kathawala.