Page 7 - Katten 2025 Pro Bono Annual Review

DALLAS DUO SECURES LESSER CHARGE FOR
CLIENT FACING LIFE IN PRISON IN MURDER TRIAL

Dallas Litigation Partner Brandon McCarthy led a pro bono murder defense with a lean trial team of himself
and Dallas Litigation Paralegal Joshua Upthegrove, assisted by a Houston attorney from outside of the firm,
Rob Ammons. Due to the lead attorney’s battle with late-stage cancer, Katten was brought in with only six
weeks to prepare for a case in which the defendant, a grandmother caring for her absentee 17-year-old
daughter’s two infants (aged 3 months and 13 months), faced a midnight confrontation when the 19-year-
old victim arrived with her mother and cousin, after drinking and using drugs, to attack the defendant’s
daughter outside the home. Despite the defendant’s pleas, the beating continued, so she shot one assailant
in the back (who died six hours later), shot another in the leg and ran off the third at gunpoint.

The district attorney’s last offer was 45 years on a murder charge. The Katten
team sought a “not guilty” on murder and, at worst, a manslaughter charge.
After two weeks, the jury agreed: not guilty of murder and guilty only of the
lesser charge, with a six-year, non-aggravated sentence, meaning our client
should be out in approximately 18 months. She wept at the outcome, stating, “You saved my life.”

CHICAGO DUO WINS ASYLUM FOR
COUPLE FACING PERSECUTION IN VENEZUELA

Katten was referred to an urgent asylum matter through
the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for a married
couple from Venezuela, both of whom had been members of a The resulting win provides refuge for our clients to build a
main political party opposed to the Maduro regime and were new life, one of whom was arrested and accused of “terror-
persecuted for protesting. Led by Chicago Financial Markets ism” by the Venezuelan military at age 16 for protesting, while
and Funds Associate Robert Bourret, who worked with the other was tortured as his wife was forced to watch. After
Chicago Corporate Associate Austin Brandenburg on what the hearing, Robert and Austin spoke by phone with various
was his first pro bono case, and overseen by Director of Pro members of the clients’ families, who were crying with joy.
Bono Services Jonathan Baum, the Katten team resolved the “Thank you for your great support and for your work in guid-
case in approximately one year. They overcame evidentiary ing and defending us,” the clients texted afterwards. “We owe
gaps from the lack of contemporaneous witnesses willing to you more than just thanks.”
come forward and retained a medical expert to corroborate
torture by Colectivos and secret police.

Katten 2025 PRO BONO ANNUAL REVIEWAL REVIEW
Katten 2025 PR O BONO ANNU 5 5