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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.
November 18, 2020, Connecticut Public Radio House
Covington was featured in an article discussing the firm's representation of a group of Hartford, CT residents in a lawsuit alleging HUD and local housing authorities violated the law by relocating subsidized housing tenant families in a manner that perpetuated segregation in North Hartford.
Covington Receives Human Rights First’s 2020 Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service
October 21, 2020
LOS ANGELES—Covington has been honored by Human Rights First as a recipient of the annual Marvin E. Frankel Award, given to firms that exhibit outstanding dedication to pro bono service helping Human Rights First achieve justice for refugees, asylum-seekers, and clients in immigration detention across the country. The Marvin E. Frankel Award honors the memory of ...
Covington Receives Guardian of Justice Award From the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County
September 25, 2020
PALO ALTO— Covington has been honored by the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County with The Guardian of Justice Award, given each year in recognition of volunteers whose efforts are steeped in a commitment to justice for children, families, and seniors. Founded in 1959, the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County provides free legal representation in a variety of ...
August 12, 2020
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2020 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and percentage of female equity partners. Covington has appeared on the “A-List” fifteen times since it was introduced in 2003. This year, the firm ranked sixth ...
Covington Again Ranks First in Average Pro Bono Hours
July 6, 2020
WASHINGTON—Covington has ranked first in average pro bono hours performed by lawyers based in the United States in 2019 for the second year in a row, according to The American Lawyer newly released Annual Pro Bono Survey. The American Lawyer also ranked Covington second overall among Am Law 200 firms in its annual survey. The scorecard considers the average ...
July 3, 2020, Bloomberg Law
Jeffrey Davidson spoke with Bloomberg Law about his experience representing the University of California and its president pro bono in an effort to protect DACA. Mr. Davidson says the decision ensures nearly “700,000 people get to continue their lives without worrying about being thrown out of their jobs or arrested and deported.” He adds that the case had ...
Supreme Court Preserves DACA
June 18, 2020
WASHINGTON—The Supreme Court of the United States, in a 5-4 ruling, struck down the Trump Administration’s attempt to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which provides individuals who were brought to the U.S. as children the opportunity to live and work legally in United States. Covington has represented the University of ...
May 4, 2020
WASHINGTON—For the third consecutive year, The National Law Journal has named Covington to its “Pro Bono Hot List.” The law firms appearing on the 2020 Pro Bono Hot List were recognized for taking on “some of the biggest issues of our time.” In its profile of the firm, The National Law Journal highlights Covington’s Pro Bono efforts in two significant matters. ...
Covington and Council for Court Excellence Secure Aid for DC Prisoners in COVID-19 Relief Legislation
April 7, 2020
On April 7, 2020, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser signed a second emergency COVID-19 relief bill, which, among other provisions, enacts prison reform legislation advanced by the Council for Court Excellence (CCE) and GW Law’s Prisoner and Reentry Clinic, and drafted by Covington. Section 305 of the COVID-19 relief bill allows DC prisoners, who are not a danger to public ...
Covington Helps Whitman-Walker Health Achieve Revised FDA Blood Donor Deferral Recommendations
April 2, 2020
On April 2, 2020, the FDA announced revisions to its blood donor recommendations, which reflect changes advocated for by Whitman-Walker Health (WWH) with help from Covington’s Food, Drug and Device practice. Since 2014, Covington has worked closely with WWH to advocate for changes to the FDA blood donation recommendations for the men who have sex with men (MSM) ...
February 25, 2020, The American Lawyer
Covington’s Longest Running Class Action Nears a Close
February 18, 2020
In February 2020, the DC Superior Court approved a settlement that establishes a process to bring to a successful close Covington’s 35-year old class action seeking to redress conditions in the District’s juvenile justice system. Covington joined the Jerry M. case in 2004 at the request of existing counsel, the ACLU and the DC Public Defender Service. At a ...
February 13, 2020, The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Ben Block and Samantha Clark were featured on The Kojo Nnamdi Show on WAMU-FM public radio in Washington, sharing their experience representing military families in a lawsuit against a privatized on-base housing company.
Covington and Neighborhood Legal Services Program Kick Off the Tom Williamson Endowment Fund
October 29, 2019
On October 29, Covington's DC office hosted a reception marking the launch of an endowment fund for the Neighborhood Legal Services Program (NLSP) in memory of Tom Williamson. Over 80 attendees gathered to hear a series of luminaries speak about Tom's work as a “quiet warrior for justice" throughout his career, including as a rotation associate and longtime ...
October 8, 2019
WASHINGTON—A federal jury in the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas today ruled in favor of Covington client Julie Burkhart, founder and CEO of pro-choice and reproductive justice organization Trust Women in Wichita, following a case brought against Ms. Burkhart by a prominent anti-abortion activist. The case involved two incidents in November 2012 ...
August 22, 2019
WASHINGTON—Covington announced that the firm will be serving as part of an international team of lawyers representing media pioneer Maria Ressa, CEO, Cofounder and Executive Editor of Rappler, one of the leading online news platforms in the Philippines, as well as representing Rappler itself. Covington will be serving as U.S. counsel and will coordinate as ...
July 23, 2019
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2019 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and the percentage of female equity partners. Covington has appeared on the “A-List” fourteen times since it was introduced in 2003. This year, Covington ranked fifth ...
July 2, 2019
WASHINGTON—Covington was ranked second among Am Law 200 firms in The American Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Survey and first in average pro bono hours performed by lawyers based in the United States in 2018. The American Lawyer ranks firms by a pro bono score that considers the average number of pro bono hours per lawyer and the percentage of lawyers who performed ...
June 14, 2019
WASHINGTON—Today, for the first time in its history, the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims certified a class action and granted classwide relief to veterans. Covington brought this class action petition in partnership with the National Veterans Legal Services Program. The landmark petition challenged the inexcusable delays by the Veterans ...
February 28, 2019
NEW YORK—Her Justice, a non-profit organization that provides free legal help to women living in poverty in New York City, has presented Laura Torre with the John K. Geiger Award. The award is presented in memory of John Geiger, a volunteer turned lawyer at Her Justice. Mr. Geiger demonstrated unyielding compassion and dedication towards his clients and brought ...
National Veterans Legal Services Program Recognizes Covington as “Partner of the Year”
November 12, 2018
WASHINGTON—The National Veterans Legal Services Program has presented Covington with its “Pro Bono Partner of the Year Award.” The award recognizes the firm’s extraordinary legal service provided to veterans. For over 14 years, Covington has partnered with NVLSP, working to address systemic and individual issues that affect the lives of veterans and their ...
November 8, 2018
NEW YORK—The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice has presented Covington with the “Good Governance Program” award at its third annual Celebration of International Pro Bono Excellence. The Vance Center recognized Covington for its work on behalf of ACOS Alliance, a coalition of news organizations, freelance journalist associations, and NGOs working ...
October 17, 2018
WASHINGTON—The Pro Bono Institute has presented Covington with the 2018 John H. Pickering Award, recognizing the firm’s outstanding institutional commitment to pro bono and the extraordinary pro bono efforts of its lawyers and staff. In 2017, Covington lawyers devoted more than 146,000 hours to representing organizations and individuals in pro bono matters. ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s “A-List”
July 25, 2018
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2018 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and the percentage of female equity partners. Covington has appeared on the “A-List” thirteen times since this honor was introduced in 2003. In 2018, Covington was ...
June 29, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington was ranked second among Am Law 200 firms in The American Lawyer’s annual Pro Bono Survey. The American Lawyer ranks firms by a pro bono score that considers the average number of pro bono hours per lawyer and the percentage of lawyers who performed more than 20 hours of pro bono work. “Legal services are often unaffordable for the people who ...
June 27, 2018, The American Lawyer
Alan Pemberton is quoted by The American Lawyer in an article accompanying the publication's Pro Bono Survey results. According to Pemberton, "The 2016 election acted as a kind of catalyst as it awakened in many of our lawyers a sense of engagement in public service matters generally." He adds that the current political climate spurred lawyers to do pro bono ...
June 21, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO—The Daily Journal has named Covington partner Jeffrey Davidson one of its “Top 40 Under 40” lawyers in California. In its profile of Mr. Davidson, the Daily Journal highlights his representation of the University of California in its challenge to the federal government’s attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) ...
DACA Program’s Fate Considered by Appeals Court
May 17, 2018, Society for Human Resource Management
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted by the Society for Human Resource Management in an article regarding oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who represents the University of California in this case, argued that the government's ...
May 16, 2018, The Washington Times
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted by The Washington Times in an article regarding the Ninth Circuit's response to oral arguments in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who represents the University of California in this case, argued that there's case law that says even ...
May 15, 2018, Associated Press
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted in an Associated Press article ahead of oral arguments in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. According to Davidson, who represents the University of California in the case, "The rescission of DACA is based on what appears to be an argument that ...
Pasadena Appeals Court Hears DACA Arguments
May 15, 2018, CBS
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted in a CBS article regarding oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. “The rescission of DACA is based on what appears to be an argument that DACA was illegal when it was enacted, but that’s just wrong," says ...
May 15, 2018, The Wall Street Journal
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted by The Wall Street Journal in an article regarding oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. According to Davidson, who represents the University of California in the case, the federal government's decision to ...
May 15, 2018, NBC
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted in an NBC an article regarding oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who represents the University of California in the case, said, "The record reflects not one word of consideration for the ...
Court appears skeptical of allowing Trump to end DACA
May 15, 2018, The Hill
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted by The Hill in an article regarding oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit in a case challenging the federal government's attempted rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who represents the University of California in this case, argued, “The record reflects not one word of consideration for ...
What You Need To Know As 9th Circ. Hears DACA Challenge
May 11, 2018, Law360
Alexander Berengaut and Jeffrey Davidson are quoted in a Law360 article regarding upcoming oral arguments related to the DACA challenge in which Covington represents the University of California. “Our case and its companion cases in other districts aren't about politics but, again, based on the law of how government decisions are supposed to be made,” says ...
May 11, 2018, La Opinión
Jeffrey Davidson and Alexander Berengaut are quoted in a La Opinión article regarding Covington's representation of the University of California in a lawsuit challenging the federal government's attempt to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
Five Firms Going Above and Beyond on Pro Bono
May 8, 2018, The AmLaw Litigation Daily
The AmLaw Litigation Daily highlights Covington’s work alongside the ACLU, the Southern Poverty Center, and prisoners’ rights litigator, Elizabeth Alexander, regarding a class action that was filed in the Southern District of Mississippi on behalf of the East Mississippi Correctional Facility’s prisoners, 80 percent of whom are mentally ill. “Prisoners suffer ...
May 2, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO—The National Law Journal has named Covington to its “Pro Bono Hot List.” The 2018 special report recognizes 14 firms who “have taken on some of the biggest issues of our time.” In its profile of the firm, The National Law Journal highlights Covington’s pro bono efforts, led by San Francisco partner Jeffrey Davidson, on behalf of the University of ...
May 2018, The National Law Journal
Covington was named to The National Law Journal's "Pro Bono Hot List" for its representation of the University of California in challenging the government’s rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. "To be in court standing up for 700,000 immigrants, I don't know that there's anything quite like that. For them, it's not a legal ...
April 20, 2018
WASHINGTON—The Washington Business Journal has honored Covington partner D. Jean Veta with the 2018 LGBTQ Business Leader Award. This award is given to 20 business leaders in the Washington area who are “blazing the trail for diversity and inclusion in the corporate world.” Ms. Veta, Covington’s first openly gay partner and a member of the firm’s Financial ...
Another One Bites the Dust (Thanks Covington)
April 16, 2018, The Am Law Litigation Daily
The Am Law Litigation Daily highlights a victory on behalf of the city of Los Angeles following U.S. District Judge Manuel Real's decision to enjoin an attempt by the Justice Department to link funding for community-oriented policing to cooperation with federal law enforcement agencies on immigration enforcement. Mitch Kamin, who was a member of the Covington ...
Eric Holder, Unleashed
March 28, 2018, The AmLaw Litigation Daily
Eric Holder was featured by The AmLaw Litigation Daily in an article describing his many roles and responsibilities both at the firm and beyond. According to Timothy Hester, Holder is "involved in a lot of important issues of the day, but he’s also involved in very important issues for our client base." Hester adds, “He’s thrown himself into the life of our ...
March 22, 2018
SAN FRANCISCO—Covington’s Jeffrey Davidson, Thomas Garten, Laura Muschamp, and Michael Plimack have been named among the 2018 “California Lawyer Attorneys of the Year” by the Daily Journal. This annual award recognizes lawyers in the state who have made a “significant impact on public policy, the law, the profession, or a particular practice area.” Mr. Davidson ...
Pro Bono Video: 11 Years to Freedom
March 9, 2018
In 2003, a West Virginia University student was found guilty of first degree murder for the shooting of a classmate and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. After an unsuccessful appeal to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals by his original defense counsel, Brian Ferguson turned to Covington to help him fight for his ...
Gun Reform And School Safety Are Hot Topics For Lawmakers & The Uncertain Future of The Dreamers
March 7, 2018, Florida Public Radio
Alexander Berengaut appeared on Florida public radio to discuss his representation of the University of California, one of the plaintiffs in the case challenging the Trump Administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.
February 14, 2018, Daily Journal
Winslow Taub is quoted in a Daily Journal article regarding a recent 9th Circuit decision stating that a district court judge gave too much deference to the Department of Homeland Security and didn't give proper judicial weight to the First Amendment in a case in which the government forced protestors to stay away from an immigration checkpoint in Arizona. ...
Covington Helps Secure Historic Settlement in Arbitration Under the Accord on Fire & Building Safety in Bangladesh
January 22, 2018
WASHINGTON—Covington has helped secure a historic settlement on behalf of global union federations, Industrial Global Union and UNI Global Union, in an arbitration under the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh, a legally binding agreement to create a framework for safe working conditions in the Bangladeshi Ready-Made Garment industry. Signed in ...
Litigator of the Week: Keeping the Dream Alive
January 12, 2018, The Litigation Daily
Jeffrey Davidson was named "Litigator of the Week" by The Litigation Daily for his representation of the University of California, one of the plaintiffs in the case challenging the Trump Administration's decision to rescind the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. On January 9, U.S. District Judge William Alsup of the Northern District of ...
January 10, 2018, Reuters
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted in a Reuters article regarding a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco that temporarily blocks the government from rescinding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who represents the University of California in challenging the government's action, says that ...
Judge Blocks Trump's DACA Rollback Nationwide
January 10, 2018, Law360
Jeffrey Davidson is quoted in a Law360 article regarding a nationwide injunction issued by U.S. District Judge William Alsup that prevents the government from proceeding with its plan to roll back the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Davidson, who serves as counsel for the University of California, one of the plaintiffs in the case, says ...
November 16, 2017
WASHINGTON—The Human Rights Campaign Foundation (HRC) has awarded Covington a perfect score of 100 percent for the tenth consecutive year on its Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBTQ workplace equality. Covington is among 609 major U.S. businesses that earned a perfect ...
September 8, 2017, The New York Times
Alex Berengaut is quoted by The New York Times in an article regarding the lawsuit filed by the University of California system against the Department of Homeland Security regarding the decision to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. Berengaut, a member of the Covington team representing former Secretary of Homeland Security Janet ...
September 7, 2017, Stars & Stripes
David Zionts is quoted in a Stars & Stripes article regarding the recent ban on transgender personnel in the military. Zionts, who is a member of the Covington team serving as co-counsel with the ACLU challenging the ban, says the issue is "equality before the law." When “the government wants to discriminate and treat one class of people different, it needs a ...
August 28, 2017, Bloomberg
Bloomberg highlights Covington's role as co-counsel with the ACLU in a lawsuit challenging the ban preventing transgender men and women from serving in the armed forces. “When the memorandum was issued on [August 25] it was apparent to us that this was going to cause immediate harm to the transgender community serving in the military," says David Zionts. Mitch ...
Covington Again Named to The American Lawyer’s “A-List"
July 31, 2017
WASHINGTON—The American Lawyer has named Covington to its 2017 “A-List,” an annual ranking of the top 20 firms based on revenue per lawyer, pro bono commitment, diversity, associate satisfaction, and, for the first time, the percentage of female equity partners. Covington has now appeared on the “A-List” twelve times since this honor was introduced in 2003. The ...
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
Alan Pemberton is quoted in a Law360 article that features Covington as a leader among law firms fighting to end discrimination against transgender men and women. According to Pemberton, the team, led by Carolyn Corwin, considered litigation, but it never progressed to that level. Instead, the firm told the military both why and how the ban should be lifted.
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 28 of the past 31 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 has honored Covington as a Pro Bono Firm of the Year for our work on a range of issues, including securing the release of Guantanamo Bay detainees, defending civil rights and combatting racial profiling, reforming the criminal justice system, and representing prisoners on death row.
- National Law Journal - Covington was named to NLJ's Pro Bono Hot List in 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, and 2020. 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).
- Covington has been honored by Human Rights First as a recipient of the annual Marvin E. Frankel Award, given to firms that exhibit outstanding dedication to pro bono service helping Human Rights First achieve justice for refugees, asylum-seekers, and clients in immigration detention across the country.
Other organizations and nonprofit partners which have recently honored Covington are listed below.
- ACLU
- 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
- Bronx Defenders
- Campaign to Keep Gun Off Campus
- California Lawyer
- Center for Constitutional Rights
- Chinese American Citizens Alliance
- Connecticut Fair Housing Center
- Council for Court Excellence
- Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
- DC Appleseed
- District of Columbia Bar
- D.C. Housing Right to Counsel Project
- DC Law Students in Court
- District Alliance for Safe Housing
- Foundation for Criminal Justice
- Her 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 San Mateo County
- 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
- Muslim Advocates
- 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
- Pro Bono Institute
- Public Advocates
- Sanctuary for Families
- Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
- The National LGBT Bar Association
- TrustLaw
- Up2Us
- Voices for a Second Chance
- Washington Council of Lawyers
- Washington Lawyers' Committee
- Youth Law Center

Pro Bono at Covington
Learn more about Covington's pro bono program, including year at-a-glance facts, key practice areas, practice summaries, and key contacts.

Pro Bono Video: 11 Years to Freedom
Brian Ferguson turned to Covington to help him fight for his freedom.
Key Pro Bono Practices
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Advancing Equality and Fighting Discrimination
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Defending the Environment
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Protecting Refugees and Immigrants
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Reducing Gun Violence
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Reforming America's Criminal Justice System
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Safeguarding Human Rights
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Securing Access to Civil Justice
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Standing Up for Veterans
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Supporting Organizations and Entrepreneurs