Press Release
Published on September 26, 2013
New York City – Human Rights First announced today that it will honor Steven J. Kolleeny with its Frankel Award in recognition of his extraordinary commitment over many years to providing pro bono legal representation to individuals who have fled persecution and seek asylum in the United States. Kolleeny, Special Counsel at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, is a longtime partner of Human Rights First, personally taking on many asylum cases as well as supervising cases taken on by other Skadden Arps attorneys.
“Steve’s pro bono work has transformed the lives of so many refugees and their families, helping them to rebuild their lives in safety in this country,” said Human Rights First’s Anwen Hughes. “He has also mentored and inspired many other attorneys to take on pro bono cases for individuals in their asylum and immigration proceedings – an area of significant need, given the lack of government funding for legal representation in immigration proceedings.”
The Frankel Award is presented in memory of Judge Marvin E. Frankel, a founding father of Human Rights First and former Chairman of our Board of Directors. Under his leadership, Human Rights First developed a nationally recognized pro bono program through which volunteer lawyers in New York and Washington DC now represent more than 1,000 refugees from more than 80 countries in their asylum proceedings. The award honors both individuals as well as law firms. Human Rights First is proud to present this award to Steve Kolleeny. The law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP was awarded a Frankel Award in 2006 in honor of the firm’s commitment to pro bono representation of asylum seekers.
