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Since its founding, Covington has demonstrated a strong commitment to public service. The firm is frequently recognized for pro bono service, including ten times being ranked the number one pro bono practice in the U.S. by The American Lawyer. Much of our pro bono work is anchored in meeting local needs, serving economically disadvantaged individuals and families in our surrounding communities, but the firm also has a long history of serving vulnerable clients and important causes throughout the U.S. and the world.
Appellate Review of VA Error
We achieved a victory from the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims for a veteran of the United States Navy from the Persian Gulf War. Because of our advocacy, the Court of Appeals vacated a decision of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA) barring our client’s appeal as untimely, and remanding the case for further proceedings. When our client’s initial claim was denied, he had failed to file a timely appeal to the BVA for a variety of reasons including irregularities in the VA’s transmission of notice papers and bad advice from his local veterans service organization regarding the deadlines for his appeal.
Advocating for Safe and Humane Prisons
Covington has a long-standing commitment to holding prison systems to account for inhumane treatment of prisoners, with a focus on prison populations which are particularly vulnerable. In recent years, we have litigated class action cases seeking to ensure that female inmates get adequate health services, inmates who are deaf have access to sign language interpretation for critical communication with prison officials, and prisoners with serious mental illness receive treatment and are protected from illegal solitary confinement and abuse at the hands of other prisoners or prison staff.
Advocating Against Mass Incarceration
Working with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee, Covington has authored several reports aimed at informing the public debate on mass incarceration in D.C. The reports have shed light on stark racial disparities in arrests, the resulting disparate impact of collateral consequences of arrests and convictions, and inhumane conditions of confinement at local detention facilities. The findings in these reports have supported law reform, including recently enacted legislation to reform D.C.’s drug policies and to remove barriers to employment for re-entering citizens.
Arizona Racial Profiling Case
Covington successfully took on “America’s toughest sheriff” as lead counsel to a class of Latino citizens in Maricopa County, Arizona. Covington, along with the ACLU and MALDEF, contended that the sheriff’s office targeted Latinos for investigation of potential immigration violations and pretextual vehicle stops and other law enforcement action, creating a climate of fear among the County’s Latinos. Following a high-profile bench trial, a significant victory was handed down, permanently enjoining local law enforcement’s practice of using race as a factor in its decision-making.
Benefits for Injured Combat Veterans
Covington has helped dozens of Iraq and Afghanistan war combat veterans in seeking Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC) benefits.
Tackling Poverty and Climate Change With Solar Power
SolarAid and its social enterprise arm, SunnyMoney, are alleviating poverty in Africa by building a sustainable market for solar lights, creating jobs and ensuring money stays in local economies. SolarAid aims to eradicate the use of unhealthy and unsafe kerosene lamps by 2020. Covington, which assisted in launching SunnyMoney, is helping them to get there by providing the legal counsel they need to expand.
Supreme Court Win for Domestic Violence Survivors
In Robertson v. United States ex rel., the firm's appellate litigators achieved a come-from-behind Supreme Court victory for domestic violence survivors. The issue in the case was whether our client, a victim of domestic violence, could bring a criminal contempt proceeding for violation of a protective order. We successfully persuaded the Court to leave intact the D.C. Court of Appeals' decision which permitted our client, and other similarly situated survivors, to file for criminal contempt when abusers violate protective orders.
Supreme Court Advocacy
In recent terms, we argued for broad interpretation of a statute prohibiting domestic violence offenders from possessing firearms and defended the validity of straw purchase questions on Brady Law background check forms.
Supporting “Smart on Crime” Sentencing
Covington is part of a first-of-its kind program to secure clemency for low-level, non-violent drug offenders who, if sentenced today, would likely have received a substantially lower sentence. The program is part of the Department of Justice’s “Smart on Crime” initiative, which seeks to address the national crisis of overcrowded prison populations and to redirect federal resources to improving the criminal justice system and public safety.
Supporting Youth Through Sports
Up2Us is a leader in the sports-based youth development movement, harnessing the power of sports to reduce youth violence, promote health, and inspire academic success for kids in every community. Covington attorneys provide Up2Us with ongoing support on strategy, corporate governance, contracts, and trademark issues, as well as advice instrumental to setting up the organization’s signature Coach Across America program, which places and trains the nation’s best and brightest role models to bring sports-based youth development to our most underserved communities.
Supporting Access to Opportunity
Since 2002, the firm has provided legal support to FINCA International, a nonprofit that fights poverty through financial inclusion offering credit to entrepreneurs in underdeveloped countries, thereby enabling low-income families to create their own solutions to progress. FINCA serves over 1.5M clients in 23 underdeveloped countries, and with a client base of over 70% percent women, FINCA helps correct global social and political practices that leave women and their children vulnerable.
Stable and Safe Domestic Relations
The firm represents low-income individuals in a wide array of domestic relations matters, including adoption and custody. We also regularly represent low-income domestic violence survivors in obtaining restraining orders against their abusers. This work assists survivors remain out of abusive relationships and establish safe and stable lives.
Secure and Healthy Housing
Covington represents low-income tenants facing eviction or seeking to remedy deplorable housing conditions, to stabilize their housing and prevent homelessness. In addition to full-scope matters, the firm provides advice to otherwise self-represented tenants at housing clinics around the country.
Reversal of DHS “No-Bond” Refugee Detention Policy
In a highly publicized victory for Central American families seeking refuge in the United States, we secured a preliminary injunction preventing the Department of Homeland Security from continuing its policy of detaining asylum-seeking families in order to deter future migrants from seeking refuge in the United States. Covington joined forces with the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project to file the class action challenging this policy.
Unaccompanied Immigrant Children
The firm represents undocumented children who have escaped, often alone, abusive situations in their home countries. Our attorneys help children remain in the United States by seeking various forms of immigration relief, including SIJS (Special Immigrant Juvenile Status).
Restorative Justice for Youth
Young New Yorkers is a restorative justice arts program for delinquent youth who, if eligible, are diverted from detention and given the option to participate in a uniquely tailored curriculum to develop emotional and behavioral skills while facilitating responsible and creative self-expression. As a start-up organization that is going from “zero to sixty” in what it is already accomplishing, Covington has helped spot legal issues, provide solutions and connect YNY with others in the community that can help in driving the organization forward.
Civil Legal Aid Rotations
Covington is especially proud of its rotation programs in Washington, D.C. Each year, we loan eight associates and two paralegals to work for six months at local legal services organizations, including at the Neighborhood Legal Services Program in D.C., where the firm pioneered the loaned associate model in 1969, Bread for the City, and the Children’s Law Center.
Justice for Trafficking Victims
Partnering with the Southern Poverty Law Center, we represented hundreds of Filipino teachers who were lured into exploitive contracts as part of their participation in a federal guest worker program. The suit resulted in a $4.48M verdict for our clients and established important precedents in protecting victims of human trafficking, including to demonstrate that federal statutory trafficking protections can be applied on a class-wide basis.
Immigration Relief for Refugee Supporting Law Enforcement
We represented a Mexican refugee who assisted the U.S. government in prosecuting a notorious human smuggling ring. As a result of his assistance, several smugglers were found guilty, and two received life sentences. Despite his vital assistance, when the prosecutions were complete, the government refused to renew his lawful status. Covington successful obtained a U Visa for the client, which is available for victims of crimes who assist in government proceedings.
Guantánamo Detainees
Covington has been involved in Guantánamo-related litigation since 2004 and currently represents 15 detainees, none of whom has been charged with any crimes. The firm obtained favorable rulings in habeas cases on behalf of five detainees at Guantánamo, one of whom died in his cell under uncertain circumstances. Five additional firm clients have been
released. The firm continues to represent its detainee clients in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, and the Supreme Court. In addition, we have acted as co-counsel in Boumediene v. Bush (extending privilege of the writ of habeas corpus to detainees); filed amicus briefs and coordinated the amicus effort in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld; and advocated on behalf of our clients' rights to obtain exculpatory evidence from the government, to be told of the allegations against them, and to confront their accusers.
Healthcare Advice for Developing Countries
We provide pro bono copyright advice to the Hesperian Foundation, a nonprofit publisher, to support its use and reproduction of existing books and newsletters for community-based health care. Hesperian Health Guides provide knowledge and inspire action for health in poor and marginalized communities around the world.
Expanding Resources to Address Homelessness
On behalf of the National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty (NLCHP), we filed suit to enforce U.S. government compliance with the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, the only major piece of federal legislation providing housing benefits to the homeless, including by making surplus federal property available for the purpose of housing or serving homeless people. We achieved a complete substantive victory in which the court required the government to comply with its obligations under the Act. This victory is critical to NLCHP’s work to make full use of available resources to address the homelessness crisis.
Escape from Religious and Gender-Based Persecution
We secured asylum for a mother and daughter who fled Egypt to escape persecution, harassment, and attacks motivated by their status as devout female Coptic Christians. Our team demonstrated that the women faced a well-grounded fear of persecution, if they were forced to return to Egypt.
Ending Child Labor
Since 2001, Covington has provided legal support to GoodWeave, expanding the organization’s capacity to end child labor. GoodWeave combats the rampant use of child labor in the South Asia rug industry by certifying child-labor-free rugs and by providing educational opportunities to children who are rescued or at-risk of being kidnapped or sold to work in the rug industry. Child laborers in the rug industry are subject to malnutrition, impaired vision, deformities from sitting long hours in cramped loom sheds, and other unsafe conditions.
Disability Compensation Secured for Veteran
We secured a substantial increase in disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs for a veteran of the United States Navy. The veteran developed Parkinson’s Disease, which the VA acknowledged was due to conditions he encountered during his active duty during the Vietnam Conflict. After his symptoms worsened, Covington took on this representation which resulted in the VA’s decision to nearly double our client’s monthly disability compensation.
Defending Common Sense Gun Laws
On behalf of the Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, we filed amicus briefs in the Ninth Circuit to support California county ordinances governing issuance of permits for concealed carrying of firearms. With the Brady Center, we have worked to defend gun safety regulations in Maryland, Colorado, Pennsylvania, and Hawaii.
Defending Against the Death Penalty
Covington represents clients facing the death penalty during the trial, appeal, and post-conviction phases, with ten active cases in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, and Tennessee. Covington has been honored for its capital defense practice, receiving recognition from, among others, the American Bar Association, the National Legal Aid & Defender Association, the Office of the Public Defender of Maryland, and the New York City Bar Association. Beyond seeking justice for individuals on Death Row, the firm aims to have broad impact on the use of capital punishment in the United States including, in recent years, establishing important precedent for Alabama’s death-penalty bar and playing an active role in the abolition of the death penalty in Maryland.
Defeating Mandatory Gun Ownership Ordinance
On behalf of the Brady Center, the firm filed suit to challenge a "Family Protection" law in Nelson, Georgia that purported to require all households in the town to own a working firearm and ammunition. After the suit was filed, the City agreed to amend the ordinance to prohibit its enforcement on the ground that it was unconstitutional.
Combating Wrongful Convictions
Through our relationship with the Innocence Project of New Orleans, the firm assists Louisiana exonerees in obtaining compensation for wrongful convictions, including obtaining a $1.88 million settlement for an exonerated client who had served nearly 20 years in prison for a crime that he did not commit.
Juvenile Justice Reform
Covington serves as lead counsel in class action litigation seeking to remedy conditions of confinement of youth in D.C. and to restore principles of rehabilitation to D.C.’s juvenile justice system. This class action, “Jerry M”, was filed by the D.C. Public Defender Service and the ACLU in 1985. The firm has led the matter since 2003 and, following a week-long trial in 2004, has engaged with the District in a “work plan” process. Our work has resulted in the appointment of a progressive juvenile justice administration that has made considerable progress over the past decade, curbing the over-incarceration and misclassification of delinquent youth, and improving rehabilitative outcomes.
Marriage Equality
Covington has a strong history of supporting marriage equality. In Maryland, Covington served as Marylanders for Marriage Equality’s principal outside legal counsel during the General Assembly’s consideration of the Civil Marriage Protection Act, the Maryland Marriage Alliance’s petition effort, and the campaign to win the popular vote. In DC, the firm represented a coalition of same-sex marriage supporters in the defense of equality legislation. Covington also played a role in challenging the constitutionality of California Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution and eliminated the right of same-sex couples to marry.
Protecting Rainforests
The Coalition for Rainforest Nations is an intergovernmental organization providing diplomatic leadership to address the complex environmental sustainability issues specific to tropical rainforests. The firm advises on policy initiatives undertaken in global climate change negotiations where the Coalition supports the inclusion of credits for reduced emissions from deforestation and forest degradation.
Promoting International Peace and Rule of Law
Over the past decade, Covington attorneys have made significant contributions to the work of the Public International Law & Policy Group (PILPG), a global pro bono law firm which provides legal and policy advice to state and non-state entities in regions affected by conflict, thereby promoting peace, rule of law and effective post-conflict governance. In recent years, the focus of Covington’s work with PILPG has centered on projects across the Middle East and North Africa. Covington has advised PILPG on counseling policy-makers, government officials, and civil society groups on significant and historic projects tackling the region’s rapidly evolving legal landscape.
NYPD Stop and Frisk
The firm teamed up with the Center for Constitutional Rights to challenge the New York City Police Department’s “stop and frisk” policies which resulted in hundreds of thousands of suspicionless and race-based stops in the decade preceding the suit. After an eventful nine-week trial, the Court found that the City violated the plaintiffs’ constitutional rights by acting “with deliberate indifference toward the NYPD’s practice of making unconstitutional stops and conducting unconstitutional frisks.”
Nature Conservation
Covington is a recipient of The Nature Conservancy’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award. The firm regularly assists The Nature Conservancy in a range of projects which have included debt-for-nature swaps in Latin America, the sale of verified carbon credits, and regulatory advice concerning indigenous land rights as they relate to creation and funding of nature preserves.
Law Firms That Police the Police
July 1, 2017, The American Lawyer
Benjamin Haley is quoted by The American Lawyer in an article highlighting ways in which law firms are shining a light on police departments and their practices. Commenting on Covington's representation of Reginald Adams, a former prisoner in New Orleans who spent 34 years in prison for the murder of a police officer's wife, Haley says, "These cases are ...
December 15, 2016, The Hill
Layth Elhassani helped drafted HR 6510: The Save the Children Act, which authorizes granting temporary visas to 25,000 Syrian refugee children to live in the U.S. until the civil war in their country ends. The Hill highlights the bill’s introduction to Congress by Rep. Mike Honda and Mr. Elhassani’s pro bono efforts.
December 1, 2016
WASHINGTON—The Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless honored Covington as its “Outstanding Law Firm of the Year.” This award recognizes law firms that go above and beyond in supporting and furthering the mission and vision of the Legal Clinic. The Legal Clinic highlighted the efforts of Covington lawyers to help preserve affordable housing in the District of ...
A 6-year bid for a moment of silence for veterans
October 8, 2016, Boston Globe
Brian Smith is quoted in a Boston Globe article regarding the passage of the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act. Smith, who represented the Bendetson family pro bono, comments, “I thought our firm could contribute to getting it across the finish line.” He adds, “We were going to help them until they gave up, and they never did. Their dedication to this is ...
October 3, 2016, San Francisco Bar
Marty Myers was named a “Volunteer of the Month” by the Justice and Diversity Center and is quoted in a San Francisco Bar article regarding the importance of pro bono work. According to Myers, its rewarding to “bring the same high powered advice that major corporate clients use to help nonprofits meet their daily challenges.” He adds, “The benefits so far ...
Law360 Names Covington a Top “Pro Bono Firm of 2016”
September 28, 2016
WASHINGTON—Law360 named Covington & Burling to its list of “Pro Bono Firms of 2016,” recognizing the firm’s work in providing legal services to those in need. Law360 highlighted Covington victories on behalf of Guatemalan forest workers on work visas who were defrauded by a labor trafficker, victims of an Arizona sheriff’s racial profiling, Guantanamo Bay ...
September 27, 2016
WASHINGTON—Covington represented the Bendetson family pro bono in their successful effort to persuade Congress to enact a national moment of silence on Veterans Day each year in honor of all U.S. veterans. The House of Representatives today unanimously passed the Veterans Day Moment of Silence Act (S. 1004), capping a three-year effort by Covington on behalf ...
Pro Bono Firm Of 2016: Covington & Burling
September 20, 2016, Law360
Law360 named Covington as a “Pro Bono Firm of 2016.” According to Alan Pemberton, the firm’s pro bono program is loosely structured to allow attorneys to take on cases they feel strongly about. Legal services are often too expensive for the people who need them most, he adds, so the firm takes addressing pro bono work seriously. “We view it as a moral and ...
Covington Named to The American Lawyer’s 2016 “A-List"
August 1, 2016
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2016 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, and associate satisfaction. Covington has appeared on the “A-List” eleven times since this honor was introduced in 2003. “We are extremely pleased to have again been named to The American ...
The BigLaw Firms Fighting For Transgender Rights
July 11, 2016, Law360
Jeff Bozman and Alan Pemberton are quoted in a Law360 article that features Covington as a leader among law firms fighting to end discrimination against transgender men and women. Bozman, commenting on Covington’s work with the ACLU to end the military ban on transgender people serving openly says, “What we were able to do was bring a lot of the Covington ...
March 28, 2016
SAN FRANCISCO — The Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Asian Law Caucus (ALC) will be recognizing Covington as the 2016 Pro Bono honoree at its 44th Anniversary dinner on May 5th. The firm is being honored for its work on Omar v. Kerry, a case involving Mosed Shaye Omar, a U.S. citizen whose passport was illegally revoked by the U.S. Embassy in Yemen. The ...
Washington Lawyers' Committee and Covington Release Report on Challenges Faced by D.C. Women in Prison
March 25, 2016
WASHINGTON, DC — A report focusing on the overwhelming challenges faced by D.C. women who are incarcerated was released today by The Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs and Covington. The report, titled “D.C. Women in Prison: Continuing Problems and Recommendations for Change,” provides an in-depth look at the experience of women who ...
March 11, 2016
SILICON VALLEY - Covington partner Stanley Young has been recognized as the “Community Impact Honoree” at the Asian Law Alliance’s 39th Anniversary Dinner. The award is in recognition of his pro bono work representing a group of Latino plaintiffs in a class action against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO). Mr. Young and his team ...
October 30, 2015
SILICON VALLEY, October 30, 2015 - The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has presented Covington its “Pro Bono Service Award” in recognition of the firm’s extraordinary commitment to equal justice through its longstanding support of economically disadvantaged individuals and families through pro bono work with Bay Area Legal Aid (BayLegal). “Public service is a ...
Covington Helps Raise Awareness of Missing Children
July 1, 2015
BRUSSELS, July 1, 2015 - Covington’s Brussels office is hosting Missing Children Europe’s photo exhibition: “Missing Children: Out of Focus” an important exhibition that raises awareness of missing children. The exhibition will feature work by photographer Natalie Hill, which portrays three real-life stories about runaways, parental abductions and missing ...
Covington Named D.C. Bar’s Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year
June 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, June 19, 2015 — Covington has been named “Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year” by the District of Columbia Bar, the second-largest unified bar in the United States. “Public service is a key part of our firm culture,” said Alan Pemberton, chair of the firm’s pro bono committee. “We encourage our lawyers to participate in pro bono activities and devote ...
May 19, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, May 15, 2015 — Four Covington lawyers have been shortlisted for their contributions to gender diversity, mentoring and pro bono work in the 2015 Chambers USA Women in Law Awards. The Covington lawyers selected as finalists are: Michelle Morin - Future Leader Andrea Reister - Leadership in the Profession: Gender Diversity - Lawyer ...
March 31, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, March 31, 2015 — The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) unfairly discriminates against and denies equal treatment to prisoners who are deaf or hard of hearing in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, and the First and Fourteenth Amendments of the ...
February 23, 2015
WASHINGTON, DC, February 23, 2015 - A federal judge in the District of Columbia issued a preliminary injunction to halt the Obama administration's policy of detaining Central American mothers and children seeking asylum in the United States as a means of deterring others from coming to America.The ruling by U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg of the District ...
January 9, 2015
NEW YORK, January 9, 2014 — Covington helped litigate and negotiate a settlement with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections that paves the way for better treatment of prisoners with serious mental illness. Covington represented the Disability Rights Network of Pennsylvania in a civil litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of ...
11/4/2014
NEW YORK, November 4, 2014 — In a win for Covington & Burling’s clients, a federal appeals court has denied an effort by police unions to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk tactics. The decision by the U.S. Court of Appeal for the Second Circuit clears the way for the implementation of ...
7/17/2014
WASHINGTON, DC, July 17, 2014 — Covington on July 10 filed an amici curiae brief in support of the plaintiff-appellants in Hassan et al. v. City of New York, a case challenging the New York Police Department’s surveillance and infiltration program that targeted Muslim American communities. Covington filed the brief on behalf of Karen Korematsu, Jay Hirabayashi, ...
May 30, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, May 30, 2014 — Voices for a Second Chance, a Washington-based nonprofit organization that assists incarcerated and recently released men and women, honored Covington & Burling partners Timothy Hester and Alan Pemberton with its Charles A. Horsky Civic Leadership Award for their commitment to public service and prisoners’ rights. “This is a ...
Covington Files Amicus Brief in Support of Birthright Citizenship for American Samoans
5/19/14
WASHINGTON, DC, May 19, 2014 — Covington & Burling has filed a brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in support of U.S. citizenship rights for residents of American Samoa. Filed on behalf of a group of congresswomen, former territorial governors and other prominent officials, Covington’s amicus curiae brief supports plaintiffs in a case ...
March 4, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, March 4, 2014 —The Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia has awarded Stefanie Doebler its Klepper Prize for Volunteer Excellence, which recognizes lawyers early in their careers who have made a significant volunteer contribution to the Society. Ms. Doebler, special counsel in Covington & Burling’s health care and food and drug practice ...
January 7, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC, January 6, 2014 — For the second consecutive year, The National Law Journal has named Covington & Burling to its “Pro Bono Hot List.” This year’s list recognizes nine firms and one corporate law department for their strong commitment to public service. In the profile of Covington, the NLJ features the pro bono efforts of the firm’s New York ...
1/8/2013
WASHINGTON, DC, January 8, 2013 — The National Law Journal has named Covington & Burling to its Pro Bono Hot List. The annual list recognizes firms that demonstrate a strong commitment to public service. The NLJ profile of Covington featured the pro bono efforts of Martin Gold, Elizabeth Bell, and Erica Lai, who worked with the Chinese-American community in ...
December 20, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, December 20, 2012 — A federal jury has awarded $4.5 million to more than 300 Filipino teachers who were victims of an illegal scheme hatched by a Los Angeles employment placement agency. Covington & Burling represented the teachers on a pro bono basis. After a two-week trial in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in ...
Law360 Names Covington a Top ‘Pro Bono Firm of 2012’
August 23, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, August 23, 2012 — Law360 named Covington & Burling on its “Pro Bono Firms of 2012” list in recognition of the firm’s success in securing high-profile victories and devoting more than 133 pro bono hours per lawyer. Law360 highlighted Covington’s wins in pro bono cases over the past year, noting that the firm succeeded in getting two wrongly ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s ‘A-List’
June 28, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, June 28, 2012 — The American Lawyer has named Covington & Burling to its “A-List,” a ranking of the nation’s top 20 firms. The “A-List” is the magazine’s effort to identify the leading firms that best reflect the legal profession’s core values and measures performance based on revenues, pro bono efforts, lawyer satisfaction and diversity. The ...
Covington Helps Secure Passage of Historic Resolution Expressing Regret Over Chinese Exclusion
June 19, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, June 19, 2012 — The U.S. House of Representatives approved a measure last night that expresses regret for a series of laws that discriminated against Chinese immigrants during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Covington & Burling played a crucial role in advocating approval of the measure and a similar bill that cleared the Senate last ...
Covington Helps Secure Class Certification in Suit Challenging NYPD Stop-and-Frisk Policies
May 16, 2012
NEW YORK, May 16, 2012 — A federal judge today granted class certification in a lawsuit challenging the New York Police Department’s stop-and-frisk policies and practices as unconstitutional and racially discriminatory in violation of the Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments. The ruling in Floyd v. City of New York, et al. (S.D.N.Y.) allows anyone who was unlawfully ...
April 25, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, April 25, 2012 — The Neighborhood Legal Services Program plans to honor Hannah Lieberman, its new executive director, at a May 3 reception held at Covington & Burling. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan and Peter Edelman, chair of the D.C. Access to Justice Commission, are expected to speak at the event about the importance of providing ...
Covington Secures Release of Death Row Inmate
April 12, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, April 12, 2012 — An Alabama man was recently freed after spending 17 years in prison, most of it on death row, after lawyers from Covington & Burling established that his original trial counsel failed to represent him effectively. Larry Smith was sentenced to death on August 25, 1995, for killing a friend in rural Marshall County, Alabama. The ...
Covington Secures Asylum for Iranian Baha’i Refugee
4/9/2012
WASHINGTON, DC, April 9, 2012 — Covington & Burling LLP recently obtained asylum for Angie Ahmadi, a member of the Baha’i faith and a pro-democracy activist from the Islamic Republic of Iran. Officials with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted asylum after Ms. Ahmadi and Covington lawyer Arjun Singh Sethi presented her case to an asylum officer in ...
Covington Secures Asylum for South Kordofan Bishop
January 27, 2012
WASHINGTON, DC, January 27, 2012 — Covington & Burling recently obtained asylum for Bishop Andudu Adam Elnail, a native of South Kordofan in the Republic of Sudan who came to the United States to seek medical treatment just before violence spread to his homeland. An officer with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services granted asylum earlier this month ...
Covington Named NLADA Beacon of Justice Awardee
December 8, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, December 8, 2011 — The National Legal Aid & Defender Association (NLADA) has named Covington & Burling one of its 2011 Beacon of Justice awardees. The association honored 14 law firms nationwide with the award for devoting considerable resources and significantly improving the administration of justice by engaging in pro bono appellate ...
November 18, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, November 18, 2011 — Longtime Covington & Burling senior counsel Jim McKay received the National Veterans Legal Services Program Senator Daniel Inouye Award for his “unyielding support for veterans, service members and military families.” The Honorable Lanny Breuer, a former Covington partner, presented the award to Mr. McKay during the NVLSP’s ...
October 11, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, October 11, 2011 — Covington & Burling recently assisted the Chinese-American community to secure a historic victory in the Senate concerning Chinese immigrants who endured decades of discrimination under federal law. On October 6, the Senate passed by unanimous consent Senate Resolution 201, which expresses regret for a series of legislative ...
July 5, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, July 5, 2011 — Covington & Burling LLP recently helped secure a reduced charge for pro bono client and former Mississippi death row inmate Cory Maye. Mr. Maye’s case gained considerable media attention in the years following his conviction, and his story was the subject of an award-winning 2008 documentary entitled Mississippi Drug War Blues: ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s ‘A-List’
July 1, 2011
WASHINGTON, DC, July 1, 2011 — The American Lawyer has named Covington & Burling LLP to its “A-List,” a ranking of the top 20 firms headquartered in the United States. The “A-List” is an effort to identify the leading firms that best reflect the legal profession’s core values and measures performance based on revenues, pro bono efforts, lawyer satisfaction, and ...
6/27/2011
WASHINGTON, DC, June 27, 2011 — The National Law Journal has named Bill Livingston, senior counsel at Covington & Burling LLP, a “Champion” as part of a special report honoring Washington lawyers who have advanced the practice of law in Washington and beyond the Beltway. For the fourth year running, The National Law Journal selected “Champions and Visionaries” ...
Covington Named Law360 ‘Pro Bono Firm of 2010’
November 29, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, November 29, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP has been named one of the “Pro Bono Firms of 2010” by Law360 in recognition of the firm’s commitment to “taking on challenging legal work to serve the public good.” In the November 24 profile, Law360 highlights Covington’s wins in pro bono cases in the past year, including the successful representation ...
Covington Hosts Chinese Children at Expo
November 5, 2010
BEIJING, November 5, 2010 — As the 2010 Shanghai World Expo drew to a close, Covington & Burling LLP hosted a group of disabled Chinese orphans at the Expo for a memorable day of Expo pavilion visits and other activities. The children hailed from social welfare institutions located in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, and ranged in age from 7 to 23. Covington ...
October 12, 2010
REDWOOD SHORES, CA, October 12, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP partner Kurt Calia received the Boston University School of Law Victor J. Garo Public Service Award. Mr. Calia, a partner in Covington’s intellectual property litigation, technology, and life sciences practices, was honored for his representation of a death-row inmate in Alabama, a political asylum ...
Covington Receives Inaugural ‘Children’s Pro Bono Champion Award’ from Children’s Law Center
September 22, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, September 22, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP received the 2010 Children’s Pro Bono Champion Award from Children’s Law Center last night. Tony Herman, chair of Covington’s public service committee and a litigation partner, accepted the inaugural award during the CLC’s 10th annual Helping Children Soar benefit at the Kennedy Center. “It’s my honor ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s ‘A-List’
July 1, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, July 1, 2010 — The American Lawyer has named Covington & Burling LLP to its “A-List,” a ranking of the top 20 firms headquartered in the United States. The “A-List” is an effort to identify the leading firms that best reflect the legal profession’s core values and measures performance based on revenues, pro bono efforts, lawyer satisfaction, and ...
Covington Achieves SCOTUS Success in Pro Bono Case
May 25, 2010
WASHINGTON, DC, May 25, 2010 — Covington & Burling LLP achieved a favorable result for its client in the U.S. Supreme Court in Robertson v. U.S. ex rel. Watson, a case that questioned whether it is constitutional to allow a victim of domestic violence to bring a criminal contempt proceeding for violation of a protective order. Covington’s Robert Long presented ...
December 11, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, December 11, 2009 — The U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) announced the members of the independent Advisory Committee established by USOC’s Board of Directors to assess the USOC's board structure and operations model. The 14-member committee will be chaired by Paul Tagliabue. The committee's members have wide-ranging experience with youth and ...
Covington Secures Retrial for Former Death Row Inmate
November 19, 2009
WASHINGTON, DC, November 19, 2009 — The Mississippi Court of Appeals has granted a retrial for Covington & Burling LLP client Cory Maye, who was convicted and sentenced to death for the 2001 shooting of a police officer that occurred during a narcotics task force search of Mr. Maye’s home. In its opinion of November 17, the Court of Appeals found that Mr. Maye ...
9/18/2009
WASHINGTON, DC, September 18, 2009 — Four Covington & Burling LLP partners were recognized at the Washington Business Journal’s “2009 Top Washington Lawyers” awards gala held last night at The Fairmont Washington. Tony Herman, who chairs the firm’s public service committee, was named the “Top Washington Lawyer” in the pro bono category. Paul Schmidt, a ...
10/16/2008
SAN FRANCISCO, CA, October 16, 2008 — Covington & Burling LLP was honored last night by The Nature Conservancy with a Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Award for 2008. The award, which recognizes Covington’s many years of pro bono legal services, was presented at the Conservancy’s 2008 Conservation Learning Exchange Conference in Vancouver, British Columbia. The ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s ‘A-List’
6/30/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, June 30, 2008 — The American Lawyer has named Covington & Burling LLP to its “A-List,” a ranking of the 20 top firms headquartered in the United States. According to the editors, the “A-List” includes the firms that best embody what it means to be a success in the legal community based on revenues, pro bono efforts, lawyer satisfaction, and ...
Covington's McKay Receives Hart T. Mankin Award
4/21/2008
WASHINGTON, DC, April 21, 2008 — The United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims presented Covington & Burling LLP senior counsel James C. McKay with the Hart T. Mankin Distinguished Service Award on April 14. The award was presented on the Court’s behalf by Chief Judge William P. Greene, Jr. Mr. McKay received the Mankin Award in recognition of “his ...
Covington Secures Relief for Florida Death Row Inmate
7/18/2007
NEW YORK, NY, July 18, 2007 — In a unanimous decision issued on July 12th, the Florida Supreme Court vacated the convictions and death sentence of Merrit Alonzo Sims, holding that his trial counsel’s failure to object to certain prejudicial evidence at trial constituted ineffective assistance of counsel under the Sixth Amendment. This decision caps nearly ten ...
Covington’s Pro Bono Legal Effort Leads to Historic Reform of Virginia’s Indigent Defense System
March 8, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, March 8, 2007 — Covington & Burling’s effort to improve the quality of indigent defense in Virginia yielded results last week when the General Assembly approved landmark legislation permitting judges to waive the unreasonably low, mandatory caps on legal fees paid to lawyers representing poor criminal defendants in Virginia’s circuit courts. ...
January 18, 2007
WASHINGTON, DC, January 18, 2007 — In two death penalty cases pending in trial courts in Alabama and Mississippi, Covington clients obtained significant relief, in one case securing a ruling overturning a murder conviction and death sentence and in another case securing a new capital sentencing trial. The cases both involved evidentiary hearings and were venued, ...
12/06/2006
WASHINGTON, DC, December 6, 2006 — The Supreme Court handed down a favorable decision in Lopez v. Gonzales, a significant immigration case in which Covington represented the petitioner, Jose Antonio Lopez. The Court's opinion, written by Justice Souter, holds that state drug convictions do not count as "aggravated felonies" for purposes of federal immigration ...
10/23/2006
WASHINGTON, D.C., October 23, 2006 — Covington & Burling LLP was recently honored for its “exceptional” pro bono contributions on behalf of death row inmates by the ABA Death Penalty Representation Project at its 20th Anniversary & Volunteer Recognition Event. Covington partner Timothy Hester accepted the award on behalf of the firm from the Project’s director, ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer's "A-List"
June 30, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2006 - For the fourth consecutive year, Covington & Burling has been included in The American Lawyer's "The A-List" of the twenty top firms headquartered in the United States. The A-List is an effort to identify the twenty leading firms that best reflect the legal profession's core values, and measures performance based on revenues, ...
Covington's Timothy Clinton Honored for Pro Bono Work by American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
June 19, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC, June 19, 2006 - Covington & Burling associate Timothy Clinton was named Pro Bono Attorney of the Year by the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee. The award was presented on June 17th during ADC's annual convention in Washington. The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is a grassroots civil rights organization founded in ...
Covington Pro Bono Awards
August 9, 2004
WASHINGTON, D.C., August 9, 2004 - On August 3, Covington & Burling held its Fourth Annual Pro Bono Recognition Reception to celebrate and recognize the many lawyers who devote their time and energy to public service work. Each year, Pro Bono Lawyers of the Year Awards are presented in memory of the late Covington partner, Charles F. C. Ruff. At least one ...
- The American Lawyer magazine has ranked Covington's pro bono practice among the nation’s top ten for 25 of the past 28 years, including ten years at number one.
- Since 2003, the D.C. Circuit Judicial Conference has recognized those firms where at least 40% of the attorneys perform 50 or more pro bono hours during the previous year. Covington has achieved this so-called “40 at 50” benchmark each year.
- Law360 designated Covington as a 2016 Pro Bono Firm of the Year, noting that the firm has successfully combatted racial profiling, prevailed in challenging indiscriminate and mass government detention of Central American asylum-seeking mothers and children, and contributed significantly to criminal justice reform. Law360 previously named Covington as a Pro Bono Firm of the Year in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015.
- National Law Journal - Covington was named to NLJ's Pro Bono Hot List in 2013 and 2014. Three Covington lawyers have been honored as "Champions" for upholding the profession's core values through public service, pro bono efforts, and advocacy for civil liberties - Robert Long (2012); S. William Livingston (2011); Anthony Herman (2010).
Other organizations and nonprofit partners which have recently honored Covington are listed below.
- American Lawyer Global Legal Awards
- Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
- Asian Law Alliance
- Asian Law Caucus - Asian American Advancing Justice
- Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center
- B'nai B'rith
- Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence
- Campaign to Keep Gun Off Campus
- California Lawyer
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Chinese American Citizens Alliance
- Connecticut Fair Housing Center
- Council for Court Excellence
- DC Appleseed
- District of Columbia Bar
- DC Law Students in Court
- District Alliance for Safe Housing
- Foundation for Criminal Justice
- Human Rights Campaign
- Innocence Project New Orleans
- Justice & Diversity Center
- Kids in Need of Defense
- Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence
- Legal Aid Society of New York
- Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia
- Legal Community Against Violence
- Legal Services Corporation
- Legal Services for Children
- Maryland Office of the Public Defender
- National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty
- National Legal Aid & Defender Association
- National Veterans Legal Services Program
- Neighborhood Legal Services Program
- New York County Lawyers' Association
- Prisoners' Legal Services of New York
- Public Advocates
- Sanctuary for Families
- Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
- The National LGBT Bar Association
- Up2Us
- Voices for a Second Chance
- Washington Lawyers' Committee