PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008 - (Page 19)

NATIoNAL NEWS out to a prestigious firm such as DLA Piper and utilize their expertise in many areas of law is key to maintaining a functioning nonprofit organization.” Thanks to the success of the pilot program, DLA Piper will continue to expand its relationship with Susan G. Komen for the Cure well in the future. “I am excited to see that our goal of providing pro bono legal services to all Komen for the Cure Affiliates is becoming a reality,” Alan says. “I’m even more proud to share this accolade with my mother, a breast cancer survivor.” DLA Piper Wins Asylum Claim on Behalf of Cameroonian Man LA Piper has represented Mr. T., a native of Cameroon, since 2004. Mr. T.’s initial asylum application was denied in 1998, after his first lawyer inexplicably did Margot Finn and Taron Murakami with their client, not submit corroborat- Mr. T., for whom the firm won asylum this spring ing evidence to the immigration court at Mr. T.’s hearing and did not ask for a continuance to gather such evidence. Moreover, during the 30-day period allotted for an appeal, the lawyer withdrew from the case, leaving Mr. T. with little time to file a pro se appeal to the Board of Immigration Appeals. Mr. T. then retained a new lawyer, who failed to rectify the shortcomings of the first lawyer’s work and submitted an untimely motion to reopen proceedings with the wrong court. After taking over the representation in February 2006, DLA Piper filed a motion to reopen Mr. T.’s case. Although it was granted in October of that year, the government requested multiple continuances and the case was not heard until May 2008. At that time, DLA Piper presented the evidence that should have been offered in 1998, along with evidence of the changes in Cameroonian politics during the past decade that explain why it is still dangerous for Mr. T. to return home. The immigration judge granted Mr. T.’s asylum application at the end of the hearing. This 10-year ordeal took its emotional toll on Mr. T. He was unable to see his son, who lives with his mother in France, because he was not allowed to leave the US until his immigration status was resolved. In addition, Mr. T. has been unable to work, so he has filled some of his time by volunteering at his church and with the Red Cross. Despite these difficulties, Mr. T. is extremely proud to be on the path to US citizenship. He lives with his sister, who obtained asylum in 2001. Rita Patel has been overseeing Mr. T.’s case from the beginning, with assistance from Gail Rogers, Roberta Ritvo, Margot Finn and several associates and summer associates. Human Rights First provided valuable assistance to the team throughout the representation. D Chicago Associate Alan Greenfield helped to spark the firm’s pro bono relationship with Komen for the Cure PHoENIx—David Lewis and Rebecca Davis are providing outside general counsel support to the Phoenix affiliate. SAN fRANCISCo – Purnima King is providing general counsel support to the San Francisco Bay area affiliate. SEATTLE—Byron Dailey and Michael hutchings are providing outside general counsel support to the Puget Sound affiliates. TAmPA—David hall is providing outside general counsel support to the Florida Sun Coast affiliate. WASHINGToN, D.C.—Lisa Dewey, along with anne geraghty and alan greenfield, is working with Susan g. Komen for the Cure’s headquarters to coordinate the effort to continuously develop and expand the program. WINTER 2008 | 19

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008

PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008 Contents Cover Story: Digging Deep: DLA Piper’s Signature Project Model CSR Report Feature Story: DLA Piper Assists with German Ghetto Work Payment Program Clinics National News Mapping Impact An Interview With Jeff Coopersmith FourThought New Perimeter Update Awards and Recognition

PROBONO Bulletin - Winter 2008

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