Our pro bono partnerships continued to be a rewarding way to work alongside in-house counsel from our corporate clients in 2025. In matters involving capital litigation, compassionate release, asylum and immigration, veterans benefits, disability rights, and small business owners — among many others — Sidley is grateful for these collaborations.
The firm’s pro bono partnership work in 2025 included:
Representation of federal prisoners seeking release from custody via “compassionate release” arguments based on the 2018 First Step Act. As of 2025, Sidley teams and in-house co-counsel have taken cases on behalf of more than 25 compassionate release inmates.
Immigration clinics that our Chicago office hosts with the National Immigrant Justice Center to assist asylees and refugees seeking to renew their Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status; obtain temporary protected status; and petition to bring family members to the U.S. We also work with in-house teams from firm clients to represent individuals and families in ongoing asylum matters.
An ongoing asylum/Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) case referred to lawyers in our D.C. office by Kids In Need of Defense (KIND).
For the tenth consecutive year, Sidley’s New York office partnered with a client’s Legal and Compliance department to assist clients of Sanctuary for Families in applying for SIJS.
In collaboration with the Safe Passage Project, Sidley lawyers and in-house legal teams from corporate clients assist immigrant children and families navigating the immigration system on matters involving asylum, SIJS, and related forms of humanitarian relief. Through these clinics, volunteers provide direct legal support, conduct client interviews, prepare applications and supporting materials, and help vulnerable young people access legal protections and stability.
Multiple trainings and events focused on screening matters for military discharge upgrades in conjunction with the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP). Volunteers in 2025 interviewed veterans and also reviewed files to assist NVLSP.
A project to staff the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Center’s Landlord Tenant Resource Center once a month. Sidley and the firm client with whom we have partnered on this project meet virtually with tenants and small landlords to provide legal information in residential landlord-tenant disputes.
An initiative in Sidley’s London office in which a Sidley team, working together with co-counsel from a client’s in-house Legal & Compliance team, handled welfare benefit appeal cases, representing individuals with disabilities before the Social Security Tribunal. Sidley lawyers ran a training session on Personal Independence Payment appeals and co-counseled on four successful appeals.
Two Neighborhood Entrepreneur Law Project (NELP) clinics through the City Bar Justice Center in New York during which lawyer teams met with local entrepreneurs seeking legal advice. These clinics help clients achieve financial independence and break the cycle of poverty, while bringing jobs and services to the communities where they live and work.
An initiative with the Anti-Recidivism Coalition in which we participated, together with firm clients, in five fully remote clinics to interview people seeking to seal state criminal records.
An event in Chicago with the Center for Disability and Elder Law to help seniors prepare Power of Attorney paperwork.
A training with CF Bridge of Hope focused on obtaining medical visas for non-U.S. citizens with cystic fibrosis who are seeking treatment in the United States.
Together with our corporate partners, KPMG and Microsoft, Sidley co-sponsored Equal Justice Works Fellows at Americans for Immigrant Justice and Lawyers for Children. Here, our two fellows share reflections on the meaningful impact of their fellowship experiences and the bonds they formed with their clients.
“I was put in charge of preparing my client’s I-360 application for her Special Immigrant Juvenile Status application. In the months between submitting her application and receiving a decision, I was fortunate to learn about so many exciting milestones in her life, from graduating high school to starting her first job. And I was able to deliver the news of yet another exciting milestone when I let my client and her mother know that my client’s I-360 petition had been approved! I was honored to be able to sit with my client in her quiet joy at this pivotal step in her journey towards citizenship.” — Kelsey Peña, Americans for Immigrant Justice
“In my fellowship, I am learning to advocate for children in cases where parties are not accustomed to considering the child’s position. In one case, I represent two young sisters who experienced domestic violence between their parents. Initially, the girls did not want to see their dad at all due to the behavior they witnessed. As time has gone on, they have become more comfortable seeing him again. However, I advocated that they not be forced to attend visits as they rebuild and repair their relationship. I am proud that I was able to quickly build the trust and rapport necessary to discuss the nuance of this case with my clients, and articulate my clients’ position to the judge so that their perspective was included in the order.” — Erica Taft, Lawyers for Children
