Advocacy for Underserved Communities
IMMIGRATION
IMMIGRATION
Endurance prevails for migrants in search of safety
Weighing the risks of gang and domestic violence in her home country of Honduras against escaping to the unknown in the United States, a teenage girl chose the latter. But as she crossed the U.S. border without permission, federal authorities apprehended her. After almost six years of working on her case, DWT and Amazon secured lawful permanent resident status for the now mother of two, giving her the legal right to remain in the U.S. as she continues to build her family and a community in Virginia. During the protracted legal process, the DWT legal team successfully argued for dismissal of a deportation proceeding against her and also helped her obtain a work permit so she could earn a paycheck while awaiting final disposition in her case. Since 2017, DWT and corporate partner Amazon have worked with nonprofit partner Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) on 28 cases to help unaccompanied youth navigate the complicated U.S. immigration system.
DWT LEGAL TEAM
Maria Browne | Nichele Rice | Breck Wilmot
The Los Angeles office of KIND honored Alex Cadena as its Pro Bono Advocate of the Year. KIND lauded her "remarkable commitment and unwavering resolve" on behalf of a young man who recently obtained his green card. Cadena first began working on the long-running matter while serving as a DWT summer associate in 2021. Jonathan Segal and Vandana Kapur also supported the case, which presented a number of challenges, including errors on the part of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “This case was a test in endurance," Cadena said. “I am incredibly thankful to have had the opportunity to work alongside the inspiring immigration attorneys at KIND, and I hope that no future children seeking refuge in this country will have to wait as long as our client did for the security he now feels.”
Catholic Migration Services, a nonprofit providing pro bono legal services in New York City, honored DWT with its annual Impact Award for helping community members with their citizenship applications, and hosting legal clinics where volunteers screened newly arrived immigrants to assess their eligibility for asylum, temporary protected status, and work authorization. Geoff Brounell, Rich Zukowsky, and Lekan Sumonu represented the firm at the award reception. DWT partnered with companies including Bloomberg, Navy Federal Credit Union, and T-Mobile to make the legal clinics a success.
Catholic Migration Services, a nonprofit providing pro bono legal services in New York City, honored DWT with its annual Impact Award for helping community members with their citizenship applications, and hosting legal clinics where volunteers screened newly arrived immigrants to assess their eligibility for asylum, temporary protected status, and work authorization. Geoff Brounell, Rich Zukowsky, and Lekan Sumonu represented the firm at the award reception. DWT partnered with companies including Bloomberg, Navy Federal Credit Union, and T-Mobile to make the legal clinics a success.
On a weekly basis, Anastasia Alen works with immigrants and refugees from various countries who have arrived in the U.S. as a result of the Russia-Ukraine war. She translates for them and helps determine their legal needs, such as applying for work permits and Social Security numbers, determining their immigration status, and referring them for asylum applications. In 2024, the Los Angeles County Bar Association Counsel for Justice honored Alen with its Community Impact Award for her advocacy on behalf of the organization’s Immigration Legal Services Project.
DWT worked with company volunteers from Flynn Group to draft asylum applications for migrants. We also partnered with Kering in a naturalization clinic that helped 10 people, and hosted an asylum clinic for Capital One volunteers.
Thank you so much for making this opportunity so accessible to our team and allowing us a chance to serve.
Jaci Lee
VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL | Flynn Group
Legal Counsel for Youth and Children lauded DWT attorney Matthew Gurr as a “Pro Bono Champion.” Gurr is a key force in DWT’s work with Microsoft volunteers to support undocumented young people in Washington state, obtaining Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, a classification that provides youth a visa, work authorization, and path to citizenship. Through this work, he has been able to meet clients directly and produce favorable outcomes.
Being able to hear client stories and empathize with their circumstances, or to gain a better understanding of what the clients had gone through in their efforts to relocate to the United States, I’ve found it really rewarding to be able to assist them in accomplishing their goals, even if it is a small part of their journey.
Matthew Gurr
DWT ATTORNEY
Volunteers from our Anchorage office helped maintain and protect Grow North Farm, which empowers and supports refugee and immigrant-owned food businesses. They pulled weeds, spread wood chips, and built new work areas.
David Gossett, MaryAnn Almeida, and Erwin Reschke submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Supreme Court in a case that will determine if federal appeals courts can review appeals from noncitizens who claim they will be killed or tortured if deported. We represented former United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture Juan Méndez as amicus, and explained that the Convention Against Torture mandates such review.
VETERANS
DWT worked with the National Veterans Legal Services Program to ensure that U.S. veterans and active-duty personnel receive the benefits they are entitled to for serving our country. As a result of our representation:
A veteran with two disabilities that resulted from his service emerged victorious before the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, earning a special pension that significantly increases the vet’s level of disability compensation.
A veteran who sustained injuries while serving in Saudi Arabia had his disability benefit payment approved.
A veteran was awarded a disability rating of 100%, paving the way for just payment of benefits.
Two veterans were successful in seeking Combat-Related Special Compensation for disabilities that occurred while serving.
A veteran with bilateral shoulder disabilities and related neurological issues was granted an increased disability rating and a new medical exam to further support her claim for neurological-related disability benefits.
A U.S. Air Force veteran overcame a previous denial of service connection for his multiple spinal disabilities, resulting in an increase of his post-service disability compensation and the possibility of retroactive pay.
DWT LAWYERS
Lukas Dudkowski | Andy Lorentz | John Nelson | Barry Stulberg | Jordan Thompson
With Blue Origin and T-Mobile, DWT held two intake clinics to evaluate benefits eligibility for 20 veterans represented through The Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program. These clinics are a critical first step for veterans seeking legal assistance with discharge upgrades.
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
DWT offices volunteered in several activities to ease the burden on unhoused people and families struggling to secure basic needs, as well as on the organizations that support them:
HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION
DWT offices volunteered in several activities to ease the burden on unhoused people and families struggling to secure basic needs, as well as on the organizations that support them:
In Los Angeles, we sorted over 13,000 pounds of potatoes for the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which distributes meals to low-income families and individuals, and people experiencing homelessness.
In Washington, D.C., we helped N Street Village prepare for its annual coat donation drive benefiting unhoused women.
In Seattle, we served lunch and facilitated family activities at Mary’s Place, a local nonprofit serving unhoused women and families.
The Homeless Advocacy Project named DWT as its Volunteer of the Month. Through this partnership, we assisted 44 people experiencing homelessness to obtain their birth certificates in 2024, which enables them to obtain photo IDs and can increase access to housing and employment.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION
On behalf of the Family Violence Appellate Project, DWT filed an amicus brief in the Washington State Court of Appeals that argues for the constitutionality of the state’s firearm surrender order law, which is designed to protect survivors of domestic violence.
DWT TEAM
Stephanie Childs | Bonnie MacNaughton | Tammy Miller | Emily Parsons | Rebecca Schach
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROTECTION
On behalf of the Family Violence Appellate Project, DWT filed an amicus brief in the Washington State Court of Appeals that argues for the constitutionality of the state’s firearm surrender order law, which is designed to protect survivors of domestic violence.
DWT TEAM
Stephanie Childs | Bonnie MacNaughton | Tammy Miller | Emily Parsons | Rebecca Schach
Our Anchorage office held a clothing and housewares donation drive to benefit Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, which distributed the items to survivors of domestic violence staying at its emergency shelter.
Our Anchorage office held a clothing and housewares donation drive to benefit Abused Women's Aid in Crisis, which distributed the items to survivors of domestic violence staying at its emergency shelter.
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM
CONTENTS
What We Do and Why >
The Power of Partnerships >
Civil Rights and Social Justice >
- Voting Rights
- Journalists/First Amendment
- Women’s Rights
- LGBTQIA+
- Prisoner/Civil Rights
Advocacy for Underserved Communities >
- Veterans
- Homelessness Prevention
- DV Protection
- Immigration
Awards and Recognition >
Our Pro Bono & Social Impact Team >
CONTENTS
What We Do and Why >
The Power of Partnerships >
Civil Rights and Social Justice >
- Voting Rights
- Journalists/First Amendment
- Women’s Rights
- LGBTQIA+
- Prisoner/Civil Rights
Advocacy for Underserved Communities >
- Veterans
- Homelessness Prevention
- DV Protection
- Immigration
Awards and Recognition >
Our Pro Bono & Social Impact Team >
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE LLP
Ability, integrity, and service to others – these are the three pillars on which Davis Wright Tremaine was built. As our founding partner once famously said, “…unless we are serving mankind to the top extent of our ability and putting our best talent into that service, what good is life?”
Learn More at DWT.COM
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