MEXICO CITY, MEXICO – March 26, 2019 — Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Mexico City office has been awarded the 2018 Pro Bono “Alexis Rovzar” Medal of Merit by the Appleseed Mexico Foundation (Appleseed). Greenberg Traurig received this honor in recognition for its pro bono work with asylum seekers and refugees in Mexico and is the first firm to offer this type of pro bono work in Mexico through an alliance with the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
The Appleseed Foundation is a civil organization that offers pro bono legal services for institutions and social issues that have an impact in the community. It is a pioneer in organized pro bono work in Mexico, and one of the country’s most recognized clearing houses.
Greenberg Traurig Mexico attorneys worked 1,480 hours in asylum matters from May 2017 to July 2018, with 46 percent of them having volunteered in at least one case. Appleseed particularly recognized the leadership of Víctor Manuel Frías Garcés (Mexico, Shareholder) and Elba Gutiérrez (Mexico, Pro Bono Coordinator) in spearheading these efforts. Previous relevant pro bono projects, such as our participation and support in response to the 2017 Mexico’s catastrophic earthquake, were also referenced.
“We are very proud of our pro bono practice, and particularly honored to be able to serve refugees that choose to live in our country to start a new life,” said Frías. “Anyone that has worked with this hardworking community would agree that they are the bravest women, children, and men. They deserve all the help we can provide.”
“Asylum seekers are one of the most vulnerable communities in Mexico, and our involvement in these causes has been key in setting precedence for other law firms in Mexico to also participate in alliance with the UNHCR. It is an honor to work with legal professionals conscious of the challenges that our society faces. We have designed multiple impact litigation strategies to shape the legal landscape and protect human rights,” said Gutiérrez. “The law is a powerful tool for social change, as lawyers we are constrained to donate our professional talent to this type of causes. Pro bono services should not be an exception, but part of our daily practice.”
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, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig Mexico: Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico, and who have held positions in Mexican government offices and regulatory agencies. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firm’s award-winning Latin American and Iberian Practice, and has recently been recognized with leading banking, infrastructure, real estate, privacy, administrative litigation, and competition practices in Mexico.
About Greenberg Traurig, LLP: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 39 offices 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: http://www.gtlaw.com; Twitter: @GT_Law.