Kasowitz Secures Custody Modification for Survivor of Gender-Based Violence

Suzy Yaster

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is thrilled to honor a team from Kasowitz LLP for their tremendous work and dedication in representing “Ms. T” in a set of Family Court, Matrimonial, and Civil cases. 

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is thrilled to honor a team from Kasowitz LLP for their tremendous work and dedication in representing “Ms. T” in a set of Family Court, Matrimonial, and Civil cases.  The outstanding team included Partner Cindy Caranella Kelly, and Associates Dexin Deng and Emily A. Lowe.

For over two decades, Ms. T was the victim of extensive economic, emotional and physical abuse by her husband.  Despite these immense challenges, she single-handedly supported her family, using the money she earned to buy a home and providing a loving and supportive environment for her three children.  As the abuse escalated, her husband not only subjected her to severe violence and threats but also attempted to strip her of her interests in the home by selling it at far below market value to his family member. That family member then brought a housing court case against Ms. T in an effort to remove her from the property. Additionally, Ms. T’s husband filed a Family Court action alleging she had violated visitation requirements under their custody order, while Ms. T sought an Order of Protection against him due to the ongoing abuse.

Because her husband had attempted to transfer ownership of her home to his family member, there was no straightforward path to protect her rights. The team crafted a creative, multi-pronged legal strategy, pursuing both matrimonial and civil claims to ensure that Ms. T’s interests would be fully represented.

From the outset, the legal team meticulously prepared as the multiple different actions progressed, conducting thorough research, gathering evidence, and readying for trial. Their attention to detail and strategic planning proved especially critical when complicated discovery and procedural issues arose. Cindy Caranella Kelly, a Managing Partner at Kasowitz, commended team members Dexin Deng and Emily A. Lowe for their persistence and skill in navigating significant challenges throughout the years of their representation of Ms. T.

In addition to the team’s stellar legal work, what motivated Sanctuary for Families attorneys Lisa Vara and Lauren Patel to nominate the Kasowitz team for recognition was their trauma-informed lawyering.  The team adeptly managed multiple parallel proceedings with many moving parts and extensive detail, while also building a deep relationship of trust with Ms. T. Their empathy, transparency, and unwavering dedication allowed Ms. T to feel supported and confident, even in the face of daunting legal challenges and changing circumstances.

Ultimately, the Kasowitz team’s hard work and perseverance resulted in a highly favorable settlement. Ms. T will receive her rightful share of the equity in the home her husband had attempted to deny her. The team also participated in an inquest in June and is awaiting a final divorce judgment from Matrimonial Court, expected later this year. Sanctuary attorneys Lisa and Lauren nominated the Kasowitz team for their incredible work over many years, noting it is difficult to express the full depth of Ms. T’s gratitude to the Kasowitz team.  Kasowitz’s representation of Ms. T serves as a testament to the impact that a dedicated and compassionate legal team can have on the lives of those they represent.

Join us at our Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony on October 21, 2025, as we honor Kasowitz’s outstanding pro bono work.

PURCHASE TICKETS

If your firm is interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to Geny Kimbrell, Director of Special Events, by email at gkimbrell@sffny.org.

Suzy Yaster is a tax lawyer working in-house as a Tax Planning Manager at Warner Bros. Discovery.  Suzy is also a member of Sanctuary for Families’ Pro Bono Council and is a Co-Chair of this year’s Above & Beyond Pro Bono Awards Benefit.

Wilson Sonsini & Bloomberg Team Honored for Securing T Visas for Two Survivors of Labor Trafficking

Kate Powers

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is honoring an outstanding collaboration between Wilson Sonsini and Bloomberg for their tireless work on behalf of two survivors of labor trafficking.

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is honoring an outstanding collaboration between Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and Bloomberg Philanthropies for their tireless work on behalf of two survivors of labor trafficking. The team includes, from Wilson Sonsini, Tonia Ouellette Klausner, Jiayue “Angelina” He, and Manveer Martinson, and from Bloomberg, Cristina Cahn-Speyer and Steven Haber.

This case involves two women who each were lured to move from their home country to provide domestic help in the U.S., with promises of fair pay and good working conditions. But when the women arrived in the U.S., they were exploited for years. Their passports were confiscated, they were paid far less than promised, forced to work long hours, subjected to verbal abuse and mistreatment, unable to access healthcare services, and given no days off, holidays, or sick days. After many years of living under these conditions, the women escaped their traffickers when federal law enforcement intervened and referred the women for legal and supportive services at Sanctuary for Families.

Sanctuary enlisted Wilson Sonsini and Bloomberg’s Legal & Compliance Department’s Pro Bono team to navigate what came next. That included representing the women in interviews with federal prosecutors, helping the women get access to much needed medical care, and securing T Nonimmigrant status for both women and their family members who had remained in the home country. The team continues to work with the families, both in the US and abroad, to complete family reunification. Ultimately, the traffickers were prosecuted and sentenced. Remarkably, as part of the criminal penalties, the traffickers paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the survivors for back pay and medical expenses they were owed.

Tonia Ouellette Klausner, Senior Pro Bono Counsel at Wilson Sonsini, explained what makes this case unique. “These women not only got their lives back. They were able to get restitution and have justice served.” She further described the amazing transformation she witnessed in representing these clients. “They have confidence again, reclaimed power over their lives, and moved on towards a better future.”

Cristina Cahn-Speyer, Licensing Counsel at Bloomberg said, “At Bloomberg, our pro bono program is about standing with people as they rebuild their lives. When survivors have access to legal, emotional, and practical support, it transforms not just their cases, but also their lives. It’s a privilege to use our professional skills to help people navigate some of the most complex challenges affecting our communities, sometimes right in our own backyards.”

Jessica-Wind Abolafia, Senior Program Director of Sanctuary’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative, underscored the importance of the team’s work: “The Wilson Sonsini – Bloomberg team worked intensively to represent the women, navigating complex victim witness and immigration matters over several years and well as supporting the survivors as they healed and accessed the justice they sought and deserved against the perpetrators of their victimization. Their client-centered, trauma-informed and compassionate approach provided a critical space for the women to regain empowerment and self-determination.”

Join us at our Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony on October 21, 2025, as we honor Wilson Sonsini’s and Bloomberg’s outstanding pro bono work.

PURCHASE TICKETS

If your firm is interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to Geny Kimbrell, Director of Special Events, by email at gkimbrell@sffny.org.

Kate Powers is counsel in the White Collar & Government Investigations practice at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld, LLP. She is also a member of Sanctuary’s Pro Bono Council.

DAFs: A Smarter Way to Give

Sanctuary for Families

If you’re looking for a convenient and meaningful way to give, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great solution.

If you’re looking for a convenient and meaningful way to give, a Donor Advised Fund (DAF) is a great solution. DAFs are the fastest growing giving vehicle among donors of all income levels. Whether you’re a seasoned expert in giving or just getting started, learn more below about the advantages of DAF giving and how you can support survivors of gender violence.

What Is a Donor Advised Fund?

A DAF is an account typically managed by a financial institution or community foundation for charitable giving. When you contribute funds to the DAF, you immediately receive the tax deductions and can later recommend grants to nonprofits that the advisor for your account will pay out. Essentially, it’s like a savings account that you can put as much into without a time restriction on when you give it out.

What Are Some of the Advantages of a DAF? 

CONVENIENCE

One of the advantages of a DAF is how easy it is to manage all your giving in one place. Instead of keeping track of several donation receipts from multiple organizations throughout the year, you receive one consolidated receipt at the time of your contribution to the DAF. This makes filing taxes a more streamlined process

ACCESSIBILITY

While DAFs used to be associated primarily with high net worth individuals, this is no longer the case. As financial institutions like Fidelity Charitable, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable have eliminated account fees and minimum contributions, DAFs have become more accessible than ever. Many DAFs can now be opened for no cost!

Opening a DAF is easier than ever, regardless of your level of giving. If you already have a brokerage account or financial advisor, DAFs are simple to set up. The process can also be done online through many financial institutions.

IMPACT

Donors using a DAF often find that their giving is more intentional. Rather than a one-time gift, donors can view their account through an investing mindset. Using a DAF, you can plan your giving thoughtfully and demonstrate your commitment to organizations like Sanctuary for Families.

DAFs give donors the ability to make gifts at their own pace. While receiving an immediate tax benefit, there is no required timeline for making grants. This gives you time to decide where and when your gift can make the most impact.

Getting Started

By using a Donor Advised Fund, you can streamline your charitable contributions, increase your tax efficiency, and support the nonprofits you care about in a sustainable and impactful way. It’s a win-win for you and Sanctuary.

Learn more about DAFs

 

Debevoise Team Honored for Securing Parole Release for Survivor

Naina Rasheed

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is thrilled to honor an outstanding team from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP for successfully obtaining parole for an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence who will be released this October.

At this year’s Above & Beyond Awards, Sanctuary for Families is thrilled to honor an outstanding team from Debevoise & Plimpton LLP   — partner and Sanctuary Board member Steven Slutzky and associates John Jacob, Grace Anna Li, and Amy Pereira — for successfully obtaining parole for an incarcerated survivor of domestic violence.

The Debevoise team went “Above and Beyond” in its representation of an incarcerated woman, Ms. D, a survivor of domestic violence for whom they successfully obtained parole at her initial interview in June. Ms. D will be released this October.

Debevoise has been a strong pro bono partner of Sanctuary for Families for decades, but this was the first matter (but not the last!) that the lawyers on Ms. D.’s team had done with Sanctuary for Families. In February 2025, after being briefed by lawyers from Sanctuary’s Incarcerated Gender Violence Survivors Initiative (IGVSI), the team immediately jumped into meeting with Ms. D and talking to her friends and family to prepare a compelling advocacy letter and parole packet for submission. This entailed weekly calls and regular visits to Ms. D at the correctional facility and obtaining letters of support from family, friends, and reentry organizations.  It was not always easy to schedule visits given the staff shortage at the correctional facility, resulting in delayed responses to requests for calls and visits.

Hours were dedicated to preparing Ms. D for her parole interview, and the team worked with her to become confident and ready for the interview.  Ms. D took ownership of her actions which empowered her to share her transformation while she was incarcerated.  Ms. D explained to the parole board that she was focused on reuniting with her family, working on her mental health and moving on with her life.  The Debevoise team developed a close relationship with Ms. D, expressing that she was “lovely to work with”.  The team also developed relationships with others with whom they worked to prepare for the parole interview.

“Partnering with Sanctuary for Families to represent Ms. D in her parole application was deeply rewarding. Through our work together, we saw Ms. D’s resilience and commitment to building a better future for herself and her family. We are thrilled that her application was successful and proud to have played a part in this important milestone.” – Debevoise team

“The team at Debevoise showed us what true advocacy looks like: skill, empathy, and trauma-informed practice working seamlessly together for the good of our client.” – Sanctuary’s IGVSI team

Sanctuary is extremely honored to present the “Above and Beyond” Pro Bono Award to the Debevoise team.

Join us at our Above & Beyond Awards Ceremony on October 21, 2025, as we honor Debevoise & Plimpton’s outstanding pro bono work.

PURCHASE TICKETS

If your firm is interested in a sponsorship opportunity, please reach out to Geny Kimbrell, Director of Special Events, by email at gkimbrell@sffny.org.

Naina Rasheed is a member of Sanctuary’s Pro Bono Council.