16 October 2024 • 1 minute read

Krantz Fellowship

In the fall of 2023, we welcomed our 13th class of Krantz Fellows. Named after Sheldon Krantz, a retired DLA Piper partner who dedicated much of his career to pro bono and public service and is known for his mentorship of young lawyers, the fellowship allows two new associates to spend their first year of practice focusing solely on pro bono work.

Our past fellows spent their fellowships on a wide range of matters in the US and internationally. Their work included representing immigrants seeking asylum, contributing to environmental justice initiatives, advising nonprofits on governance issues, participating in global capacity building trainings, and researching issues around transitional justice. We are proud of all our Krantz Fellows' accomplishments and what our fellows Constance Du (Chicago) and Garanique Williams (Atlanta), have achieved in the last year.

Constance Du

Constance first joined DLA Piper in 2019, as an undergraduate Raja Gaddipati fellow. Constance was drawn to the Krantz Fellowship for the opportunities to work directly with clients on civil rights, asylum, and environmental justice matters, as well as the global pro bono work offered through New Perimeter. In her time as a Krantz Fellow, Constance has worked on immigration, impact litigation, food insecurity, and transitional justice matters.

Garanique Williams

Garanique, the firm's first Krantz Fellow in our Atlanta office, has used her time as a Fellow to become a better advocate for those in need and in underserved communities. She has conducted criminal justice research, assisted immigrants, contributed to a transitional justice project, and participated in impact litigation focused on education. Garanique has worked with New Perimeter with a particular focus on women’s advancement and training and supporting new and aspiring lawyers.

Ryan Lantry

"Through the Krantz Fellowship, I was afforded the opportunity to connect and impact people’s lives at the individual human level. Because of DLA Piper’s unwavering commitment to access to justice, climate conservation, and effective pro bono advocacy, I was able to work on meaningful projects through the year, and now I am able to provide a unique perspective and dynamically serve all my clients."

Ellen Pruitt

“The Krantz Fellowship was the perfect entry to my legal career, offering an opportunity to develop legal skills, competence, and confidence in representing clients. I worked with lawyers across the firm on a variety of matters, including public interest research projects, environmental transactions involving carbon markets, corporate governance for international nonprofits, and special-immigrant juvenile status. I traveled to Colombia, where I trained law students on pro bono practice, and to Kenya to assist in the training of African lawyers on negotiation skills. Through these experiences, I learned from lawyers at the top of their fields around the world. I am excited to continue collaborating with lawyers across the firm and to take on new challenges to better serve our clients.”

Eugene Chung

"The Krantz Fellowship represents the firm's strong commitment to pro bono. Thanks to the Fellowship, I was able to be involved in a number of different projects, including immigration, expungement, landlord/tenant, and access to justice matters, and to make a positive impact. The Fellowship truly has built the perfect foundation for me to grow as a lawyer and a counselor."