Faegre Baker Daniels LLP

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Faegre Baker Daniels LLP"

Eleanor Potter
6 years ago
Views:

1 Main US office location: 2200 Wells Fargo Center 90 South 7th Street Minneapolis, MN (612) THE STATS No. of Attorneys: 715 No. of Offices: 15 Managing Partner: Andrew G. Humphrey Who s Who How many pro bono coordinators and/or partners does the firm have? 4 Please provide the primary pro bono contact(s) s information below. Dianne C. Heins Pro Bono Counsel and Director of Pro Bono & Community Service (612) dianne.heins@faegrebd.com Jodie M. Boderman Pro Bono Manager (612) jodie.boderman@faegrebd.com Monica A. Fennell Pro Bono Manager (317) monica.fennell@faegrebd.com Does the firm have a pro bono committee? If so, how often does the committee meet? Quarterly Please describe the composition of the committee: The Pro Bono & Community Service Advisory Group includes a partner from each office, as well as members of the firm s profesional pro bono and community service team. The partners serve 3-year terms, and are also selected to reflect the firm s various practice groups. Additional members are the Management Board pro bono and community service liaison, and a partner who serves on the Pro Bono Institute Law Firm Project Advisory Group. THE SCOOP Does the firm have a written pro bono policy? Can associates bring pro bono matters of interest to the firm? How does the firm decide whether to take on a pro bono matter? Approximately one quarter of the firm s pro bono matters are brought to the firm by individual lawyers. We encourage lawyers to work on cases of interest to them, and which reflect their community engagement. Lawyers are expected to exercise sound judgement and clear conflicts, and are strongly encouraged to consult with pro bono staff on questions of client eligibility, relevant firm resources and expertise, and any barriers to the representation. We partner with many legal services organizations in our communities, which serve as referral sources for much of our pro bono work. In addition, the firm develops and manages its own firm-wide thematic pro bono projects, which are based on unmet community needs, lawyer interest, and the availability of legal services partner organizations. The administrative process to approve and open pro bono matters is identical to that used for billable matters, with the exception that the firm s pro bono counsel approves each pro bono matter. 149

2 Has the firm signed on to the law firm pro bono challenge? What are some of the areas of law in which your firm has performed pro bono legal work since 2014? Asylum; Bankruptcy; Civil rights; Community economic development; Consumer law and small claims court; Criminal and housing records expungement; Death penalty defense; Disability benefits; Domestic violence; Education; Environment; Fair housing/tenants rights; Family law; First Amendment and constitutional issues; Homeless advocacy; Immigration; International human rights; Juvenile justice reform; Nonprofit corporate law; Nonprofit incorporation/tax exemptions; Nonprofit intellectual property; Police misconduct; Prisoners rights; Social security law; Probate law; Real estate transactions; The arts and historic preservation; Veterans benefits/appeals; Voting rights Are there areas of law in which, as a matter of policy or practice, your firm does not perform pro bono work? If so, please indicate the specific areas below. If not, please select none. Employment List up to 10 of your firm s pro bono clients or partners since 2014, including legal service providers or clearinghouses. Lambda Legal Southern Poverty Law Center National Immigrant Justice Center National Veterans Legal Services Program Clemency 2014 IRAP Center for New Americans The Advocates for Human Rights Colorado Lawyers Committee Eskenazi Health Medical-Legal Partnership List up to three pro bono matters/representations that are highlights (e.g., a Supreme Court case). Mellouli v. Lynch: A cross-office team successfully represented Mr. Mellouli, a legal permanent resident, in his appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court following his removal from the country. The case sits at the intersection of criminal law and immigration law, and the Court s 7-2 ruling in June 2015 has broad implications for many non-citizens. Mr. Mellouli plead guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia; specifically, a sock. There was no reference in the plea record of any controlled substance; the charge was treated by Kansas authorities as a minor offense. The legal question before the Court was whether a lawful permanent resident can be removed for possession of drug paraphernalia in the absence of any proof the paraphernalia is related to a substance listed on the federal Controlled Substances Act, or the underlying conduct is related to the drug trade in general. Justice Ginsberg, writing for the majority, observed that the government had stretched the construction of federal law to the breaking point in reaching convictions in which no controlled substance figures as an element of the offense. In an unexpected turn of events after the ruling, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the case to the BIA to determine whether Mr. Mellouli could still be deported under the Controlled Substances Act based on charges that had been dismissed. Faced with a potential mandamus petition to the Supreme Court, the Department of Homeland Security settled the matter, and Mr. Mellouli was able to return to the country without any threat of future removal based on the underlying incident in Kansas. Frenz TRA Impact Litigation: A team of Minneapolis lawyers represents a community organization acting on behalf of the tenants living in a building operated by the one of the city s largest landlords. The building did not meet city code standards of habitability, including persistent rodent and insect infestations, lack of heat in winter, mold, lack of security locks, and other substandard conditions. Individual tenants who complained faced retaliatory eviction proceedings. The firm filed a Tenant Remedies Action seeking appointment of a receiver for the building. As the litigation commenced, the landlord engaged in fraud on the court in an attempt to defeat the plaintiff organization s standing. The landlord created and filed with the court phony leases, staged vacant apartments to appear to be rented, and ordered an exterminator to submit a false invoice for services in the vacant, staged apartments, attempting to show that the community organization did not represent the required percentage of tenants. Once the fraud on the court was discovered, the firm s team was also able to uncover information that the landlord, in securing a rental license for more than 40 properties, had concealed the majority co-ownership of the buildings by a former owner. The former owner had been stripped of his rental licenses due to his failure to maintain them, and is legally barred by the city from having any interest or role in managing rental properties in the city. The court appointed a receiver for the building at the center of the litigation, which is ongoing. The litigation has prompted increased engagement by local foundations in supporting efforts to preserve safe, affordable housing, and discussions of public policy around that issue. The city of Minneapolis is also now engaged in reviewing the licenses held by the landlord, in the aftermath of the revelations about the former owner s ongoing interest in the properties. Children on the Border Detention Center Team: The firm has sent three teams to volunteer for a week at the South Texas Family Center in Dilley, Texas. The Center is a privately-owned detention facility under ICE supervision which houses women and children from Central America. The women and their children have been detained at the border, placed in removal proceedings, and sent to the Center for additional processing. Dilley, Texas, is a remote area, and there is no access to counsel. A small legal clinic has been established onsite by four organizations, including AILA, to provide legal representation to the women during their detention. The CARA clinic operates under difficult physical limitations, and serves dozens of clients every day. Volunteers work in a very fast-paced environment, serving clients who have been traumatized by Vault.com Inc.

3 violence in their own countries, on the journey to the United States, and after their arrival; and they are involved in complex legal proceedings that require them to articulate their claim to asylum and tell their story in a coherent fashion. The firm s volunteers have each spent a week at the clinic, and as changes in ICE policy and practice have occurred, the actual work done by volunteers also changes. Volunteers are required to be flexible, nimble and work long hours. The Detention Center work is a part of the firm s Children on the Border Project, which provides direct representation to unaccompanied children in our communities who are seeking asylum or other immigration relief. BY THE NUMBERS What is the total number of hours that lawyers at your US office(s) spent performing pro bono legal services, as defined by the law firm pro bono challenge, in 2014 and 2015? Do not include summer associate or non-lawyer pro bono hours in your answers. 2014: 32, : 31,039 What was the attorney headcount in your firm s US office(s)? As of December 31, 2014: 714 As of December 31, 2015: 710 Using the number of attorneys listed above, what is the average number of pro bono hours per attorney in your firm s US office(s) during the following years? 2014: : 44 What percentage of attorneys employed in 2014 and 2015 in your firm s US office(s) did at least 20 hours of pro bono work during that calendar year? 2014: 50% 2015: 51% SUPERVISION AND EVALUATIONS Is there partner supervision on all pro bono matters? Do partner supervisors or, if applicable, senior associates provide written evaluations of associates work on pro bono matters? If so, are those evaluations taken into account in determining salary or bonuses?, they are taken into account in determining bonuses Are those evaluations taken into account in determining advancement within the firm? Is there a pro bono requirement at your firm? No Does the firm give billable hour credit for pro bono work? Does the firm have a maximum number of pro bono hours that can be applied toward the billable hour target? If so, what is the maximum number of pro bono hours that can be applied toward the billable hour target? 100 Does the firm consider pro bono hours when determining bonuses? PRO BONO POINTS What training opportunities are open to associates working on pro bono matters? The firm strongly encourages attendance at specialized pro bono training programs offered by legal services organizations which refer pro bono cases to the firm. Ongoing training programs include asylum, immigration, representation of children in foster care, wills, guardianships, civil orders for protection, human rights documentation and advocacy, veteran s matters, expungement, and landlord-tenant law. In addition, the firm develops and offers internal training programs specific to its own pro bono clinics and projects, as well as skills-based training programs and courses which are offered to associates as part of professional development. Does the firm offer the use of support staff in handling pro bono matters? Please indicate how many total hours and average hours per person your summer associates spent performing pro bono work in 2014 and Please round to the nearest hour and include numbers only: do not use commas, decimal points or labels. Total hours summer associates spent on pro bono work 2014: 2, : 1,346 Visit for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 151

4 Average hours per summer associate spent on pro bono work 2014: : 30 Percentage of summer associates in your firm s U.S. office(s) engaged in pro bono work 2014: 100% 2015: 100% Please provide any additional information about pro bono opportunities available to summer associates. Summer associates are offered a wide range of pro bono opportunities during their time at the firm. Faegre Baker Daniels maintains and meets a longstanding goal of 100% participation by summer associates in pro bono service. A pre-summer conference is held in April for summer associates, at which they are introduced to the firm s integrated model of public service, which includes pro bono legal services, community service projects and activities, and philanthropic giving by the firm s foundation. Once at the firm, summer associates attend office-specific orientation programs, which provide information about the pro bono opportunities available to them in their office. The firm offers the full range of opportunities in areas of pro bono practice (see earlier answer re specific practice areas) that are available to lawyers, ranging from providing brief advice and service at community-based legal clinics to working with teams on major impact litigation matters. Summer associates attend training programs as appropriate, and work under the supervision of partners on their pro bono matters. Does the firm have established programs, such as externships, that enable its associates to work in a public interest setting? No What other law-related public interest and community service programs (that are not pro bono as defined by the law firm pro bono challenge) do you offer and manage? For example, list any law school collaborations and public interest scholarships, auctions at law schools, monetary support, or fellowships applicable. Faegre Baker Daniels annually funds public interest/access to justice fellowships for law students in Minnesota (2 summer clerkships) and Indiana (3 academic year fellowships), through grants to the Minnesota Justice Foundation or individual law schools. In 2016, the firm funded a fourth summer clerkship, as a placement with Indiana Legal Services, through the LSC Rural Summer Fellowship Corps. In addition, through the firm s foundation, annual financial support is provided to many legal services organizations in our communities, including, but not limited to, Legal Services Corporation, The Advocates for Human Rights, Children s Law Center of Minnesota, Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, Innocence Project of Minnesota, Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Indiana Legal Services, Indianapolis Bar Foundation, Indianapolis Legal Aid Society, Neighborhood Christian Legal Center, Colorado Lawyers Committee, Colorado Legal Services, National Immigrant Justice Center, CARPLS, Chicago Bar Foundation, Iowa Legal Aid Foundation, and Polk County Volunteer Lawyers Project. What non-law related volunteer opportunities does your firm offer? For example, list any work with high school students and non-legal volunteerism for organizations like Habitat for Humanity. Faegre Baker Daniels offers a robust firm-sponsored community service program, open to all personnel, under the direction of the firm s dedicated Manager of Community Service. The firm budget funds annually for each office, and the specific projects in each office are determined by the office representatives to the firm-wide Community Service Steering Group. Projects are scheduled during the work day, and firm personnel receive paid time off to volunteer. Summer associates are encouraged to join in community service projects while they are at the firm. Representative projects: Habitat for Humanity, Indianapolis Public School 39 Volunteer Program, Cook for Kids at the Minneapolis Crisis Nursery, Dress for Success and Twin Cities RISE! professional clothing drives and work-readiness mock interviews/resume writing, Denver Roll Out the Barrels Food Drive, Ronald McDonald Home snack kit preparation, We the People, Holiday Gift Drives, Hope Ministries, United Way, and others. Projects often reflect and complement the firm s pro bono priorities, and address community issues such as hunger, homelessness, children and families, education, and economic security. Please list special recognition or awards your firm has won in the last three years for its pro bono work.. The American Lawyer Top Firms for Pro Bono Work, 2016 The American Lawyer Top Firms for Pro Bono Work, 2015 Minnesota Lawyer Attorneys of the Year, Mellouli v. Lynch Litigation Team 2015 Indiana Wildlife Federation President s Award for Pro Bono Work in Conservation Law, 2015 Colorado Lawyers Committee Law Firm of the Year, 2013 The Advocates for Human Rights Special Recognition Award for Innovative Pro Bono Service and the Africa Advocacy Project, 2013 Public Interest Law Initiative Pro Bono Recognition Roster, 2013 LawWorks Best Pro Bono Partnership, Dalton Advisory Pop-Up Clinic, London, 2013 Halsbury Legal Awards Pro Bono Team of the Year, Dalton Advisory Pop-Up Clinic, London, 2013 Colorado Supreme Court Pro Bono Achievement Recognition for commitment to annual goal of 50 hours of pro bono service by Colorado lawyers, Please add any additional information about your firm s pro bono program. You might want to touch on some of the following Vault.com Inc.

5 issues: firm s pro bono philosophy; procedures for undertaking pro bono; assignments; staffing of pro bono cases; general volunteering opportunities (outside of legal services); salary structure as it relates to pro bono work and billable hours or bonuses; international pro bono; opportunities; pro bono hours by office or region, including overseas. Our firm has a deeply-rooted commitment to serving our communities. At the core of our commitment is our long record of sustained engagement in philanthropic activities which serve our communities and which are organized as an integrated mix of pro bono legal services, community service projects, and charitable giving. Our firm s culture and policy strongly encourage our lawyers and other professionals to use their unique skills to address unmet legal needs in our community. We are a founding member of the Law Firm Pro Bono Project and signatory to the Law Firm Pro Bono Challenge. Each year, our pro bono hours are equivalent to at least 3% of our billable hours, and a significant majority of our lawyers volunteer on pro Bono matters. The substantial majority of our pro bono service is on behalf of low-income clients. The firm has a professionally-managed and supported pro bono practice, and has prioritized service to children and families, immigrants and New Americans, agencies working to preserve affordable housing and prevent homelessness, and individuals and nonprofit organizations to secure civil and human rights. The firm s pro bono practice integrates the firm s Guiding Principles of Clients First, High Performance, and One Firm. Visit for company rankings, ratings and reviews to learn what it s really like to work in an industry or company and how to position yourself to land that job. 153

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.

The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving. Albert Einstein At Sullivan & Cromwell, we have a long tradition of encouraging pro bono involvement by our lawyers