WSGives

Proud of the work we do to give access to justice to those who need it. Recently, in a lawsuit about discriminatory policing, we partnered with the ACLU of Louisiana and co-counsel to represent Ms. Danks. The case was settled - you can read more here.

Our Volunteer of the Week is Isaac Reed from the Palo Alto office. Isaac is a corporate associate who has contributed to pro bono initiatives over the past year. His work includes aiding in the incorporation of the Institute for Mathematics Instruction and Friends of Conservation Carpathia - US. He has also assisted these companies in navigating their 501(c)(3) application processes. In addition, Isaac collaborates with the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Legal Services for Entrepreneurs to offer legal aid to a small business, Pro-Realty Eco Cleaning Solutions.   Here’s Isaac on why giving back is so important: "To me, giving back is not just a responsibility, it's a privilege. There is something incredibly rewarding about using my legal skills to make a tangible difference in my community. Whether it's helping to secure nonprofit status for organizations doing vital work, or supporting local small businesses, each pro bono case I undertake brings new challenges and lessons. I encourage others to get involved, as the act of giving back doesn't only benefit the community, but also has the potential to enrich your life in unexpected ways.”    Congratulations Isaac!

I'm sharing some bittersweet news: I’ll be leaving my role as a pro bono paralegal at Wilson Sonsini tomorrow. Moving from the UK to the U.S. for this job was a huge step, and I’m grateful for all the experiences and people I’ve had the pleasure of working with along the way.   This was my first "grown up" job after working as a waitress, and I couldn’t have asked for a better place to start my career. I’ve had the opportunity to work on impactful legal matters—whether it was assisting with immigration cases, depositions in Louisiana, supporting small businesses, or helping veterans. Contributing to causes that people care about has been incredibly rewarding.   As I take some time off to focus on the next steps in my journey, I’m both excited and determined to see where this path leads.   I want to take a moment to thank my team mates at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (get ready for some cheesy material). Luke Liss, your dedication and passion to making this the best pro bono program on Earth (not that I'm biased) is inspiring and makes me strive to do my best every day. Gail McFall, you are one of the most dedicated people that I know. You are always looking out for others and always find more ways to give. Tonia Ouellette Klausner, you are an incredible source of inspiration and I love how you are always looking for opportunities to mentor others. Layan Khrais, you are so incredibly creative, determined, hardworking and mindful. I look up to you immensely. Franchette Garcia, I'm so honored to call you a friend. You have the patience of a saint and I love that you always had time for my "silly" questions. Rodolfo Munoz, you are one of the most hardworking, empathetic people that I know. You never hesitate to go above and beyond for your clients and friends alike and always look out for the people around you. Angela Morabito, my G. My work sister. Without whom we wouldn't have WSGives. Thank you for always being there when I've needed advice. You're the perfect mix of cheeky and wise and it's such a rarity. Denise Aki Valles, you're not on LinkedIn but I'd be remised not to mention you. You are my partner in crime. I'm going to miss our lunches together, musing over which of the great 650 lunches to get (iykyk). And to all the people that I've had the honor of working with, it's been such an pleasure to help make your passions become realities. Your dedication to your communities is what makes me want to take this next big step and I cannot thank you enough. I will always look back on my time as Wilson Sonsini's pro bono paralegal fondly and I'm going to miss every single one of you.   I look forward to staying connected and seeing where our paths might cross again in the future. This isn't a "goodbye" this is a "see you later."

Our Volunteers of the Week are Francis Hernandez and Karely Nunez from the Palo Alto office. Francis and Karely are two of our interns from the Emerson Collective FirstGen Intern Program. During their time at the firm, they worked closely with the Community Impact, DEI, and HR teams. While at the firm, Francis gave a presentation on “Challenges in Equitable Career Advancement for Latina Attorneys,” while Karely gave a presentation on “Unseen Challenges Women of Color Face in Law Firms.” Both presentations addressed the systemic issues that face these social groups, as well as ways to address and prevent social and professional barriers among colleagues. Here’s Francis on why pro bono is so important: Coming from a low-income background, it's important to give back the same help that I have once received. I have seen how difficult it is for underserved communities to gain access to legal services, healthcare, proper education, etc. Pro Bono is a good way to advocate for minority groups who are underrepresented, and it presents the opportunity to help those who truly need it while making an everlasting impact on an individual's life. A little help goes a long way! Here’s Karely on why pro bono is so important: As a first-generation student and Latina, my background and community have inspired me to give back. From a young age, I volunteered in underserved Bay Area communities, assisting with various issues such as housing displacement and providing access to educating others on their legal rights and communities. The resilience, drive, and leadership I witnessed inspired me to continue to support others. Having also received support from others, I know firsthand the difference it can make in one’s life. This has fueled my passion for helping others, believing every action counts. It has been an honor to work with others to provide impactful resources and change people’s lives. I encourage everyone to get involved as it strengthens communities, and it deepens the connections with others. Together, we can uplift one another while making a meaningful difference.

We are thankful for our continued partnership with Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. We are working together on 1000 Black Voices Trade mission to San Francisco coming up in October 2024. Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR) is a global law firm representing the pioneers and disruptors associated with market-changing innovation. So how fitting to partner with WSGR to support our community of founder pioneers and disruptors. Together with 1000 Black Voices inclusive global community with unrivalled access to local and global capital, talent, connections and innovation, and Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati's incredible leadership representing tech companies at every stage of development, founders have access to valuable expertise and opportunities. This partnership is set to drive business growth for startups seeking access to funding, partnerships and expansion to the US. Please note that applications are closing shortly. Should you wish to join us on this trade mission please apply now. Interviews have already been taking place and we are accepting on a rolling basis. ⬇️ Apply here: https://lnkd.in/gXah4srF Don’t miss out on this opportunity to explore and unlock new opportunities and connections in San Francisco. Find more information here. https://lnkd.in/gjrFsiqi Looking forward to announcing further exciting partnerships. #TradeMission #SanFrancisco #startups #scaleups #Innovation #opportunities #connections #partnerships #BusinessGrowth #investors #WilsonSonsini #1000BlackVoices #funding #expansion British Consulate-General in San Francisco Daniel Glazer | Nancy Farestveit | Adam Pilkington | Broderick Henry | Greg Broome | Raj Mahapatra | Randy Lewis | Taylore Williams | Luke Liss | Rashad Mohammed | Ashmi Bhagani | Michael Labriola | Tammy Sandhu MBE | Deidre Moore | Matthew Caron | Rachel Gilley(She/Her) | Mary Taylor | Michael Gonzalez | Jonathan Reynolds MP | Hannah Berke | Clayton Bryan | Sawyer Levy

A fond farewell for now for a key teammate, Chitra Parandaman. Chitra joined Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati a little over 4 years ago - right at the befinning of the pandemic and all the uncertainty it entailed - as our first employee fully dedicated to pro bono at the time. Chitra hit the ground running at a time when the entire industry was adapting on the fly, and for us, how to continue to serve those in need and advance justice. Chitra was immediately a true force multiplier. Organizing virtual clinics and helping us with new initiatives, conceptualizing new ways to connect with and celebrate our volunteers such as our WSGives page, all the while embodying that key attribute to build trust with our treasured clients, a humble and empathetic heart. Our team has grown substantially in the years since, thanks to the dedication and support of Douglas Clark, and the generous spirit of our firm community. Throughout, Chitra has remained a key part of our efforts. We will miss her, but are also very excited for her future and the impact she will make. 👏🏾🙏🏾👍🏾

Yesterday, employees from the Los Angeles and Century City offices volunteered with Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA). Along with other community members, the team prepared and packed over 600 meals to be distributed to those in need. The meal consisted of chicken and veggie fajitas, rice, and chocolate chip cookies. Team Wilson Sonsini included Ben Hoar, Michael Iwuoha, Valerie Lopez, Angela Morabito, and John Winship. OBKLA is a community-run, industrial kitchen where volunteers prepare meals for distribution to those in need throughout Los Angeles. In the last year, the organization has distributed more than 70,000 meals. 

🎉 Join us Friday, September 13 for the second installment of our signature pro bono event: the Pro Bono Happy Hour Roundtable! ✨ Grab a snack, pour yourself a drink, and tune in to an incredible panel of pro bono experts. They’ll be sharing their insights, tips, and discussing the impactful work happening in San Diego and beyond. Don’t miss out on this must-see event! Pro Bono Happy Hour Roundtable | September 13 | 5:00–6:00 PM PT Register: bit.ly/ABABLSFALL24 Moderator: Rachel R. Brown, Davis Wright Tremaine LLP Panelists: Eric Austin, University of San Diego School of Law Luke Liss, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati Jae Park, Dentons Paolo Sy, Microsoft Matt Velasquez, San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, Inc. #ABABLSFALL #ProBono #HappyHourRoundtable #FallMeeting Paul Heer

We are pleased to share a recent immigration success in a matter referred to us by Kids in Need of Defense (KIND).   The team received an order from the Immigration Court granting its motion to dismiss the removal case against its client, Fernando (name changed). This order follows the team’s successful representation of Fernando in D.C. family court, where it obtained a predicate order for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) and third-party custody for Fernando’s caretaker.   Fernando is an 18-year-old young man from Honduras who enjoys meeting new people and learning different subjects at school. At 10 years old, Fernando began working in the fields with machetes. After completing fifth grade, he did not return to school because he began working full time, as requested by his father, who was an abusive alcoholic. Throughout Fernando’s childhood, he struggled with depression and mental health issues. He now lives with his caretaker and is enrolled in school, and will be able to live and work lawfully in the United States on account of this latest order.   Many thanks to the team that worked on this matter, including Nicholas Miller, Aayush Patel, and John Overing. 

Wishing a great senior year at University of California, Berkeley for our fantastic summer intern Francis Hernandez. Francis first joined us in ‘23 as a part of Emerson Collective’s outstanding FirstGen Internship program, and returned for part of this summer. We are grateful to have had her as a part of the special Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati community and team, and very excited for her bright future! 💫 👏🏾👍🏾