The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs selected Williams & Connolly for its 2016 Outstanding Achievement Award. Each year the Committee recognizes law firms and individuals who are committed to pro bono service and equal justice. The firm received the award for its work with the Immigrant and Refugee Rights Project on successfully representing a pro bono client in Karla Ayala v. Taqueria Distrito Federal, Inc. The client was a former waitress at Taqueria Distrito Federal who had not been paid proper wages. Williams & Connolly drafted and filed a complaint seeking damages for wage and hour violations. Williams & Connolly then negotiated a settlement for the client that resulted in her recovering all of her unpaid wages as well as additional damages.
The award will be presented at the annual Wiley A. Branton Luncheon on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the JW Marriott in Washington, D.C.
Representation of the pro bono client was led by Eli Schlam, Ted Bennett, and Suzanne Salgado.