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Pro Bono
The victories the National Women’s Law Center has won on behalf of women and their families would not have been possible without the pro bono assistance that many organizations and individuals generously provide.
NWLC depends upon pro bono and volunteer assistance from law firms, corporations, universities, and individuals. We welcome all legal backgrounds and skillsets and will work with you to place an appropriately matched pro bono or volunteer project – from research to intake assistance to comprehensive litigation opportunities.
If you or your employer are interested in exploring pro bono opportunities, please reach out to Johnna Carey-Park, Pro Bono Senior Counsel, at [email protected] or contact [email protected]. We ask that you complete this survey which helps our staff understand how to best connect you with upcoming opportunities.
There are also opportunities to become involved with the Law Center’s work through the Legal Network for Gender Equity and the Abortion Defense Network.
Inaugural Pro Bono Impact Award
On October 27, 2023, at the NWLC Gala, we expressed our sincerest gratitude to Hogan Lovells, our trusted pro bono partner who has been supporting us behind the scenes for over 15 years.
Hogan’s partnership on a range of key cases have helped the Law Center demonstrate that women’s rights and trans rights are inextricably linked and leverage a unified effort to protect the lives and vulnerability of trans youth in our country, especially girls and women.
NWLC is grateful to all of the following organizations and individuals recently providing pro bono support:
- Airbnb
- All Rise Trial and Appellate
- Allen Overy
- Altshuler Berzon LLP
- Arent Fox
- Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer
- Buckley Sandler
- Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP
- Cohen Millstein
- Cooley LLP
- Cozen O’Connor
- Covington & Burling
- Crowell & Moring
- Debevoise & Plimpton*
- Emery Celli Brinckerhoff Abady Ward & Maazel
- Fenwick
- Fried Frank Harris Shriver & Jacobson LLP
- Goodwin Procter
- Harrison, Harrison & Associates, Ltd.
- Hogan Lovells*
- Holwell Shuster & Goldberg
- Holland & Knight*
- JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Kakalec Law PLLC
- Katz Banks Kumin
- Kirkland & Ellis
- KPMG
- Latham & Watkins
- Linklaters
- Liu Peterson-Fisher LLP
- Macey Swanson LLP
- Mastando & Artrip LLC
- Miner Barnhill & Galland PC
- Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP
- Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughn
- Nixon Peabody
- O’Melveny & Meyers
- Outten & Golden
- Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman*
- Pontikes Law LLC
- Powers, Jodoin, Margolis & Mantell LLP
- Powers, Jodoin, Margolis & Mantell LLP
- Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP
- Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP*
- Sidley Austin*
- Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP*
- Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP*
- Spragens Law PLC
- Sullivan & Cromwell LLP
- The Federal Practice Group
- Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP
- White & Case LLP
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP
*NWLC Pro Bono Honor Roll Honoree
Cy Près
Cy Près is the legal doctrine that allows funds remaining after the distribution of a class action settlement to be given to a charitable organization (or more than one) whose mission dovetails with the original purpose of the case. Cy Près awards are an important source of funding for nonprofits and legal services, nurturing the growth of legal nonprofits serving marginalized communities.
Under the Cy Près doctrine, courts can distribute these residual funds to appropriate charitable causes. While every case is different, individual counsel may nominate nonprofit organizations whose missions reflect the concerns of the case to receive unclaimed funds. In the event that Cy près funds are deemed appropriate for the National Women’s Law Center, our staff is available to assist in drafting the affidavit or letter to the court, making the case for the National Women’s Law Center to be designated a recipient.
Thank you for considering the National Women’s Law Center as a nominee for a Cy Près award. If you have any questions about this giving option and/or whether the National Women’s Law Center might be an appropriate Cy Près recipient in a particular case, please contact Emily Phipps, Manager of External Affairs, at [email protected].