Engaging Communities Through Pro Bono Leadership
In 2025, DWT attorneys handled pro bono matters that provided direct legal assistance to individuals facing barriers within the legal system. Beyond individual cases, our lawyers also led educational programs and worked closely with in‑house legal teams, nonprofit partners, and community organizations to support broader access to legal resources.
Engaging Communities Through Pro Bono Leadership
In 2025, DWT attorneys handled pro bono matters that provided direct legal assistance to individuals facing barriers within the legal system. Beyond individual cases, our lawyers also led educational programs and worked closely with in‑house legal teams, nonprofit partners, and community organizations to support broader access to legal resources.
Transformative Impact
Precedent Setting Litigation
DWT's Eric M. Stahl, Caesar Kalinowski IV, and Theo A. Lesczynski won a groundbreaking appellate decision in Washington that will enhance protection for survivors of sexual violence and enable them, in turn, to help protect future potential victims. The case arose when an employee and parishioner publicly alleged she’d been raped by the church’s prominent pastor. The pastor, who claimed the encounter was consensual, sued for defamation. Lawsuits like these can saddle survivors of sexual violence in legal debt, regardless of whether they ultimately prevail. Our client could not otherwise have afforded a lawyer and, without representation, faced the risk of a devastating monetary judgment.
In a sweeping, 100-page, published opinion issued on December 30, 2025, the Washington Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and dismissed the pastor's complaint. This opinion is critically important because it provides courts with a clear standard to identify and dismiss abusive defamation claims, allowing survivors to avoid the emotional and financial burdens of ongoing litigation and ensuring they can speak freely about their experiences and protect others.
Transformative Impact
Precedent Setting Litigation
DWT's Eric M. Stahl, Caesar Kalinowski IV, and Theo A. Lesczynski won a groundbreaking appellate decision in Washington that will enhance protection for survivors of sexual violence and enable them, in turn, to help protect future potential victims. The case arose when an employee and parishioner publicly alleged she’d been raped by the church’s prominent pastor. The pastor, who claimed the encounter was consensual, sued for defamation. Lawsuits like these can saddle survivors of sexual violence in legal debt, regardless of whether they ultimately prevail. Our client could not otherwise have afforded a lawyer and, without representation, faced the risk of a devastating monetary judgment.
In a sweeping, 100-page, published opinion issued on December 30, 2025, the Washington Court of Appeals overturned a lower court ruling and dismissed the pastor's complaint. This opinion is critically important because it provides courts with a clear standard to identify and dismiss abusive defamation claims, allowing survivors to avoid the emotional and financial burdens of ongoing litigation and ensuring they can speak freely about their experiences and protect others.
Direct Pro Bono Representation
Foundational to DWT’s pro bono practice is the direct representation we provide to individuals seeking legal assistance that span communities and legal needs. Each year, DWT attorneys seek out pro bono opportunities that support veterans’ rights, families and individuals navigating the immigration system, LGBTQ+ advocacy, domestic violence survivors, race equity and justice initiatives, small business entrepreneurs, nonprofits, and women’s rights. A few examples of our direct representation work and its impact in 2025 include:
Ardie Ermac successfully secured compensation for combat-related injuries that his veteran client sustained during his client’s Air Force service, thereby providing a stable and ongoing source of financial support for the veteran and his family.
Alison Schary, Shontee Pant, Sydney Clarke, and Megan Duffy successfully represented two freelance journalists in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The case was dismissed with prejudice following the oral argument on the motion to dismiss.
Aakshita Bansal, Dylan Lowe, and Knute Gregg supported an early stage small business by guiding them through their initial organization, establishing governance, and preparing it for outside investment.
Louisa Barash and Emily Goodell represented their Washington-based client in a second petition for a full and unconditional pardon from Governor Inslee for crimes that he allegedly committed when he was 15 years old. Governor Inslee granted the pardon, clearing the way for the vacation of a removal order that would have resulted in the client’s deportation and separation from his family, including his young child.
Over 20 attorneys and staff, including project leads Sharon O’Shaughnessy and Sadia Collins, helped individuals experiencing homelessness obtain certified copies of their birth certificates so they can pursue stable housing, access public benefits, secure state-issued identification, and gain employment.
Vera Chen | Sadia Collins | Soo Min Kang | Dayana Ledezma | Vera Liberman | Leo Liu | Carissa Meade | Sharon O'Shaughnessy | Ellie Pakzad | Jessica Roberts | Jean Rosston | Adam Shapiro | Teresa Shoemaker | Libby Smith | Andy So | Elyse Sparks | Susan Stith | Suzanne K. Toller | Alix Town | Nicholas Traver | Dalia Wrocherinsky
Ardie Ermac successfully secured compensation for combat-related injuries that his veteran client sustained during his client’s Air Force service, thereby providing a stable and ongoing source of financial support for the veteran and his family.
Alison Schary, Shontee Pant, Sydney Clarke, and Megan Duffy successfully represented two freelance journalists in a copyright infringement lawsuit. The case was dismissed with prejudice following the oral argument on the motion to dismiss.
Aakshita Bansal, Dylan Lowe, and Knute Gregg supported an early stage small business by guiding them through their initial organization, establishing governance, and preparing it for outside investment.
Louisa Barash and Emily Goodell represented their Washington-based client in a second petition for a full and unconditional pardon from Governor Inslee for crimes that he allegedly committed when he was 15 years old. Governor Inslee granted the pardon, clearing the way for the vacation of a removal order that would have resulted in the client’s deportation and separation from his family, including his young child.
Over 20 attorneys and staff, including project leads Sharon O’Shaughnessy and Sadia Collins, helped individuals experiencing homelessness obtain certified copies of their birth certificates so they can pursue stable housing, access public benefits, secure state-issued identification, and gain employment.
Vera Chen | Sadia Collins | Soo Min Kang | Dayana Ledezma | Vera Liberman | Leo Liu | Carissa Meade | Sharon O'Shaughnessy | Ellie Pakzad | Jessica Roberts | Jean Rosston | Adam Shapiro | Teresa Shoemaker | Libby Smith | Andy So | Elyse Sparks | Susan Stith | Suzanne K. Toller | Alix Town | Nicholas Traver | Dalia Wrocherinsky
Advancing Government Transparency
Shontee Pant and Tom Burke represented investigative journalist Peter Byrne in FOIA litigation against the National Park Service (NPS). As a result of this successful litigation, the NPS was required to release documents that revealed that NPS officials falsely and publicly shared false claims about the journalist's critical reporting about NPS’s management of the Point Reyes National Seashore, ignoring the trust and accountability to the public that is required of them by the nature of their positions. This win underscores the importance of transparency, freedom of the press, and government accountability.
Leena Charlton and Tom Burke secured a second and final summary judgment victory for The Appeal, a nonprofit newsroom focused on criminal justice reform, in a multi-year FOIA lawsuit against the Department of Justice. The case compelled the releases of over a decade of data on in-custody deaths that occurred in local, state, and federal prisons nationwide. This win not only forced government transparency around data it long kept secret from the public it impacts, it also led to the release of records that can help advocates for reform address the impact of public policies through data. The DOJ continues to fight this ruling.
Tom Burke and Jack Browning, supported by senior paralegal Noel Nurrenbern, filed a FOIA lawsuit which successfully resulted in the government releasing data on the backlogs at each US consular office for immigrant visa interviews. IRAP immediately published this data, and its availability helped dozens of immigrant aid organizations adjust their resources for clients.
Alex Cadena and Tom Burke represented The Voice of San Diego and its reporter in a FOIA lawsuit against the International Boundary and Water Commission after the agency withheld records about a controversial border wall barrier project in Tijuana, along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Through the litigation, the agency produced over 600 previously withheld records that informed the nonprofit newsroom’s reporting on the serious threat of catastrophic flooding that the border wall through the Tijuana River poses for both nations.
Advancing Government Transparency
Shontee Pant and Tom Burke represented investigative journalist Peter Byrne in FOIA litigation against the National Park Service (NPS). As a result of this successful litigation, the NPS was required to release documents that revealed that NPS officials falsely and publicly shared false claims about the journalist's critical reporting about NPS’s management of the Point Reyes National Seashore, ignoring the trust and accountability to the public that is required of them by the nature of their positions. This win underscores the importance of transparency, freedom of the press, and government accountability.
Leena Charlton and Tom Burke secured a second and final summary judgment victory for The Appeal, a nonprofit newsroom focused on criminal justice reform, in a multi-year FOIA lawsuit against the Department of Justice. The case compelled the releases of over a decade of data on in-custody deaths that occurred in local, state, and federal prisons nationwide. This win not only forced government transparency around data it long kept secret from the public it impacts, it also led to the release of records that can help advocates for reform address the impact of public policies through data. The DOJ continues to fight this ruling.
Tom Burke and Jack Browning, supported by senior paralegal Noel Nurrenbern, filed a FOIA lawsuit which successfully resulted in the government releasing data on the backlogs at each US consular office for immigrant visa interviews. IRAP immediately published this data, and its availability helped dozens of immigrant aid organizations adjust their resources for clients.
Alex Cadena and Tom Burke represented The Voice of San Diego and its reporter in a FOIA lawsuit against the International Boundary and Water Commission after the agency withheld records about a controversial border wall barrier project in Tijuana, along the U.S.-Mexico Border. Through the litigation, the agency produced over 600 previously withheld records that informed the nonprofit newsroom’s reporting on the serious threat of catastrophic flooding that the border wall through the Tijuana River poses for both nations.
Amicus Advocacy
Rob Balin, Linda Steinman, Jeremy Chase, Abigail Everdell, and Adam S. Sieff filed an amicus brief in Ozturk v. ICE on behalf of 27 major Jewish organizations in support of Rümeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Tufts University graduate student who was living in the United States on a legal student visa, yet was arrested by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in March 2025, detained, and placed in deportation proceedings for co-authoring an op-ed in the Tufts Daily a year earlier that was critical of the Israeli government. These 27 Jewish organizations chose to come together in defense of our country’s foundational free speech principles. Together, the organizations argued that speech cannot be grounds for arbitrary government action and affirmed that Jewish organizations have a voice in rejecting the administration’s attempt to exploit Jewish Americans’ real concerns about antisemitism as a pretext for undermining core pillars of American democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of free speech and academic debate.
Amicus Advocacy
Rob Balin, Linda Steinman, Jeremy Chase, Abigail Everdell, and Adam S. Sieff filed an amicus brief in Ozturk v. ICE on behalf of 27 major Jewish organizations in support of Rümeysa Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national and Tufts University graduate student who was living in the United States on a legal student visa, yet was arrested by U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement in March 2025, detained, and placed in deportation proceedings for co-authoring an op-ed in the Tufts Daily a year earlier that was critical of the Israeli government. These 27 Jewish organizations chose to come together in defense of our country’s foundational free speech principles. Together, the organizations argued that speech cannot be grounds for arbitrary government action and affirmed that Jewish organizations have a voice in rejecting the administration’s attempt to exploit Jewish Americans’ real concerns about antisemitism as a pretext for undermining core pillars of American democracy, the rule of law, and the fundamental rights of free speech and academic debate.
Flagship Initiatives
Signature components of our pro bono program are the bold and creative initiatives that we build and launch to increase access to justice. From creating, expanding, and improving the In-House Gateway to Good, to collaborating, building, and scaling first-of-its-kind pro bono projects like ProJourn, the Scam Justice Legal Clinic, and Haven, we work closely with our corporate clients and legal service organizations to assess justice gaps and build solutions to address them.
Flagship Initiatives
Signature components of our pro bono program are the bold and creative initiatives that we build and launch to increase access to justice. From creating, expanding, and improving the In-House Gateway to Good, to collaborating, building, and scaling first-of-its-kind pro bono projects like ProJourn, the Scam Justice Legal Clinic, and Haven, we work closely with our corporate clients and legal service organizations to assess justice gaps and build solutions to address them.
The In-House Gateway to Good
Gateway to Good is a platform that helps lawyers and business professionals find pro bono, social impact, and DEI educational opportunities and events. Designed exclusively for DWT and its in‑house clients, the platform allows users to identify opportunities by jurisdiction, practice area, malpractice availability, and the communities or causes served. By bringing these opportunities into one place, Gateway to Good helps individuals and teams turn intent into action.
1,168
Users
1,698
Accepted Opportunities
142
Nonprofit Partners
552
Available Opportunities
The In-House Gateway to Good
Gateway to Good is a platform that helps lawyers and business professionals find pro bono, social impact, and DEI educational opportunities and events. Designed exclusively for DWT and its in‑house clients, the platform allows users to identify opportunities by jurisdiction, practice area, malpractice availability, and the communities or causes served. By bringing these opportunities into one place, Gateway to Good helps individuals and teams turn intent into action.
1,168
Users
1,698
Accepted Opportunities
142
Nonprofit Partners
552
Available Opportunities
ProJourn
ProJourn is a national pro bono initiative launched in 2020 by Microsoft and Davis Wright Tremaine to increase the supply of pro bono attorneys trained in pre-publication review and access to public records—two of the most critical editorial legal needs of journalists—and assist newsrooms in those legal areas, as well as business and operations-related needs. ProJourn focuses on communities impacted by the loss of local news, including people living in rural areas and multilingual audiences. ProJourn has been incubated by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press with the support of the Knight Foundation.
Over the past five years, ProJourn has grown significantly, supporting more than 300 clients through 585 matters with the help of over 300 volunteer attorneys from law firms and in-house legal teams. Today, ProJourn serves journalists and newsrooms in 48 states, expanding legal support to constituencies that need it the most.
ProJourn
ProJourn is a national pro bono initiative launched in 2020 by Microsoft and Davis Wright Tremaine to increase the supply of pro bono attorneys trained in pre-publication review and access to public records—two of the most critical editorial legal needs of journalists—and assist newsrooms in those legal areas, as well as business and operations-related needs. ProJourn focuses on communities impacted by the loss of local news, including people living in rural areas and multilingual audiences. ProJourn has been incubated by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press with the support of the Knight Foundation.
Over the past five years, ProJourn has grown significantly, supporting more than 300 clients through 585 matters with the help of over 300 volunteer attorneys from law firms and in-house legal teams. Today, ProJourn serves journalists and newsrooms in 48 states, expanding legal support to constituencies that need it the most.
Scam Justice Legal Clinic (SJLC)
To remedy the gap in legal services to cybercrime victims worldwide, DWT, Amazon, Better Business Bureau (BBB) Institute for Marketplace Trust, and Pro Bono Institute (PBI) joined forces to launch the Scam Justice Legal Clinic (SJLC), a first-of-its-kind limited-scope pro bono initiative. SJLC equips victims of online scams with knowledge, resources, and a compassionate environment to help them understand their rights and responsibilities while building a resilience against future harm.
In 2025, we launched the pilot phase of the clinic, presented multiple times about the access to justice barrier at a national level, and worked behind the scenes to build the infrastructure needed to scale the clinic.
Across 25 clinics, SJLC has served more than 55 clients from 26 states by providing advice, education, and resources needed to take the next steps in recovery. A clinic participant recently shared:
“Thank you so much for this opportunity. I gained so much information! Thank you all for holding these services! You do a great service to the community!”
Haven
DWT, Amazon, Mary’s Place, and Co-Counsel NYC launched Haven, an innovative tool, powered by AI, that is built to amplify the pro bono clinical model for asylum clinics. Haven is a fully encrypted, conversational, and emotionally intelligent AI platform that interviews asylum seekers and drafts their application for asylum. When leveraged during pro bono clinics, Haven helps reduce what has historically been a six-hour clinic process to gather and draft the information needed to fill out Form I-589, Application for Asylum and Withholding of Removal, to a 60–90 minute review session, where attorney volunteers meet with their clients to review the pre-populated I-589 Form that is generated by the Haven platform when a client submits the online interview ahead of the clinic. Haven not only allows pro bono attorneys to serve more clients, but it also provides clients the ability to share important information from home, making the legal process more accessible and the clinic session more productive.
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE | 2025 Responsible Business Report
Engaging Our People: Participation, Belonging, and Purpose
Engaging Our Communities Through Pro Bono Leadership
Engaging Clients & Partners: Collaboration for Greater Impact
Recognition: Engagement Celebrated
DAVIS WRIGHT TREMAINE | 2025 Responsible Business Report
