Overview
International law firm McDermott Will & Emery has been named Pro Bono Team of the Year by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND) for its work to help a teenage refugee who fled Guatemala to pursue asylum in the United States (US).
The teenager, who endured persecution by Guatemalan gang members, fled to the US with no family to accompany her. Led by an all-female McDermott team, a declaration was built, an application for asylum was filed and the teenager obtained a work permit so she could start building a life in her new home country. In addition to the pursuit of asylum, the team collaborated with KIND to secure a host of additional resources for the teenager, including mental health and social services.
KIND’s mission is to protect the rights of children who seek safety in the US. They work to ensure that no child appears in immigration court without top legal representation, advance laws and policies that ensure children’s protection and promote durable solutions to child immigration.
“KIND is a wonderful organization, and our team is humbled to be recognized for making an impact on the people it serves. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help this young woman and to dedicate our resources to advocate for children in need,” said Cecilia Choy, an associate in the Intellectual Property Practice Group and lead on the project. “We will see this case through and look forward to seeing our client thrive and build the life she deserves.”
The McDermott team members involved in this case include Cecilia Choy, April Weisbruch, Anisa Noorassa and Fabiola Díaz Vera.
About McDermott
McDermott Will & Emery partners with leaders around the world to fuel missions, knock down barriers and shape markets. Our team works seamlessly across practices and industries to deliver highly effective solutions that propel success. More than 1,400 lawyers strong, we bring our personal passion and legal prowess to bear in every matter for our clients and the people they serve.
