Samuel E. Klein Pro Bono Awards

Jonathan Gaynor, a finance and real estate partner based in Philadelphia, has been handling landlord tenant cases and helping to lead the Philadelphia office’s landlord tenant pro bono practice, making a material difference in the lives of low income tenants in Philadelphia. Through his work, Jon has helped dozens of individual tenants and families stave off eviction and challenge substandard housing conditions. Jon’s work is a powerful reminder that a sustained, focused pro bono commitment can have a material impact in the communities in which we live and work.

Navigating the family court system can be daunting and complicated for those who do not have a lawyer. The New York City Family Court Volunteer Attorney Program and Family Legal Care were established to assist with filling that justice gap, connecting volunteer lawyers with unrepresented parents and caregivers. Partner Allison Fumai and former associate Chris Ujkic are longstanding participants of both programs, and have built a robust bench of Dechert volunteers who are helping to ensure access to justice and are serving the community in a way that stabilizes homes, protects legal rights and directly impacts lives during crises.

Former U.S. Marine Corps infantryman David Peláez has carried his commitment to service into his legal career. Witnessing firsthand the health and legal challenges facing fellow Marines, David began taking action during law school by helping fellow veterans navigate the complex process of filing disability benefit applications. Through Dechert’s pro bono practice, he has gone on to assist numerous veteran clients with military discharge upgrade applications, helping those who received a less than “Honorable” discharge status restore the recognition and benefits that so many of these individuals deserve.

Over eight years, a multi-office Dechert team worked with New York Lawyers for the Public Interest to pursue justice for the family of a man who died while incarcerated in New Jersey. Through extensive investigation and discovery, the team uncovered evidence of substandard care that strengthened the family's civil rights claims. Their efforts resulted in a settlement of approximately US$500,000, and Dechert continues to represent the family in Surrogate’s Court to secure distribution of the proceeds to the decedent’s minor children. The team included Drew Bencie, Antonella Capobianco-Ranallo, Michael Fazio, Emily Van Tuyl and Michelle Yeary.

Since 2024, a multi-office team of lawyers and business services professionals , alongside three other law firms, has supported Afghan judges and lawyers who are at risk and unable to work due to ongoing threats from the Taliban, helping them apply for resettlement so they can rebuild their lives overseas. The full team includes Magdalena Bleicher, Rui Cheng, Deety Dubal, Nila Germain, Cian Hutchinson, Alex Illingworth, Ramita Kahlon, Joseph Kariuki, Hannah MacDonald, Ludmilla Poluyanova, Naomi Sayers, Nik Sharma, Jess Smith, Lea Russl, Akop Tovmasyan, Daisy Umutesi, Alex Zintl and Bianca Tosi (former legal secretary).

Margaux Lasseigne and former associate Yona Elfassi have played a key role in Dechert’s partnership with Safe Passage, supporting family reunification applications for unaccompanied Afghan refugee teenagers in France. Since January 2022, the Paris team has taken on nine cases and successfully reunited four families. The initiative expanded in late 2024 to include BNP Paribas lawyers, with Yona and Margaux training volunteers and supporting appeals in complex cases.