Hanson Bridgett Attorneys Continue Taking Real Action to Support Families, Children, and Asylees
June, 2021 - San Francisco, California
June 4, 2021 (San Francisco, CA) – Hanson Bridgett is a preeminent law firm for all of California. Our firm is driven by a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion; charitable giving; pro bono legal work; and hands-on service.
In April, Hanson Bridgett's Management Committee members, along with several other attorneys, participated in a pro bono training workshop and clinic. The clinic was in partnership with Centro Legal de la Raza, a nonprofit legal services organization based in Oakland, and assisted asylees with completing forms and documentation for permanent residence status.
For the past year, several firm attorneys, including Partners Kathryn Doi and Samir Abdelnour, have represented parents and children who were separated at the border under the Trump Administration. Hanson Bridgett attorneys assisted these individuals with filing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act, a prerequisite to filing a federal action for damages, in partnership with the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights. These efforts are part of a nationwide effort by legal advocates to help families impacted by the previous Administration’s family separation policy to seek compensation for the trauma and other harms they experienced when they were unlawfully, intentionally, and forcibly separated at the border.
Additionally, Doi and Abdelnour have taken part in ongoing working group calls with attorneys at non-profits and other firms engaged in this effort to develop and discuss strategies for litigating and/or resolving the claims on behalf of the children and families affected. On May 10, 2021, Hanson Bridgett joined with members of this working group, as well as several other law firms, nonprofits, and law school clinics in signing a letter to the Biden Administration encouraging the establishment of a settlement liaison to negotiate monetary reparations and relief from deportation.
"This is a call to action. There is so much more that must be done to support these families and children unrightfully impacted by separation. Many in our firm are working hard to help these individuals as best we can," Doi said.
"In doing this work, I take pride in knowing my colleagues and I are making a real difference for these families and providing the same level of legal service to our pro bono clients as we provide to all our clients. That is our mission at Hanson Bridgett," Abdelnour said.
