Colleen Mallon, Ashleigh Lynn, and Lillian Reynolds recognized for work on behalf of immigrant women and girls seeking protection in the U.S. from gender-based violence
Baltimore, MD – April 19, 2016 – The Tahirih Justice Center, a national nonprofit organization protecting immigrant women and girls from gender-based violence, has recognized three Venable attorneys – Colleen M. Mallon, Ashleigh J. F. Lynn, and Lillian L. Reynolds – as its Baltimore Pro Bono Attorneys of the Year. This is the fourth time in the past four years that Tahirih has recognized Venable or one of the firm’s attorneys as either its pro bono firm or pro bono attorney of the year.
The Venable team was recognized for their recent work on behalf of a doctor from Gambia who fled to the United States to escape female genital mutilation/cutting. At the time of her escape, she was pregnant with a baby girl and was determined to protect her daughter from the life-threatening practice. When the client had to leave Maryland for financial reasons, the Venable team was determined to see her case through and flew to her new home to complete her asylum application. Today, the client is pursuing an American medical license and hopes to obtain a residency position so she can begin practicing medicine.
In a statement on Tahirih's website following their recognition, Ms. Mallon, Ms. Lynn, and Ms. Reynolds said, "Our pro bono service has given us a new perspective on the American Dream. It has made us aware of the many women and children who desperately need assistance to achieve their humble dream of living free of violence and oppression."
A partner focusing on complex commercial and business litigation and internal investigations, Ms. Mallon serves on the board for the House of Ruth Maryland, Inc., is a member of the firm's Diversity and Pro Bono Committees, and chairs the Partnership Selection Committee. Ms. Lynn focuses her practice on complex commercial litigation matters, including claims arising from breach of contract, fraud, related business torts, and securities and shareholder disputes, and is Vice President of the Board of Generation Hope. A labor and employment attorney representing clients in the hospitality, retail, construction, and government contracts industries, Ms. Reynolds is a 2015 recipient of the Maryland State Bar Association's Alex Fee Pro Bono Award.
Founded in 1997, the Tahirih Justice Center has helped nearly 17,000 women and children seeking protection from gender-based human rights abuses. Through a range of free legal services, Tahirih helps clients achieve legal status in the United States so they can rebuild their lives without fear of violence.
###
Note: Venable LLP is an American Lawyer Global 100 law firm headquartered in Washington, DC, with offices in California, Delaware, Maryland, New York, and Virginia. Our lawyers and legislative advisors serve domestic and international clients in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property, regulatory matters, and government affairs. For more information, visit www.venable.com.