Page 7 - Katten 2024 Pro Bono Annual Review

CHICAGO TEAM COMPLETES
SIJS CASE WITH NIJC FOR MOTHER
AND CHILDREN FROM MEXICO

On August 23, a Chicago cross-practice Mexico. The team, led by Financial Assistant Jennifer Schlangen and Docket
team successfully completed a Special Markets and Funds Associate Benjamin Coordinator Juan Garcia. Together, they
Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) case Levine, included Jonathan Baum, Financial overcame several challenges, such as
with the National Immigrant Justice Markets and Funds Associate Jordan appointing special counsel for the father’s
Center (NIJC), securing sole custody for a Schwartz, Insolvency and Restructuring estate and managing extensive paper-
mother of her children. This achievement Associate Robin Evans, Legal Executive work required in domestic relations court.
marks the first step in obtaining SIJS
status for one of her children born in
“ It was a wonderful learning experience as a young associate. I learned how to manage
client relationships, handle a case from start to finish and had the opportunity to work
on a litigation matter as a transactional attorney. It was also great to learn how to
work with translators.” Benjamin Levine

THOMAS ARTAKI AND KATTEN’S AMICUS BRIEF
CAROLINE SABATIER CITED IN APPEAL OF
WIN ASYLUM FOR DOMESTIC VIOLATION ORDER
TRANSGENDER WOMAN FOR PRO BONO CLIENT
FLEEING JAMAICA
A pro bono trio from Chicago, including Financial Markets
On May 1, a transgender woman from Jamaica was granted Litigation and Enforcement Partners Elliott Bacon and Sarah
asylum thanks to the dedicated pro bono efforts of New York Weber and Litigation Associate Casey McClaren, helped our
Litigation Associates Thomas Artaki and Caroline Sabatier. The client appeal a domestic violence protective order where the
client, who faced relentless harassment and discrimination in court had refused to consider her request for child support.
Jamaica and fled after a violent acid attack by a local gang, was Despite the appellant later receiving child support from another
represented by the team through every stage of her asylum court, the appellate court decided to address the issue due to its
process. This included preparing a legal brief, client and witness significance. The court ruled that the initial court erred in not
affidavits, and an index of country conditions, as well as obtaining considering child support alongside the order of protection,
and renewing employment authorization documentation. citing the Katten team’s amicus brief to high-
light the importance of addressing
“This process showed us firsthand what a challenging, opaque
financial abuse in domestic violence
and chaotic immigration system so many asylum seekers are
cases. This decision underscored
facing today,” Caroline said. “While we are certainly used to
the critical right to have child
expecting the unexpected as attorneys, we ran into some truly
support determined in conjunc-
unbelievable hurdles in our client’s journey through the asylum
tion with protective orders.
process.” She added that being in the room with the client when
the immigration judge granted her asylum application “was such
a meaningful moment” for her and Thomas. “Seeing her face after
years of waiting to finally feel at home in this country made every
challenge along the way more than worth it.”

Katten 2024 PRO BONO ANNUAL REVIEW 5