outstanding young associate

2009 HRI Outstanding Young Associate Award Recipients

On October 1, 2009 HRI presented its second annual Outstanding Young Associates Award at the Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program ("DVAP") pro bono awards ceremony to Sunny Thompson and Carmen E. Bremer for their work with the Women and Children's Program and to Evan Tilton and Akita St. Clair for their work with the Asylum Program.

Sunny Thompson and Carmen E. Bremer from Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP assisted in a U Visa case for a client from Mexico.  The client, who was molested as a child was the victim of domestic violence in the US by her boyfriend. He physically abused her, in addition to verbally, psychologically, and sexually abusing her.  One day she witnessed her boyfriend sexually assaulting her daughter and decided to break the cycle of abuse.  She reported the domestic violence and sexual assault to the police and assisted in the prosecution against her boyfriend, causing him to be deported.  Because of Sunny and Carmen’s hard work the client will be able to stay in the US with her children to begin a new life free of abuse.  

Evan Tilton and Akita St. Clair of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP handled a religious asylum case for a young man from Egypt. He fled his country because the Egyptian government was unable to protect him and his fiancée from violence and threats at the hands of religious extremists.  He was able to escape to the United States, but only after his fiancée was murdered by religious extremists who targeted her for her Christian faith.  Evan and Akita worked diligently on the case, turning a traumatized client into an articulate witness, and finding a Professor of Criminal Justice who was born and raised in Egypt to testify in support of our client’s claims.  Because of Evan and Akita’s efforts, the client is able to stay in the United States where he is continuing his education and working to become a productive member of society.