SILICON VALLEY – Sept. 4, 2020 – Shareholder Cindy Hamilton of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP has been recognized as “Advocate of the Year” by Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto. The annual award recognizes an attorney who fulfills the organization’s mission to improve the lives of low-income families throughout the region.
Watch a video announcing the award on Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto’s website.
Hamilton was recognized for her pro bono work on behalf of a family fleeing violence in their home country of Mexico. The family experienced gang violence, threats, kidnap, and the murder of a family member for speaking at a political rally. “I felt enormous pressure to get it right because the stakes were life or death for them,” says Hamilton.
Hamilton and her team worked with the family to shape their story and present their case to a judge, who granted the family asylum. “They were able to leave the courtroom knowing they were able to stay,” Hamilton reflected.
“We’re thrilled to honor Cindy as our Advocate of the Year,” said Cristina Dos Santos, Director of the Immigration Program for Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto. “Asylum cases are complex and difficult to win without an attorney. The work of Cindy and her team – meeting with the family, building a relationship and trust – made all the difference in helping this family earn asylum.”
Hamilton—an experienced litigator— is deeply involved in pro bono activities, and serves as pro bono coordinator of Greenberg Traurig’s Silicon Valley office. “It’s such a privilege to be a lawyer and know how to navigate these very complex systems,” she says. “I’m in a position where I’m lucky enough to be able to help individuals in need of pro bono legal assistance and I just feel like we should.”
About Greenberg Traurig’s Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firm’s offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, children’s rights, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2,200 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. Web: www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.