Wiley Rein Recognizes 21 Individuals in Third Annual Pro Bono Program Celebration

November 4, 2015

On Thursday, October 29, during Wiley Rein’s third annual Pro Bono Program Celebration, 21 individuals were singled out for their commitment and contributions to pro bono matters. These deserving lawyers were selected by a joint subcommittee of the firm’s Pro Bono and Associates committees, after nominations were solicited from attorneys throughout the firm.

Managing Partner Peter D. Shields, who served as master of ceremonies for the awards, said, “We’re extremely proud of our attorneys’ contributions, which represent Wiley Rein’s significant commitment to the community and our desire to help a variety of organizations and individuals who could not otherwise afford legal counsel, including children, immigrants, prisoners, and students, among many others.”

Theodore A. Howard—the firm’s full-time Pro Bono Partner and recipient of the 2015 Wiley A. Branton Award—added, “It’s an honor to lead and be a part of those committed to pro bono practice at Wiley Rein. Our lawyers give of themselves selflessly in order to help others facing a wide variety of serious difficulties, and our work has an enormous positive impact, both for the individuals and groups that we represent and in effecting change in the laws to create a more level playing field for poor, disadvantaged people in our society.”

The awards were given to the following attorneys for team and individual contributions:

Outstanding Team Performances for Litigation

• Richard A. Simpson, a partner in the Insurance Practice, along with Telecom, Media & Technology (TMT) associate Meredith G. Singer and Insurance associates Karen L. Toto and Jennifer A. Williams. The team worked with the American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland to secure an important precedential ruling for their clients in a personal-information case.

• Of counsel Michael J. Gridley, and associates Parker J. Lavin, Nicole Audet Richardson, and Tyler Brown in the Insurance and Litigation practices, along with Gary S. Ward, an associate in the Government Contracts Practice, in collaboration with Pro Bono Partner Theodore A. Howard. The team received an award for their work on a case that has been described as a “bellwether for all colleges and universities” with respect to the development and implementation of policies for accommodating students with mental disabilities.

• Andrew G. McBride, chair of Wiley Rein’s Communications Appellate & Litigation Practice, and TMT associates Christen B’anca Glenn and Dwayne D. Sam were honored for their representation of three African-American law enforcement officers, in connection with racial discrimination they experienced during their employment by a Maryland municipality. Mr. McBride serves as co-counsel with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs on the case. 

Outstanding Individual Contribution for Litigation

• Michael A. McCauley, an associate in the TMT Practice, for assisting Government Contracts partner Rachel A. Alexander over the past two years in crafting a custody arrangement in the best interest of the three children involved, in conjunction with the Children’s Law Center.

Commitment to CAIR Coalition

• Craig G. Fansler, an associate in the Environment & Safety Practice, Samantha S. Lee and Tara L. Ward, associates in the Government Contracts Practice, and Frederick H. Schutt, an associate in the Insurance Practice, were recognized for their work with the Capital Area Immigrants’ Rights (CAIR) Coalition, helping to secure asylum and obtain citizenship for clients in difficult and dangerous situations. Mr. Fansler also was named a member of CAIR’s Pro Bono Honor Roll in recognition of his accomplishments in successfully representing detained immigrant clients referred by CAIR, with help from Mr. Schutt.

Commitment to Immigration and Asylum

• Sara M. Baxenberg and Umair Javed, associates in the TMT Practice, and Shane B. Kelly and P. Nicholas Peterson, associates in the White Collar Defense Practice, made outstanding contributions to immigration and asylum matters through partnerships developed between Wiley Rein and the two organizations that assist victims of human trafficking, the Polaris Project and The Human Trafficking Pro Bono Legal Center. 

Wiley Rein prides itself on a strong and rich tradition of service to the local and global community, and encourages its lawyers to participate in pro bono activities. In 2015, Wiley Rein was named to Washington Business Journal’s Corporate Philanthropy list for its contributions to more than 450 charitable organizations nationally in 2014.