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Recent News and Highlights
Paul Hastings Secures Pro Bono Victory in Supreme CourtA team of lawyers handled an appeal in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of a legal permanent resident who was at risk of deportation to Honduras due to erroneous legal advice from his attorney. Kentucky state court had charged Jose Padilla, who has lived in the U.S. since childhood and who served in the U.S. military in Vietnam, with drug trafficking. On the advice of his lawyer, Padilla agreed to accept a plea bargain, not realizing that such a plea would result in his automatic deportation despite his legal status. Partner Steve Kinnaird argued the case in October with the Court issuing a judgment (7-2) in favor of the firm’s client. In a historic decision, the Court concluded that in Padilla’s case, his lawyer’s failure to advise that deportation would follow from the proposed plea bargain was objectively unreasonable and that, as a result, Padilla was deprived of the "effective assistance of counsel" long held to be part of the Sixth Amendment’s guarantees. To learn more, please click here. |
Paul Hastings Adopts Public School in Southeast D.C.The Paul Hastings Washington office is the official law firm sponsor of Garfield Elementary School in Southeast D.C. The school was officially adopted by the firm through the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Public School Partnership Project, which matches D.C. public schools with large law firms to help close the gaps in education funding and resources. Through the partnership, the firm’s employees have raised money for new books and library supplies, volunteered at reading programs, organized a holiday art contest, provided weekly aftercare tutors, sponsored two 5th grade teams to compete in a district-wide geography tournament, and most recently donated 19 new laptop computers. |
Paul Hastings Serves as Pro Bono Partner for AIDS UnitedEarlier this year, the Washington, D.C. office entered into a pro bono partnership with AIDS United. Located one block from our office at 14th and K street, AIDS United grew from a 2010 merger with the National AIDS Fund to form a national organization that strategically connects funding, advocacy, and capacity-building programs to ensure that every person at risk for or living with HIV/AIDS has access to the prevention and care services she or he needs. Paul Hastings attorneys have already started providing AIDS United with employment law guidance and advice with respect to corporate formation and tax issues. We are excited to partner with, and provide services to, a national organization of such stature rooted right here in D.C. |
PRO BONO CONTACT
Charles Patrizia202-551-1710
Michael Lukens
202-551-1826
Lianne Labossiere
202-551-1813