Cravath’s Pro Bono Practice Featured in Lawdragon
January 17, 2020
Lawdragon highlighted Cravath’s pro bono practice in an article entitled “Standing Tall: Cravath’s 200 Years of Pro Bono,” which featured Cravath partners Peter T. Barbur, Julie A. North, Antony L. Ryan, Darin P. McAtee and Damaris Hernández. The profile covers the Firm’s commitment to pro bono work since its inception in the early nineteenth century, with more recent representations including winning the exoneration of the wrongfully convicted Kareem Bellamy, challenging the New York Board of Parole on behalf of eight “juvenile lifers” sentenced to life in prison for offenses committed when under 18 years of age, fighting to confirm same‑sex couples’ right to foster children in South Carolina and winning a landmark class action settlement to make New York City’s sidewalks accessible for the disability community.
“We have lots of resources and we bring those resources to bear on issues, whether it’s systemic or individual,” Julie North told the magazine.
Other matters noted include a multi‑decade effort on behalf of African‑American firefighters in Birmingham, Alabama, an ongoing suit for New York City’s foster care children, a settlement for a victim of sexual assault at Rikers Island and a large uptick in immigration cases. “We are seeing asylum cases from all over the world,” said Antony Ryan.
For pro bono clients, “as with all Cravath clients, the focus is persistently on finding the right answer, rather than merely the most expedient or efficient,” wrote Lawdragon.
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J.D., 1987, New York University School of LawOrder of the Coif, Root-Tilden Scholar, cum laude
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B.A., 1983, Dartmouth CollegePhi Beta Kappa, magna cum laude
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J.D., 1995, Harvard Law Schoolmagna cum laude
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B.A., 1992, Yale CollegePhi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude
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J.D., 2007, New York University School of LawAnBryce Scholar
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A.B., 2003, Harvard Collegemagna cum laude
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J.D., 1989, Syracuse University College of Lawmagna cum laude
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B.A., 1984, Hamilton Collegecum laude
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Deals & Cases
September 30, 2019
Cravath Represents Incarcerated Individuals in Suit Against New York Board of Parole
Cravath is representing eight “juvenile lifers”—individuals sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after committing homicide offenses in New York when under 18 years of age—in a class action suit against the Commissioners of the New York Board of Parole. The suit claims the Parole Board violates the class members’ constitutional rights by making parole determinations that are not based on “demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation,” as is legally required for juvenile lifers.
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Landmark Settlement Approved in New York City Sidewalk Accessibility Case
On July 23, 2019, Cravath and Disability Rights Advocates (“DRA”) announced that the Honorable Judge George B. Daniels of the Southern District of New York approved a historic class action settlement that establishes a comprehensive remedial plan to dramatically improve sidewalk accessibility for New York City’s disability community. The settlement stems from and resolves two separate class action lawsuits filed in 1994 and 2014. Cravath, alongside DRA, represented seven disability rights organizations that signed onto the agreement, which requires a comprehensive citywide survey to identify which corners need curb cuts installed or upgraded, and a comprehensive schedule for completing the necessary work. An outside monitor will oversee the agreement.
Deals & Cases
Pro Bono Client Reaches Settlement in Rikers Island Case
On February 11, 2019, Cravath and The Legal Aid Society announced a substantial monetary settlement on behalf of their client, “Jane Doe,” who was abused by two New York City Department of Correction officers while she was a pre‑trial detainee on Rikers Island. The lawsuit was filed in August 2018 against the City of New York and the two New York City Department of Correction officers. The complaint detailed the defendants’ violations of “Jane Doe’s constitutional rights to be protected from rape, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, and retaliation.”
