NEW YORK—A Covington team was recognized by Sanctuary for Families during the 2025 Above & Beyond Pro Bono Awards, which honor members of the legal community who provide extraordinary pro bono representation to survivors of gender-based violence.
The Covington team was honored for their “extraordinary commitment, empathy, and tireless work” representing “Ms. E”—a survivor of intimate partner violence—and her daughter in their defensive asylum case. The hearing took place in Immigration Court in fall 2024, and after presenting their evidence, Ms. E and her daughter were granted asylum by the immigration judge.
In honoring Covington, Sanctuary’s Pro Bono Council called the team’s representation “an impressive feat of client-centered advocacy, unwavering commitment, and exceptional lawyering,” noting that they “balanced a seemingly impossible timeline, while still putting the clients’ comfort at the center.”
Covington team members included partner Anne Lee and associates Julia Blackburn, Ana Duong, Brigid Larkin, Bree Peilen, and Qijia “Janna” Yu.
Covington has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. The firm is frequently recognized for pro bono service, including being ranked 12 times as the number one pro bono practice in the U.S. by The American Lawyer. Much of the firm's pro bono work is anchored in meeting local needs, serving economically disadvantaged individuals and families in our surrounding communities, in addition to its long history of serving vulnerable clients and important causes throughout the U.S. and the world.