Page 6 - Katten 2025 Pro Bono Annual Review

KATTEN REPRESENTATION LEADS TO EXPANDED DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE PROTECTIONS FOR CLIENT

A team from Katten’s Los Angeles office secured a significant appellate victory for our client, referred
through the Family Violence Appellate Project, when a California Court of Appeal reversed the trial court’s
denial of her request to include her children as protected parties under a domestic violence restraining
order against her ex-partner. The court found good cause to include the children, recognizing
the trauma they suffered from witnessing abuse, and — at the urging of Managing
Partner of our California offices Zia Modabber, Entertainment and Media
Litigation chair, and a former Los Angeles Commercial Litigation associate
supporting the matter — declined to remand, instead directing the trial court
to modify the restraining order to include the children. The resulting
published opinion clarifies the “good cause” standard under the Domes-
tic Violence Prevention Act and will provide valuable guidance to trial
courts and future victims seeking protection.

CHICAGO ATTORNEYS SECURE
ASYLUM FOR RWANDAN REFUGEE
AFTER SIX-YEAR LEGAL BATTLE

In collaboration with the National Immigrant Justice Center, testimony on country conditions and trauma. The immigra-
Chicago Litigation Associates Loren Lee and Dylan Marriott tion judge granted our client asylum, crediting his testimony
prevailed in an asylum hearing for a Rwandan refugee, and underscoring the impact of Katten’s skilled advocacy.
concluding a protracted six-year process with a successful
Over the years, Katten’s team has included Litigation Senior
hearing in Indianapolis. Their client had been repeatedly
Counsel and Director of Pro Bono Services Jonathan Baum,
imprisoned and severely beaten in Rwanda for involvement
Capital Markets Partner Alyse Sagalchik, Litigation Associate
with a political party opposing the current regime. Despite
Sarah Scruton and Intellectual Property Litigation Counsel
the absence of corroborating evidence such as witness state-
Matthew Holub.
ments or hospital records — a challenge not uncommon in
cases involving political persecution — Loren and Dylan effec- The whole team was moved by the client’s statement:
tively presented their client’s case, supported by expert “I believe in American justice.”

“ I am so thrilled by this tremendous outcome before a very challenging

immigration judge. It is getting harder and harder to win these cases,

so this news truly made my month.” JULIE ANNE RICH, Senior Attorney, Pro Bono Asylum Project,
National Immigrant Justice Center

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