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2 © 2016 Winston & Strawn LLP
FROM THE CHAIR
More than winning…
Earlier this year a partner friend was discussing with me his preparation of an associate for oral argument in a 7th Circuit
appeal that he is supervising. He was distressed because he believed their client likely would not win the appeal. Concerned
that he may have felt misled about the project, I asked him if the case was presented to him as a matter he should win. “No,”
he conceded, but quickly added “I don’t like losing. I’m serious. I don’t like it.”
It’s attitude like that which makes Winston a great law firm. It’s also an aspect of pro bono that can make it an unusual undertaking
for most of us: we may have no (real) expectation of winning in the traditional sense for our client. And that’s OK. By providing
Winston-style legal representation to those who are most in need, we confer respect and dignity to those who often are
unaccustomed to such treatment, and we elevate the system of justice.
Take for example one of our Washington, D.C. associates. He represents a troubled mother who has been seeking shared custody
of her 17-year-old son, a child with emotional challenges, for more than a decade because her former husband has regularly denied
her contact. At the onset of our representation and after reviewing the file the team told told her
it was highly unlikely we could alter the status quo arrangement, but that we would try our
best to arrange some regular contact. As predicted, they’ve had little success so far in court.
But the client, who suffers acute anxiety which is only exacerbated by her helplessness
in resolving this situation, is able to cope knowing that she can speak with this associate.
No doubt there are times this becomes tiresome for him, and I expect that most of the
communication is more akin to counseling than legal advice. Yet he does it anyway
because he knows he’s helping her.
Even without expecting to prevail on the merits, our teams fight the good fight.
At least to me, it may be the most inspiring part of our pro bono practice. Many
representations entail hard work, but no glory and rarely any notice, yet our attorneys
give it their all anyway.
A Chicago office team recently went to trial in another custody case and the court
denied shared custody for our single mother client. The team knew the case was
flawed from the onset – the teenage daughter had stated her preference to live with
her father (even if that was a questionable decision). Yet, in a span of three years,
the team took the case to trial – twice!! – and won an appeal for this client before
ultimately submitting to the daughter’s stated preference. When we informed the
client, she was devastated of course, but it was she who consoled our disheartened
team and effusively thanked them for their extraordinary efforts.
So know that when you take on a pro bono matter, you are likely more than just an
advocate. You may be the source of hope, the touch of humanity that allows your
client to manage a challenging world.
I thank you for all that you do for our clients, win or lose.
Amanda
PRO BONO COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Jeffrey Amato
Kimball Anderson
Ken Berry
Eric Bloom
Sara Cieniewski
Matt Costigan
Lisa Cottle
Geoffrey Eaton
Krista Enns
Jade-Alexandra Fearns
Bryan Goldstein
Amanda Groves
Barry Hart
Jérôme Herbet
Nassim Hooshmandnia
Elizabeth Ireland
Larry Kern
Melinda Lackey
Kelli Lanski
Wood Lay
Mary Lenahan
Stephanie Levy
Michael Moser
Monique Ngo-Bonnici
Deepi Punia
John Schreiber
William Shafton
Pejman Sharifi
John Strasburger
Dorian Thomas
Elizabeth Timkovich
May Wall
Kevin Warner
Stewart Worthy