AWARDS AND
RECOGNITION

Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing – Outstanding Pro Bono Service

Jenner & Block received the Outstanding Pro Bono Service Award from the Lawyers’ Committee for Better Housing for the firm’s work supporting LCBH and the Keep Chicago Renting Ordinance. The KRCO was passed after the 2008 financial crisis to encourage foreclosing banks and other financial institutions to keep tenants in properties on which they foreclose rather than evicting tenants and leaving properties vacant. The ordinance encourages this by requiring a $10,600 relocation fee, if the bank or financial institution elects to evict certain qualified tenants and does not let them continue to rent in the property.

LCBH is the only non-profit legal aid organization in the Chicago area that focuses solely on low- and moderate-income renters in the private housing market. The firm and LCBH have worked closely over the past several years to defend the ordinance against various attacks by defendants in cases by tenants alleging violations of the KCRO.

“Our work with LCBH has really made a difference for Chicago renters who live in foreclosed properties,” said Partner Christopher Tompkins, who is on the LCBH board and received the award on behalf of Jenner & Block. “Our long-standing collaboration with LCBH has empowered truly disadvantaged renters by preventing wrongful evictions and fighting sub-standard living conditions over the years. We have also helped a number of tenants recover under the KRCO in our efforts to ensure all of our neighbors can have a safe and decent place to live.”

“Jenner & Block’s pro bono services will have a lasting impact on our agency and Chicago renters for years to come,” said LCBH Executive Director Mark Swartz. “The KCRO will continue to give special protections and rights to renters living in foreclosed properties, and we thank Jenner & Block for being our partner.”

National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild – 2021 Impact in the Courts Award

Jenner & Block received the 2021 Impact in the Courts Award from the National Immigration Project of the National Lawyers Guild (NIP) during its 50th anniversary event. The firm was recognized for collaborative efforts on the Irwin Detention Center project, during which a firm team is co-counseling with NIP and a number of law school clinics and others in litigation against US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other defendants for forced medical procedures on women detained there.

Partners Debbie Berman and Gabrielle Sigel and Associate MJ Wayne continue to lead the effort. Others who have worked on the cross-office, multi-practice team include Partners Rob Harmala and Howard Suskin, Special Counsel Aaron Cooper, Associates Illyana Green, Michael Greubel, Matt Lawson, Daniel McCord, Andrew Plague, Laurel Raymond, Corinne Smith, and Reanne Zheng, and Pro Bono Counsel Nura Maznavi, with valuable support from Debra Abelson, Rob Aponte, Amanda Ellis, Tricia Peavler, Sam Rosen, and Annette Young.

Chicago Bar Foundation – Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award

Partner Andrew Vail was selected for the Chicago Bar Foundation’s Edward J. Lewis II Pro Bono Award, recognizing lawyers who “display a deep commitment to the fundamental principles of equal protection and equal justice in the community through outstanding pro bono service.” As a former partner, Mr. Lewis was known for his efforts in making the Jenner & Block name synonymous with pro bono advocacy, all while maintaining a busy practice and delivering excellence to all of his clients. In his acceptance speech, Andrew expressed his gratitude for being able to work with, and learn from, the late Tom Sullivan. He also referenced the legacy and core value of pro bono at the firm and stressed the importance of building relationships with others when working on pro bono matters.

Northern District of Illinois and Federal Bar Association – 2021 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service

The US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association awarded several Jenner & Block lawyers with the 2021 Award for Excellence in Pro Bono Service for “providing outstanding pro bono and public interest representation in civil and criminal matters before the district court.” The award recipients were recognized for successfully completing three different cases:

In Conley v. US we represented Mr. Conley, who was convicted of conspiring to rob a fake drug stash house even though he was not a target of the prosecution, in a federal habeas challenge in the district court and on appeal. The team also presented a petition for compassionate release, which the court granted, ordering his immediate release from prison. The award recipients included Jenner & Block Partner Mike Brody; Associates Eric Fleddermann and Theo Lesczynski; and former associate Leigh Jahnig.

In USA v. Rollins, we represented Mr. Rollins, who was convicted for a string of three robberies within a week’s time, in a reduction of a de facto life sentence. Partners Andrew Vail and Monica Pinciak, and former associate Josh Levin successfully argued for a reduction in sentence of 106.5 years to 28 years and one day. Jenner & Block joined with Debevoise & Plimpton to file a motion to reduce his sentence under the First Step Act. The judge wrote in his opinion that “a de facto life sentence far exceeds appropriate punishment.”

Paralegal Cheryl Kras, and former colleagues US Magistrate Judge Gabriel A. Fuentes, Christine Bowman, and Hon. Judge Brewer (ret.) also received the award for their work in Traharne, et al v. Illinois DCFS, et al., which was litigated and settled while Judge Fuentes and Ms. Bowman were with the firm. Judge Summers was the mediator on the matter.

Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law – 2021 Thomas P. Sullivan Justice Award

Named after our late partner, this national award is presented annually to one or more individuals who have advanced the interests of justice and fairness in the criminal justice system. The award is given by the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.

The Center selected Jenner & Block Partner Terri Mascherin in recognition of her careerlong dedication to advocating for the wrongfully convicted, both inside the courtroom and outside of it. Of Ms. Mascherin, the Center said: “You have served in every way as a champion not only for the many individuals impacted by wrongful incarceration, but also for the Center, our work, and our students.”

Examples of Ms. Mascherin’s advocacy in this area include her representation of the defendant in People v. Koh, winning a not-guilty verdict for a client who had been wrongfully charged with the murder of his son; her representation of client Adam Gray, who was exonerated after being wrongfully convicted of a double murder and arson as a juvenile; and her representation of the defendant in People v. Rivera, who also was exonerated after having been wrongfully convicted of murder.

Jenner & Block – Albert E. Jenner Awards for Pro Bono and Excellence in Pro Bono Service

Jenner & Block gave the annual Albert E. Jenner Pro Bono Award to Partner David Bradford for a lifetime of pro bono service and for his leadership in a voting rights case in the 2020 presidential election. The firm gave the annual Jenner & Block Award for Excellence in Pro Bono or Public Service to paralegal Mary Frances Patston for her long service to the firm’s pro bono work. The firm also gave the Albert E. Jenner Pro Bono Award to a Jenner & Block team that challenged three Wisconsin laws imposing severe restrictions on abortion access at a trial last year. Hear from Partners Ali Arain, Lori B. Day, Susan Kohlmann, and Alison Stein, Associates Emily Mannheimer and Danielle Muniz, and former associates Jessica Martinez and Kara Brandeisky about their harrowing efforts in challenging the constitutionality of three Wisconsin-state laws that severely restrict women’s rights to safe and legal abortion care.