DLA Piper receives the Public Interest Law Network’s “Global Partnership Award”

DLA Piper is proud to announce the firm has received the Public Interest Law Network’s (PILnet) “Global Partnership Award” for its participation on the Afghan Women Judges Rescue Project alongside the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) and Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP (Fried Frank).

PILnet Global Awards celebrate and honor the extraordinary efforts made by individuals, law firms, and non-governmental organizations to strengthen civil society, advance social justice, and protect the public interest around the world, while the Global Partnership Award recognizes the most innovative cross-sectoral pro bono legal project impacting more than one country.

The Global Partnership Award recognizes the work done by the IAWJ, DLA Piper and Fried Frank following the US withdraw from Afghanistan in 2021. The IAWJ recruited DLA Piper and Fried Frank to assist Afghan women judges who faced grave danger following the Taliban’s takeover of the country. This included providing counsel on refugee and asylum laws, preparing applications, submitting documentation, working with policy officials, and screening judges’ cases.

DLA Piper assisted in coordinating individualized screenings and assistance for judges in countries around the world, mobilizing more than 100 lawyers from DLA Piper and other firms to assist more than 200 Afghan judges and their families.

Annie Geraghty Helms, US Pro Bono Counsel at DLA Piper, accepted the award on behalf of the firm and its cross-sectoral partners.

“We are proud to be part of such an important project – one that has saved lives and helped women judges on a new path to safety,” said Helms. “Although there is still important work to be done, today, judges are studying to practice law in their new countries, helping their children integrate into new communities and rebuilding their lives. This is truly the power of collaboration and pro bono.”