Mosaic SUMMER 2018 Danielle Rewrite Final · 2018. 11. 8. · boardroom. Pictured (L‐R): Neelu Sethi, CIO, Reddy Ice; Jon Henderson, and Chris Curia, EVP of Human Resources, Energy

Diversity & Inclusion and Pro Bono Newsletter

MOSAIC

2018 - Fourth Quarter

Summer Associate Diversity Summit Reten on of talent recruited by the firm is a high priority. To that end, the Recrui ng and Diversity & Inclusion Commi ees collaborated to create the first ever Diversity Summit, which was designed to give the summer associates insight into unique challenges and opportuni es diverse a orneys may face while working in a profession that is s ll predominately white and male.

The Diversity Summit was hosted on June 20, 2018, and consisted of a panel discussion moderated by J. Danielle Carr (STL), director of diversity & inclusion, who asked the a orney panelists, Carmen Cole (LAX), Gabe Zorogastua (KC), Anthony Springfield (KC), Margaux Savee (SFO), Melissa Ho (PHX) and LaToya Alexander (DAL) for their perspec ves on topics ranging from how to handle bias, ps for personal branding and being authen c in the work place.

Also in a endance were Polsinelli Chair‐Elect Chase Simmons (KC), Recrui ng Commi ee Chair Michael Williamson (KC), Director of Recrui ng Cristy Johnson (KC) and Diversity & Inclusion Commi ee Chair Dan Cranshaw (KC).

Feedback received from those that a ended was very posi ve and several noted they were impressed by the fact that Polsinelli recognized, and was willing to address, what other firms some mes a empt to ignore. One summer associate shared that she felt empowered as a result of the program because she, like the diverse a orneys on the panel, could also overcome any obstacles she might encounter.

The firm’s efforts to recruit diverse talent for the 2018 summer associate program proved to be successful as 52 percent of the summer class were law students of color and/or LGBTQ+ and 56 percent were women.

Lauren Tucker McCubbin

Melissa Ho

Three Polsinelli A orneys Make the “Under 40 Hot List” Principal Ni n Gambhir (SVO) and Shareholders Lauren Tucker McCubbin (KC) and Melissa Ho (PHX), were named to Bench‐mark Li ga on’s 2018 “Under 40 Hot List,” an honor Melissa has received consecu vely for three years. Ni n Gambhir

of 9 © 2014 Polsinelli For Internal Purposes Only

Mosaic POLSINELLI | DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PRO BONO NEWSLETTER 2018—Fourth Quarter

© 2018 Polsinelli Page 2 of 12

Needs of New Moms Addressed

Polsinelli Supports Program Focused on the Advancement of Women A orneys

The Chicago Bar Associa on’s Alliance for Women Com‐mi ee, in partnership with the Black Women Lawyers’ Associa on of Greater Chicago, held an interac ve event

tled “Amplifying Voices and Moving From Talk to Ac‐on,” which was developed to help enhance the advance‐

ment of women in law. Polsinelli is proud to have spon‐sored the June 27, 2018, event that drew close to 100 a endees.

The forum, hosted at Polsinelli’s Chicago office, provided a endees with an opportunity to collaborate on con‐crete ways women a orneys can work together with their male counterparts to empower women lawyers.

BWLA Alterna ve Careers Program J. Danielle Carr (STL) served as a panelist for the February 2018, Black Women Lawyers of Greater Chicago’s “Alterna ve Careers” panel discussion where a endees learned how the panelists stopped prac cing law and secured non‐prac cing roles in a law firm or law school. Carr shared that the path to her posi on at Polsinelli did not happen overnight, but was the result of more than twenty years of experience where she gained a deep apprecia on for legal recrui ng, a orney pro‐fessional development and large law firm diversity and inclu‐sion. This experience has enabled her to handle the wide range of responsibili es that come with her role.

Jane Arnold (STL) wears many hats at Polsinelli: Saint Louis Office Managing Partner, Prac ce Group Chair, Board of Directors Member and Chair of the Women’s Ini a ve Commi ee. On top of all of that she is mom to two elementary school aged daughters. The la er surely gave Jane an apprecia on for the challenges faced by new mothers returning to work upon con‐clusion of their parental leave. To help ease the transi on, Jane led the charge to make privacy signs available for breas eed‐ing mothers who elect to pump in the comfort of their office.

Breas eeding mothers who are traveling on firm business may now take advantage of the Milk Stork service, which provides everything needed to store and transport breast milk back home.

Measures like these go a long way towards crea ng a culture of inclusion where our colleagues’ needs are appreciated and addressed.

Serving Our Communi es Shareholder Melissa Ho (PHX) presented a pro bono clinic on juvenile delinquency ma ers on May 25, 2018, at a Youth In Transi on program offered through The Love House—a nonprofit whose mission is to provide support to children currently in or transi oning out of child protec ve

services.

Associate Gus Schneider (PHX) provided invalua‐ble assistance with Spanish language adop ons in the Greater Phoenix area and is instrumental in dra ing legal le ers for Spanish speakers.




Accolades and Awards

This sec on features diverse a orneys at the firm who have received recogni on for their excellence in professional and community ac vi es:

Dallas Associate LaToya Alexander was one of 30 a orneys selected to par cipate in the Na onal Employment Law Council’s 2018 Academy.

St. Louis Shareholder Tara Nealey received a Missouri Lawyers Media Women’s Jus ce Award for her pro bono work.

Associate Maria Hubbard (PHX) was appointed to serve on the Arizona Supreme Court A orney Regula on Advisory Commi ee.

The Los Angeles Business Journal named Principal Mary McKelvey (LAX) as one of their 2018 Top Li gators in Los Angeles.

(Continued on page 4)

First‐Class Leadership Garners Pres gious Honor When the St. Louis Business Journal revealed its 2018 Most Influen al Business Women, Shareholder Jane Arnold (STL) was among the dis nguished class. Jane, who serves as a Polsinelli Board of Directors Member, St. Louis Office Manager, Practice Group Chair and Chair of the firm’s Women’s Initiative Committee (WIC), was one of just 25 business leaders to be selected out of over 250 nominations received.

The 2018 Most Influential Business Women Awards recognizes “remarkable women who excel in careers in business.”

More than 600 guests were present to celebrate the 2018 honorees at the Au‐gust 10, 2018, awards luncheon.

Jane Arnold pictured center with her daughters, Polsinelli attorneys and friends

J. Danielle Carr Honored by Black Women Lawyers Associa on of Chicago

Director of Diversity & Inclusion, J. Danielle Carr (STL), received the Black Women Lawyers Associa on of Greater Chicago’s 2018 President’s Award.

Danielle was recognized for her efforts and dedica on as chair of the organiza‐on’s Scholarship Board.




Accolades and Awards Con nued:

Profiles in Diversity Journal named Chicago Office Managing Partner Mary Clare Bonaccorsi (CHI) a 2018 Woman Worth Watching.

Shareholder Ghislaine Bruner (DEN)was named Top Woman in Energy by the Denver Business Journal.

Principal Lisa Greer Quateman (LAX) was appointed to the Na onal Associa on of Corporate Directors— Southern California Chapter Board of Directors.

Principal Carmen Cole (SFO) was invited to sit on Pepperdine School of Law Board of Advisors as Founding Member.

Principal Randye Soref (LAX) was selected for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America 2018 in the Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganiza on Law category.

(Continued on page 5)

Inclusion is The Source of Innova on

Dallas Shareholder Jonathan “Jon” Henderson served as a panelist for the “Des na on C‐Suite” program, which was hosted in conjunc on with the 14th Annual Texas Diversity & Leadership Conference. The panelists shared insight on how to navigate past barriers to success, the importance of being self‐aware and being commi ed to developing personal and professional skills. Also discussed was the value that comes from including diverse perspec ves in the corporate boardroom.

Pictured (L‐R): Neelu Sethi, CIO, Reddy Ice; Jon Henderson, and Chris Curia, EVP of Human Resources, Energy Transfer

Pictured (L‐R): Micah Ascano , Teri Nguyen and Tam Thanh Pham

Principal Teri Nguyen Co‐chairs the 12thAnnual NCVAA Conference Polsinelli par cipated as Pla num sponsor of the 12th Annual Na onal Confer‐ence of Vietnamese American A orneys (NCVAA), held August 3‐4, 2018, in Atlanta, Georgia. Principal Teri Nguyen (SVO) served as co‐chair of the confer‐ence.

San Francisco Principal Tam Thanh Pham was a panelist for the “#MeToo and Vietnamese‐American Women A orneys (Mis)concep ons: Changing the Con‐versa on, and Naviga ng the Legal Profession” con nuing legal educa on pro‐gram.

The 2018 conference began with a networking event, in‐cluded a full‐day of CLE offer‐ings and closed with an evening of elegance, entertainment and inspira on. Two students were presented with academic schol‐arships during the culmina ng event a ended by Teri, Tam Thanh and Micah Ascano (ATL), Polsinelli legal project manag‐er.




My Brother’s Keeper Conference

My Brother’s Keeper is an annual professional development conference for black male a orneys. Associate Kriston Guillot (KC) a ended the two‐day con‐ference, held March 2‐3, 2018, in New York City.

The conference was full of frank and open dialogue about the shared experi‐ences of male a orneys of color. Conference a endees developed new and enriched exis ng business rela onships and le the conference equipped with tac cs and strategies that will enable each of them to further advance as a large law firm a orney.

Event and Sponsorship Spotlight

Diversity Week at Saint Louis University School of Law In observance of “Diversity Week,” Saint Louis University School of Law’s Asian American Law Student Associa on held a panel discussion on March 29, 2018, tled “Diversity in the Legal Profession.” Polsinelli’s Firm‐wide Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator Ji aun Dill (STL) served as a panelist alongside Jus n Moore, Vice President of the Missouri Asian American Bar Associa on, and other local a orneys.

Accolades and Awards Con nued:

Cccc Melissa Ho Maria Hubbard

Shareholder Melissa Ho (PHX) and Associ‐ate Maria Hubbard (PHX), were recog‐nized as 2018 Top Pro Bono A orneys by the Arizona Founda on for Legal Services & Educa on based on their outstanding commitment to pro bono service.

Polsinelli applauds Melissa and Maria’s leadership and their con nued support of pro bono ac vi es.

Melissa serves as the Phoenix office Pro Bono Office Liaison and both a orneys work closely with the Maricopa County Legal Services Children’s Law Center Vol‐unteer Lawyer Program to help families and children obtain guardianships and assist par es through the adop on pro‐cess. They also coordinate Polsinelli’s monthly guardianship clinic with the Chil‐dren’s Law Center where the firm’s a or‐neys provide general guardianship advice to families.

Leane Capps Shareholder Leane Capps (DAL) and Asso‐ciate Caitlin Morgan (DAL) authored a chapter in the American Bar Associa on’s Tort Trial & Insurance Prac ce Journal.

St. Louis Hosts Farm‐to‐Table Networking Event

The St. Louis office Women’s Ini a ve Commi ee invited current and poten‐al women clients to an evening of exquisite dining at Claverach Farm. The

dinner event, held May 20, 2018, included a tour of the venue’s sprawling farm, fresh hors d’oeuvres and a mul ‐course meal.

Caitlin Morgan




Since 1972, the Street Law program has worked in schools and communi es country‐wide to inform young people about law and government. A viable part of the outreach includes a legal community partnership program designed to tap into the knowledge of lawyers and other legal pro‐fessionals to teach youth about law and legal careers.

Polsinelli’s Diversity & Inclusion administra ve team, J. Danielle Carr (STL) and Ji aun Dill (STL) par cipated in the Associa on of Corporate Counsel’s “Street Law Program” where students from two St. Louis high schools engaged in conversa ons about careers in law.

Polsinelli Supports Legal Diversity Pipeline Program

Polsinelli Sponsors NAWL’S Dallas Conference

Polsinelli was a proud Ruby sponsor of the Na onal Associ‐a on of Women Lawyers’ conference, held May 2‐3, 2018, at the Highlands Dallas. The event was designed to em‐power women a orneys to take charge of their own career success by enhancing strategic thinking, improving leader‐ship and interpersonal skills and developing personal net‐works.

Women from across the na on heard from the Hon. Tonya Parker, the only African‐American, female, openly gay judge in Texas; a ended workshops on cu ng edge legal topics; and heard Vivia Chen, senior columnist for The American Lawyer, address why men s ll dominate the top earning spots at top law firms and dispari es that hold women a orneys back.

Associates LaToya Alexander (DAL) and Erreka Campbell (DAL) were a endees.

Summer Stars! Polsinelli is proud of the collabora ve efforts made by its Recrui ng and Diversity & Inclusion departments to garner a constella on of star summer associates.

Polsinelli congratulates St. Louis Summer Associate Deionna Ferguson (Washington University in St. Louis Law School, Class of 2020) on being awarded the Mound City Bar Founda on’s (MCBF) Judge Scovel Richardson Scholarship. Deionna received first place honors based on her scholarship essay submission. MCBF scholarship recipients were recognized by St. Louis County Circuit Court Judge Sandra Hemphill during the Annual Judge Scovel Richardson Scholarship Dinner, which was held July 21, 2018.

Polsinelli also congratulates Dallas Summer Associate Jerica Steward (Class of 2020), on joining Law Review at the University of North Texas at Dallas College of Law. Deionna and Jerica have accepted offers to return to Polsinelli for the firm’s 2019 Summer Associate Program.

Pat Woolley Joins Polsinelli’s Diversity & Inclusion Commi ee The newest addi on to the Polsinelli Diversity & Inclusion Commi ee is Shareholder Pat Woolley (KC) who, inter alia, serves as a member of the firm’s Board of Directors and as Chair of the Intellectual Property Department.

Polsinelli Hosts Pro Bono Events

On June 27, 2018 and July 18, 2018, the St. Louis and Chica‐go offices each hosted a Pro Bono Meet & Greet, invi ng our partner legal service organiza ons in each community to speak about their organiza ons’ missions and opportuni es to volunteer.




Dallas office par cipants (L‐R): Corey Lopez, regional office services manager; Jon Gil‐lum, regional desktop support technician; Students—Simon Astran and Kay Villafuerte; Henry Talavera, shareholder; DeAnna Brown, hospitality coordinator; Brandi Smith, office coordinator; Kayla LaRue, legal administra ve assistant; and Songhai Sledge, office administrator

Polsinelli Values Corporate Ci zenship

Polsinelli has been a proud partner of Cristo Rey College Preparatory High School in Kansas City since 2011. Over the years, our involvement has expanded to include the firm’s Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles and Atlanta (launch date to be determined) offices. Cristo Rey is unique in that it is the largest network of high schools in the country that exclusively serves low‐income students. The firm’s partnership includes providing entry‐level jobs to Cristo Rey high school students.

Men on the student par cipants in Cristo Rey’s Corporate Work Study Program to anyone in the firm’s Kansas City and Dallas offices and you will surely elicit a smile. Ask the firm’s namesake, Shareholder James Polsinelli (KC), and the reply will be “[t]he students have become an expected and welcomed presence.”

Over the years, Cristo Rey student employees have worked within a broad spectrum of Polsinelli’s departments as well as spent me shadowing firm a orneys. Students work from Monday through Friday, mid‐August through early June, between 9:00

a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Work‐days are scheduled to ensure that par cipa ng students never miss class.

Tracy Vuche ch (KC), regional office administrator, serves as the designated Corporate Work Study Program liaison for the Kansas City office; Songhai Sledge (DAL), office administrator, fills the role in Dallas. Both women enjoy the connec ons they are able to build with student par cipants and the me they are able to invest in tailoring projects that help the students devel‐op skills rela ng to specific career interests.

The firm’s involvement with the Cristo Rey Corporate Work Study Program adds value in so many ways. Sledge credits the breadth of her network with law firm administrators from across the na on to her direct involvement with Cristo Rey. This con‐nec on led to her being invited to speak about the firm’s corporate ci zenship to other Cristo Rey program supervisors in other states, thereby broadening Polsinelli’s footprint.

Every other year, the Kansas City office hosts a Cristo Rey Career Day for approximately 12‐15 high school seniors. “The pro‐gram was developed so the firm can introduce students to a wide variety of career paths within the legal industry that they may not otherwise have been aware of” said Vuche ch.

This year, Polsinelli’s Dallas office will see its first class of Cristo Rey Work Study Program students graduate from the high school. We are proud of their success and confident of their future success.




Polsinelli served as host for the professional development programming and luncheon offered through the third annual Prac ce Pro Career Conference for summer associates. The program was offered to all Chicago based summer associates by The Chicago Commi ee. The Chicago Commi ee is a nonprofit organiza on that offers its 44 member law firms programming focused on the recruitment, reten on and advancement of diverse law students and a orneys.

The conference took place on June 7, 2018, and more than 50 summer associates from Chicago Commi ee member firms, including Polsinelli summer associates Deionna Ferguson (STL) and Jessica Lee (CHI), were in a endance.

The full‐day conference covered topics ranging from “Opera ons and Economics of Law Firms and Organiza ons” to “How to Develop a Fulfilling and Sustaining Legal Career.”

Shareholder Rodney Lewis (CHI), who sits on The Chicago Commi ee Board of Directors, shared informa on about the importance of successfully managing deadlines, the elements of excellent work product and how to professionally address owning up to mistakes.

Chicago Office Hosts City‐wide Summer Associate Program

Pictured above far right: Rodney Lewis

Pictured above far right: Joe Van Leer

Take Me Out to the Ball Game

William Howard Ta is purportedly the first president to have par cipated in baseball’s first pitch pregame ritual when he threw a ball from the stands onto the field at Griffith Stadium in 1910. Unlike today, honorees at the me threw the ball from the stands and did not face the challenge of ge ng it to sail the 60 feet, six inch distance between the pitcher’s mound and home plate.

On the evening of May 22, 2018, as the St. Louis Cardinals prepared to take on the Kansas City Royals, Shareholder Jane Arnold (STL) waited anxiously to throw out the game’s cere‐monial first pitch. When called to the mound, Jane (a south‐paw) used her right hand to throw the ball toward home plate!

Jane’s appearance at the St. Louis Cardinals game was cheered by key supporters, including the team’s mascot Fredbird and her daughters, Dasha and Molly.

Associate Joe Van Leer (CHI) presented on the topic of interviewing and shared an overview of what firms look for when evalua ng candidates, how to efficiently research firms for poten al employment and honing interview techniques.

Pictured (L‐R): Fredbird, Jane Arnold, Dasha and Molly




Polsinelli Sponsors the Na onal Bar Associa on’s Region VIII CLE Retreat Polsinelli was a Gold sponsor of the Na onal Bar Associa on’s (NBA) Region VIII Con nuing Legal Educa on Retreat, held May 18‐20, 2018, at the Cedar Creek Conference Center located in New Haven, Missouri. The event offered a endees a wide range of legal topics to learn about and discuss while earning their required annual con nuing legal educa on credits.

J. Danielle Carr, director of diversity & inclusion (STL), NBA Board of Governors and Region VIII Director un l August 2018, was instrumental in organizing and planning the event, which drew judges, commissioners, in house counsel, a orneys and legal professionals from both Missouri and Illinois.

Shareholder Elton Dean (STL) facilitated an in‐house counsel roundtable at the retreat and Shareholder Quen n Jennings (KC), served as panelist for a discussion on the unique challeng‐es African‐American a orneys face. Ji aun Dill, (STL) firm‐wide diversity & inclusion coordinator, moderated an “Alterna ve Careers” panel session.

Religion in the Workplace

Historically, many Americans lived and worked in homog‐enous communi es where employees and employers shared similar expecta ons surrounding religious obser‐vances. Undoubtedly, these shared expecta ons made striking the balance between work and faith in the work‐place less challenging than it is today; where fortunately, workforces are more diverse.

Workforce diversity o en brings religious diversity and employers are expected to make accommoda ons for the same. For employers, finding a balance between work and faith is one component of building an inclusive work‐place. If an employer’s policies conflict with or do not accommodate employees’ religious observa ons, em‐ployees may feel forced to choose between their reli‐gious tenants and career. Conversely, the employer may have challenges that make it difficult to make reasonable accommoda ons.

Recognizing that accommoda ng employees’ religious needs may pose challenges, the Associa on of Legal Ad‐ministrators ‐ Gateway Chapter, of which Polsinelli’s Sen‐ior HR Administrator Brenda Deertz (STL) is the St. Louis Chapter President, hosted a program in partnership with the Diversity Awareness Partnership (DAP) to help organi‐za ons iden fy best prac ces for crea ng an inclusive workplace for faith‐based or non‐faith‐based organiza‐

ons and prac ces.

The 60‐minute “A Ma er of Faith” program was held on June 20, 2018. Polsinelli’s Firm‐wide Diversity & Inclusion Coordinator Ji aun Dill (STL) served as a panelist.

Pictured (L‐R): Steve Parks, director of programs; Ji aun Dill, Polsinelli; Maleeha Ahmad, Global Health MPH candidate; DAP Execu ve Director Melanie Powell‐Robinson; and, Council on American‐Islamic Rela ons ‐ Missouri Execu ve Director Faizan Syed

Polsinelli Hosts a Meet & Greet with the Jewish Federa on of St. Louis

Polsinelli hosted a Meet & Greet with the Jewish Federa on of St. Louis on August 7, 2018. Associate Jeffrey Glogower (STL), was instrumental in organizing the event.

The Meet & Greet was an opportunity to learn more about what the organiza on offers the Greater St. Louis community and be‐yond.

The nonprofit organiza on’s President and CEO, Dr. Andrew Re‐hfeld, told a endees about the impressive body of work the Federa on undertakes each year, including the organiza on’s support of more than 90 agencies, programs and services in St. Louis and around the world. Its support helps serve the needs of the economically disadvantaged and it provides a host of pro‐gramming that specifically serves the needs of the Jewish com‐munity.




Pro Bono

Pro Bono Program Structure and Prac ce Updates Polsinelli’s pro bono program has recently changed from a pro bono commi ee to a structure comprised of the Pro Bono Director; Pro Bono Office Liaisons; and Na onal Cause Commi ees. Individuals in these roles will work together to bring pro bono opportuni es to our a orneys and elevate our program.

The firm has established five na onal Cause Commi ees to focus on areas of pro bono where our a orneys have the most interest. These areas include: (1) civil rights; (2) immigra on/asylum; (3) housing/urban & economic development; (4) corporate governance for non‐profits; and (5) families, children and veterans.

The purpose of these commi ees will be to iden fy and strengthen rela onships with leading organiza ons in these areas as well as address best prac ces, evolv‐ing pro bono needs and training for pro bono ma ers. Polsinelli will work to partner with experts in each field. If you are interested in serving on a Cause Commi ee, please email the pro bono team at [email protected]. The pro bono program has a orneys in each office that will serve as pro bono liaisons to assist locally with ques ons and trainings.

Through the pro bono program, Polsinelli is also working to be er highlight our firm’s commitment to pro bono and recognize individual successes. Please note the following:

We now have a pro bono Twi er account; please consider following us @Polsinelli_PB;

We are working with the communica ons team to highlight pro bono suc‐cesses externally. Please email your Pro Bono Liaison and the Director of Pro Bono Services Michelle Clardy (STL) with pro bono successes;

Whenever possible, please take photos at local pro bono events and send them to [email protected] for the dashboard and internal/external communica ons; and

We are developing a recogni on program to highlight and recognize those mekeepers and staff who have displayed an excep onal commitment to

pro bono efforts in their communi es.

Polsinelli is excited about these changes and looks forward to con nuing to ex‐pand our pro bono program.

Please watch for future communica ons announcing the launch of the dashboard and addi onal pro bono related news.

Polsinelli Receives Firm of the Year Award

Polsinelli was selected as a recipient of the pres gious Robert C. Welch Volun‐teer A orney Project Award. The award is presented annually to individ‐uals and law firms who “through their par cipa on in the Volunteer A orney Project (VAP) have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the deliv‐ery of pro bono legal services to the poor of our community."

VAP is a program created by Legal Aid of Western Missouri (LAWMO), with the support of local bar associa ons, to provide legal services to those with limited income. Polsinelli has partnered with LAWMO on mul ple projects over the years, including helping the Key Coali on Neighborhood Associa on through the Adopt‐A‐Neighborhood project.

In total, a orneys in Polsinelli’s Kansas City office performed 10,320 pro bono hours in 2017.

Pictured (L‐R): Shareholders Blake Reeves (KC) and Brendan McPherson (KC)




Meet the Pro Bono Office Liaisons

Chemistry Professor, Syed Jamal, Wins Remand from the Board of Immigra on Appeals Polsinelli’s involvement in pro bono ma ers can arise in a variety of ways, some of which hit closer to home than others. Earli‐er this year, the firm worked on a ma er that earned local and na onal a en on and was at the center of an intense debate about immigra on and the deporta on process.

Syed Jamal – a father, chemistry teacher, and respected molecular biologist – was arrested while taking his children to school in Lawrence, Kansas. In the days that followed, he was ini ally transported to a deten on center in Michigan and later to a deten on center in El Paso to await deporta on.

Without no fying his family or a orneys, Syed was put on a plane to Bangladesh. It was only with the help of Senator Claire McCaskill, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins and Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver, that Syed was removed from the plane during a fuel stop in Honolulu and returned to a deten on center in Pla e County, Missouri.

Syed’s neighbor, Polsinelli Shareholder Alan Anderson, (KC), spearheaded efforts to help him and worked closely with Rekha Sharma‐Crawford, Syed’s immigra on a orney, to secure his release.

Working on a purely pro bono basis, the Polsinelli team capitalized on the firm's public policy strengths, both locally and na‐onally in Washington, D.C., to support Syed and his family of five. The team included former U.S. House of Representa ves

Member and Polsinelli Senior Policy Advisor Alan Wheat (DC), Shareholders Russ Jones (KC), Bob Henderson (KC), Luke Hage‐dorn (KC) and Associate Libby Marden (KC).

Recently, the Board of Immigra on Appeals agreed that Jamal should be given an opportunity to present his deporta on case to an Immigra on Judge in Kansas City. In its August 2018 decision, the Board found that “reopening is warranted." While the case is far from over, the threat of deporta on is no longer imminent. “The family could not be happier," said Anderson, “Syed is part of our community's fabric and we are all thrilled with the Board's decision."




Pro Bono Spotlight on Project Corazon & Office Efforts: Coming Together to Make a Difference for Migrant

Detainees & Separated Children

Polsinelli has long been commi ed to providing legal services to individuals and nonprofit organiza ons that cannot afford rep‐resenta on. So when the opportunity arose to join Project Corazon, a coali on of law firms and volunteers dedicated to reu‐ni ng families separated by the “Zero‐Tolerance Policy,” the firm was eager to get involved and contribute to their efforts.

Polsinelli is proud to be among the first to join the project. Because of a growing need and the opportunity to make a significant impact in our communi es, we recognize immigra on as one of our five priori zed pro bono pillars.

With Project Corazon, our immediate goal was to reunite children with their families. Beyond this, we are working to address a crisis where more and more people are detained without representa on. Only 12 percent of individuals in the immigra on system receive legal representa on. The immigra on system is a civil process. As such, individuals may have an a orney pre‐sent, but there is no cons tu onal right to counsel. Importantly, children are not en tled to counsel either. Children, many of whom do not speak English and are as young as three years old, are forced to represent themselves in court. Having an a or‐ney has a significant impact on the outcome of an individual’s appearance in immigra on court. Those that have counsel are twelve mes more likely to seek relief, and twice as likely to obtain it.

Since June 2018, a orneys across the firm have joined together to learn, support and assist migrant detainees and undocument‐ed children through hos ng and par cipa ng in the below trainings, and by partnering with these organiza ons to assist de‐tained individuals and undocumented children.

Pictured (L‐R): Ramon Valdez, Innova on Law Lab; Polsinelli’s Director of Pro Bono Services, Share‐holder Michelle Clardy (STL); and Execu ve Direc‐tor of DDLN , Bob Grove, at the DDLN Training CLE

Deporta on Defense Legal Network (DDLN) Bond Hearing Training CLE held in Kansas City on June 20, 2018.

Rocky Mountain Immigrant Advocacy Network Bond Hearing Training CLE held in Denver on July 31, 2018.

The Florence Project SIJS Visas Training held in Phoenix on August 9, 2018.

Project Corazon Request for Reconsidera on and Creditable Fear In‐terview Training held via Webinar.

Coming Soon: Three Part Immigra on Training Series in Dallas hosted by HRI.

* Trainings have been recorded and are available to view for those that could not a end.

Polsinelli’s par cipa on in Project Corazon and its support for helping detain‐ees obtain legal counsel is a testament to the firm’s commitment to pro bono, and helping those without means to obtain legal support.

Documents

Mosaic SUMMER 2018 Danielle Rewrite Final · 2018. 11. 8. · boardroom. Pictured (L‐R): Neelu Sethi, CIO, Reddy Ice; Jon Henderson, and Chris Curia, EVP of Human Resources, Energy