Davis Polk was named among the 2021 “Above & Beyond Honoree Firms for Excellence in Pro Bono Representation and Advocacy” by Sanctuary for Families, in recognition of the firm’s work to secure the release from incarceration of “Chloe,” a survivor of severe domestic abuse and sex trafficking.

After four months of intensive work in partnership with the Legal Aid Society and Sanctuary for Families, Davis Polk successfully secured Chloe’s release under New York’s Domestic Violence Survivors Justice Act (DVSJA). The DVSJA provides judges with greater discretion in sentencing when domestic abuse significantly contributed to the crime for which the person was convicted. The Act also allows for re-sentencing of incarcerated survivors like Chloe.

The Davis Polk team honored by Sanctuary includes Head of Pro Bono Litigation Dara Sheinfeld, counsel Denis J. McInerney, associates Dov Levavi and Stephanie Mazursky, and former associates Timothy Horley and Patrick Moroney.

Sanctuary for Families’ Above & Beyond Awards honor members of the legal community who have gone “above and beyond” by providing outstanding pro bono representation and advocacy to survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking, and related forms of gender violence.

The awards were presented virtually on October 26, 2021.

Read more about Davis Polk’s work in this case

Learn more about Davis Polk’s Pro Bono program.

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