December.11.2012
Orrick and its lawyers continue to receive high praise for providing exceptional pro bono legal service to underprivileged clients over the past year.
Last week, the National Immigration Law Center recognized Orrick at its 2012 Courageous Luminaries Awards Dinner in Los Angeles, honoring the work of those who have improved the lives of low-income immigrants and their families. Orrick—the only firm honored—was recognized for its defense of due process and civil rights.
The NILC awards press release noted, "Whether volunteering at clinics designed to help immigrant youth obtain deferred action status or filing class action lawsuits to stop unconstitutional attacks on immigrant families, Orrick attorneys bring their considerable expertise and legal know-how to those who are too often ignored by the legal system."
Partner Bill Molinski is a supervisor on the federal court case in New Orleans that involves the unlawful detention of immigrants by local law enforcement after an unlawful immigration detainer was placed and then released on them. The team working with Bill includes Los Angeles litigation associate Ghazal Tajmiri, New York litigation associate Alvin Lee, San Francisco litigation managing associate Beth Stevens and Seattle securities litigation associate Melissa Anderson.
Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal) recognized Orrick—specifically the Silicon Valley office—with its Law Firm Pro Bono Leadership 2011: Innovative Partner Award. This is for our work representing clients in connection with U-Visas and staffing a clinic helping domestic violence victims with restraining orders. The participating lawyers are San Francisco public finance of counsel Phil Morgan, Silicon Valley white collar of counsel Robin Linsenmayer, Silicon Valley intellectual property associate Alex Feerst, San Francisco energy and infrastructure associate Dao Huynh, Silicon Valley employment law associate Shannon Seekao, Silicon Valley employment law senior associate Tracy Scheidtmann, Silicon Valley intellectual property associate Cam Phan, San Francisco energy and infrastructure managing associate Julianne Spears and Silicon Valley intellectual property senior paralegal Mark Williams. San Francisco securities litigation partner Bill Alderman is a member of BayLegal's board.
Last month, several of our New York lawyers were recognized by Legal Aid for their work on our class action case for children in juvenile detention in New York State. Among the Orrick lawyers Legal Aid recognized were New York commercial litigation partner Peter Coll, New York litigation managing associate Alison Roffi, pro bono Fellow Eliza Golden and pro bono counsel Rene Kathawala. New York litigation associates Matthew Ingles and Jake Albertson were also recognized for their work representing clients in federal court immigration matters.
In recognition of their commitment to the firm's guardianship program, Sacramento senior associate Ann Patterson and managing associates John Killeen and Katie DeWitt received the VLSP Volunteer of the Year Award at the December 10 Sacramento Bar Association luncheon. Now in its fifth year, the guardianship program is a joint pro bono project between lawyers and staff members from Orrick and Intel's Folsom Campus.
These honors are in addition to the firm being named to Law360's Pro Bono Firms of 2012, placing 10th nationwide in The American Lawyer's 2012 Pro Bono Survey and being selected for The Recorder's elite list of the top 10 Pro Bono Achievers in Northern California earlier this fall.