Kasowitz Attorneys Receive Sanctuary for Families Above & Beyond Pro Bono Achievement Awards
Sanctuary for Families has honored two teams of Kasowitz Benson Torres attorneys with 2021 Above & Beyond Awards for Excellence in Pro Bono Representation and Advocacy. These awards recognize attorneys who have provided outstanding pro bono representation to survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence.
The following Kasowitz attorneys were honored for representing a French-speaking woman, who was emotionally and physically abused by her husband, in a contentious divorce proceeding. After more than two years of litigation and complex negotiations, we successfully secured a judgment of divorce and a favorable settlement agreement for our client.
- Léa Dartevelle Erhel
- Marcellene E. Hearn
- Cindy Caranella Kelly
- Sarah Gibbs Leivick
- Jillian R. Roffer
The following Kasowitz attorneys were honored for their representation of a Trinidadian woman, who was raped and repeatedly abused by her domestic partner, in her asylum application. The Kasowitz team also represented her three children, one of whom was raped by the same domestic partner, in their successful Special Immigrant Juvenile Status petitions and permanent residency applications.
Sanctuary for Families is a New York State-based nonprofit dedicated to serving survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence, and their children. Every year, Sanctuary empowers more than 9,000 adults and children to move from fear and abuse to safety and stability, transforming lives through legal and clinical services, economic empowerment, and shelter.