According to the most recent FBI statistics, reported incidents of hate crimes increased by 17 percent in 2017, rising for the third consecutive year. The FBI determined that the primary motivators of these crimes were race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation.1  When compounded with the rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, and recent changes in U.S. policy that negatively impact immigrants seeking asylum relief, there is an enormous, urgent need for effective pro bono legal services among LGBTQ immigrants.

Given this context, Bloomberg LP and Proskauer are proud sponsors of Lauren DesRosiers, an Equal Justice Works Fellow at the Anti-Violence Project (AVP), who is devoted to providing holistic legal services to LGBTQ immigrant survivors of violence.  According to Lauren, “this project combats the further marginalization of these communities by creating channels whereby LGBTQ immigrant survivors of violence can be paired with pro bono attorneys and other forms of representation.”

To kick-off the project, lawyers from Bloomberg LP and Proskauer came together last week for training on the U Visa, which is a crucial form of immigration relief for crime victims who cooperate with law enforcement. Receiving a U Visa provides legal status and employment authorization to crime victims and qualifying family members, ultimately giving them a pathway to citizenship. Lauren conducted the training along with her colleague, Christina Peña from AVP, the only organization in New York that provides support and advocacy specifically for LGBTQ and HIV-affected survivors of violence. The two spoke comprehensively about the needs of LGBTQ immigrants, highlighting the ways in which lawyers can assist them in a culturally competent and trauma-informed manner.

In addition to filing U Visas, the project will enable pro bono lawyers to pursue other forms of legal relief for this vulnerable population, to the extent available, including asylum. Lauren also will participate in broader programming in order to educate and engage lawyers and staff at Bloomberg LP and Proskauer on this issue. As Lauren explained, “Immigrant LGBTQ survivors of hate violence exist at a critical nexus of underserved communities and are at a high risk of estrangement from institutional systems of justice.”

1 In 2017, the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) recorded 52 individual reports of anti-LGBTQ homicide.   The year before there were 28 individual reports in addition to the 49 lives claimed at the Pulse Nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.

 

Posted in LGBT Civil Rights, Pro Bono
Tags: advocacy, anti-immigrant sentiment, Anti-Violence Project, Asylum, Bloomberg LP, citizenship, Equal Justice Works, FBI, hate crime, HIV-affected, Immigration, legal status, LGBTQ, marginalization, Pro Bono, Pro Bono Legal Services, representation, sexual orientation, support, survivors, training, U Visa, urgent need, victims, violence, vulnerable, vulnerable populations
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Photo of William C. Silverman William C. Silverman

William C. Silverman is a partner responsible for leading Proskauer’s global pro bono efforts, which provide assistance to individual clients and nonprofit organizations in litigation as well as transactional matters. He focuses on identifying and securing pro bono opportunities and partnerships for Proskauer …

William C. Silverman is a partner responsible for leading Proskauer’s global pro bono efforts, which provide assistance to individual clients and nonprofit organizations in litigation as well as transactional matters. He focuses on identifying and securing pro bono opportunities and partnerships for Proskauer lawyers and ensuring widespread participation in these projects.

Bill has robust private and public sector experience and a strong criminal and civil background. He has worked extensively on government investigations and white collar criminal matters, as well as complex civil litigation in federal and state courts. He also served as an assistant U.S. attorney in the Southern District of New York, where he led criminal investigations, conducted trials and handled Second Circuit appeals.

Throughout his career, Bill has dedicated himself to the promotion of equal access to justice through pro bono service, particularly in the areas of family court, anti-trafficking, and criminal reentry.

Bill served as lead counsel on behalf of three legal services organizations challenging New York State’s “Host Homes” regulations, which created an unauthorized shadow foster care system. In a unanimous decision, the New York Court of Appeals struck down the regulations for failure to provide important safeguards, including appointment of counsel and judicial oversight. Bill also co-authored a groundbreaking report for the New York City Bar Association and the Fund For Modern Courts on how COVID-19 impacted the New York City Family Court. Bill is currently serving as co-chair of the Court Modernization Action Committee (CMAC), a working group of judicial, bar, and community leaders formed to support and advise the New York State Court System in implementing technology to increase efficiency and enhance equal access to justice. He also serves on New York’s Advisory Committee on Artificial Intelligence and the Courts.

Bill serves as counsel to the New York State Anti-Trafficking Coalition. In that capacity he has been a strong advocate for changes in the law and public policy to protect victims of human trafficking and bring perpetrators to justice. He also represents individual clients in this area, including a successful federal lawsuit brought on behalf of a trafficking victim against her traffickers. For his work, he was named by domestic violence nonprofit Sanctuary For Families as one of “New York’s New Abolitionists.”

Bill has been recognized for his public service with the James Duane Award from the Bench and Bar of the Southern District of New York (2026); the Abely Pro Bono Leadership Award from Sanctuary For Families and Columbia Law School (2019); the Special Leadership Award for All-Around Excellence in Corporate Social Responsibility & the Law from City & State Reports (2015); the Commitment to Justice Award for Outstanding Partner from inMotion (2008); and the Matthew G. Leonard Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Achievement from MFY Legal Services (2007).

Outside of his work at the Firm, Bill serves on various not-for-profit boards. Bill is chair of RISE Partnership, an organization dedicated to ensuring the successful reentry of men and women on federal supervised release, and formerly served as chair of the Fund for Modern Courts, a nonpartisan citizen organization devoted to improving the New York State courts.

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Photo of Wendy Dessy Wendy Dessy

Wendy Hattler Dessy is the director of corporate social responsibility for Proskauer. She oversees all aspects of employee engagement, board service and corporate social responsibility for the Firm..

Through a host of initiatives, the Firm endeavors to advance education, raise awareness of veterans’…

Wendy Hattler Dessy is the director of corporate social responsibility for Proskauer. She oversees all aspects of employee engagement, board service and corporate social responsibility for the Firm..

Through a host of initiatives, the Firm endeavors to advance education, raise awareness of veterans’ issues, and improve opportunities for women in Africa through literacy and education.

Some of her most impactful programming has included creating an Adopt-a-School initiative, and establishing partnerships with both The Institute for Veterans and Military Families and Village Health Works. Wendy has also created local partnerships across the country in the cities and communities where Proskauer employees live and work.

Prior to joining Proskauer, Wendy served as Executive Director for NYC Cool Roofs and Manager of Public/Private Partnerships for the Mayor’s Office of Service and Volunteerism from 2010 to 2014. Wendy held various positions within the Bloomberg administration and campaigns from 2005 to 2010.

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