Page 22 - Katten 2025 Pro Bono Annual Review

KATTEN SPONSORS COUNCIL FOR CHILDREN’S RIGHTS
“A NEW DAY FOR CHILDREN” LUNCHEON

Our Charlotte office has supported the Council for Children’s Advocacy Program, where attorneys represent children in
Rights (CFCR) for more than 25 years, beginning with Katten’s volatile custody disputes and make best-interest recommen-
predecessor firms Underwood Kinsey and Hamel Hicks Wray dations to the court. Katten also remains a lead sponsor of
Layton, which helped form CFCR’s predecessor, the Children’s major CFCR fundraisers, including this year’s “A New Day
Law Center (CLC), in 1987, with former Katten Counsel Bill for Children” luncheon on March 5, which was attended by
Underwood later serving as Executive Director of CLC and Charlotte’s financial services and law communities as well as
former Partner Vic Wray serving as a former board member. Katten participants, including Real Estate Partner Hayden
Both played key roles in the 2006 merger of CLC and the Harrell; Litigation Senior Counsel Richard Farley; Real Estate
Council for Children to create CFCR. Today, Litigation Counsel Derek Dittner; Real Estate Associates Ava Alim, Kylie
Partner Lindsey Smith serves on CFCR’s board. The firm’s Norman, McGee Roman and Luz Solano-Florez; Charlotte
involvement has both strengthened its Charlotte reputation Office Administrator Jessica Pettus; and Litigation Paralegal
while enabling pro bono service through the Custody Sara Brown.

KATTEN PARTICIPATES IN PUBLIC COUNSEL’S
ANNUAL FUNDRAISER DINNER AND RUN FOR JUSTICE

Katten’s Los Angeles (LA) office supported Public Counsel during its annual fundraiser dinner on February
27 and again at the 22nd Annual Run for Justice at Dodger Stadium on March 15. The fundraiser high-
lighted Public Counsel’s advocacy for equal education, immigration, veterans’ rights, LA’s street vendors
and consumer protection. Katten’s table at the fundraiser included Managing Partner of our California
offices Zia Modabber, Entertainment and Media Litigation chair; California Director of Office Admin-
istration Shelley Wissot; Litigation Partner Joel Weiner and his wife; and Commercial Litigation Associate
Asena Baran; alongside in-house counsel and guests from Sony Pictures Entertainment, Skydance Sports,
World Surf League, Cushman & Wakefield and St. Jude.

At the Run for Justice, Katten’s team of more than 55 members completed the 5K. Under the leadership
of Public Counsel board member Joel Weiner, with team captains Shelley and Human Resources/
Administrative Coordinator Ninna Brando, the firm assembled the largest team and raised more than
$4,800 to support Public Counsel’s civil rights and justice work. The team award is named in honor of Tanya
Russell, former office administrator of our LA office, who passed away in 2020 and, together with Shelley,
worked tirelessly to encourage annual participation, build strong teams and collect donations for this
event that was especially dear to her.

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