Fish & Richardson Named to The National Law Journal's 2020 Pro Bono Hot List

Fish has been named to The National Law Journal's (NLJ) 2020 Pro Bono Hot List for its work taking on "some of the biggest issues of our time." Fish was one of 18 law firms singled out for "making a monumental impact on the lives of those in need."

The NLJ article highlights two significant Fish pro bono victories in 2019. Fish won an important case for plaintiff Jose Alfaro, a teen survivor of sex trafficking, in Alfaro v. Gandy (USDC S.D. Tex.) that resulted in a $1.4 million civil award for Alfaro. The Alfaro case was led by Fish principal Andrew Kopsidas. In OCA-Greater Houston v. State of Texas (USDC W.D. Tex./5^th Cir. Court of Appeals), Fish attorneys David Hoffman, Kenneth Darby and David Morris successfully argued that a Texas Election Code provision preventing voters from using the interpreter of their choice during the voting process violated the Voting Rights Act. Fish donated nearly $200,000 in post-judgment attorneys' fees from the case, which safeguards the voting rights of individuals with limited English proficiency.

Fish's win on another important pro bono voting rights case - which gives voters in Minnesota the right to get assistance from the person of their choice at the polls - was also featured. Partnering with the ACLU of Minnesota and Fredrikson & Byron P.A, Fish was successful in securing a court order concluding that the state's restrictions on voting assistance violate both the federal Voting Rights Act and the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution. The case was led by Fish senior principal Michael Florey.

Pro bono work is an integral part of the firm's professional culture. Over the past year, nearly 75% of the firm's attorneys have participated in pro bono projects. Principal Lawrence Kolodney has chaired the firm's pro bono program since 2007. Mia Friedman joined Fish as pro bono manager in 2019.