Each year, Human Rights First honors the memory of founder, Judge Marvin E. Frankel, with an award in his name. During his lifetime, he dedicated time and energy to making a difference in the human rights movement. He promoted the critical pro-bono work that characterizes this organization. Under his leadership, Human Rights First developed a nationally-recognized pro bono program that provides free legal representation to thousands of refugees from over 100 countries. Every year, attorneys dedicate thousands of hours to help refugees seeking asylum to help advance and defend human rights. Together, we represented thousands of clients whilst training and inspiring a new generation of human rights advocates.

Previous Winners

2025

WilmerHale

2024

Amy Rossabi (Kobre Kim); Katie Marquart (Gibson Dunn)

2023

Cleary Gottlieb; Morgan Lewis

2022

Greenberg Traurig; Latham & Watkins; Morrison Foerster

2021

Crowell & Moring; Davis Polk; Quinn Emanuel

2020

Covington & Burling LLP (Los Angeles)

Williams & Connolly LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP (New York)

2019

Kobre & Kim LLP (New York)

Ballard Spahr LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (Los Angeles)

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Houston)

2018

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (New York)

Munger, Tolles & Olsen LLP (Los Angeles)

K&L Gates LLP (Houston)

2017

WilmerHale (Washington, D.C.)

Vinson & Elkins LLP (Houston)

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP (Los Angeles)

Willkie Farr & Gallagher LLP (New York)

2016

Latham & Watkins LLP (Houston)

Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (New York)

Blank Rome LLP (Philadelphia)

2015

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Chadbourne & Parke (New York)

Jones Day (Dallas)

2014

Latham & Watkins LLP (New York)

McDermott Will & Emery (Washington, D.C.)

2013

Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP (New York)

Crowell & Moring LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Steven J. Kolleeny (New York)

2012

Ropes & Gray LLP (New York and Washington, D.C.)

2011

DLA Piper LLP (New York)

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP (New York and Washington, D.C.)

2010

Sullivan & Cromwell LLP (New York)

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner LLP (Washington, D.C.)

2009

McDermott Will & Emery (Washington, D.C.)

Kaye Scholer (New York)

2008

Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP (New York)

2007

Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP (Washington, D.C.)

Lowenstein Sandler PC (New York)

2006

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP (New York and Washington, D.C.)

2005

Shearman & Sterling (New York)

Latham & Watkins (Washington, D.C.)

2004

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (New York)

Howrey Simon Arnold & White (Washington, D.C.)

Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler (New York)

2003

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP (New York)

Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson (Washington, D.C.)

Sidney S. Rosdeitcher

Alexandra Doumas