Press Release
Published on October 10, 2024
Human Rights First announced today that Gibson Dunn Partner and Pro Bono Chair Katie Marquart will receive its Marvin E. Frankel Award for Pro Bono Service in recognition of her leadership in advocating for Afghan refugees in the United States. Human Rights First will officially present the award during its annual awards celebration dinner on October 8th in New York City.
The Frankel Award is presented annually to lawyers demonstrating outstanding commitment to pro bono work. Marquart has been an instrumental ally in Human Rights First’s Project: Afghan Legal Assistance (PALA) and an unparalleled thought leader in the response to the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. She led a team of more than 150 Gibson Dunn attorneys across all of the firm’s U.S. offices in providing critical pro bono services to Afghan refugees. Her team has dedicated nearly 5,000 hours, valued at approximately $5 million, to these efforts on behalf of dozens of individuals and families.
“This past year, Katie Marquart and the team of attorneys at Gibson Dunn answered the call to save lives. Their tireless work to protect Afghan refugees fleeing harm at the hands of the Taliban has been inspirational,” said Jenna Gilbert, Senior Director of Refugee Representation at Human Rights First. “Through their work as part of Human Rights First’s Project: Afghan Legal Assistance (PALA), Katie and her team provided asylum seekers with the legal protections they deserve and allowed them to find safety in new communities in the United States. We are so proud to present Katie with the Marvin E. Frankel Award, in light of this tremendous commitment.”
This award is named for Judge Marvin E. Frankel, co-founder and former chairman of Human Rights First. During his lifetime, Judge Frankel was a champion of the human rights movement; he understood the critical impact pro bono representation can have on the lives of clients and lawyers. With his guidance, Human Rights First developed a nationally recognized pro bono representation program that is now one of the largest of its kind in the country. In 2023, Human Rights First partnered with pro bono attorneys who donated a total of 109,000 volunteer hours working with 2,706 clients from 84 countries.
“I am honored to receive the Frankel Award,” said Marquart. “Human Rights First has been a leader in its work to help Afghan refugees fleeing imminent danger under Taliban rule. My colleagues and I have been proud to assist these brave refugees as they seek asylum in the United States, begin their journey to citizenship, and build a new life in this country. We are grateful for our partnership with Human Rights First and we look forward to continuing this important work together.”
For additional information, please contact press@humanrightsfirst.org.
