MEXICO CITY – Nov. 16, 2018 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP’s Mexico City office recently signed an agreement with the Mexico City Human Rights Commission (CDHDF) as part of the firm’s pro bono program to further collaboration in the protection of victims of human rights violations and maximize their chances of receiving appropriate reparation. The ceremony, held Oct. 24 as part of Greenberg Traurig’s Pro Bono Week, was chaired by CDHDF President Nashieli Ramirez. Shareholder Víctor Manuel Frías Garcés represented Greenberg Traurig Mexico along with Elba Gutiérrez Castillo, who serves as the Mexico City Pro Bono Coordinator.
Frías spoke and highlighted the importance of coordinated action between government and non-governmental organizations in the current human rights crisis fueled by social inequality. In the context of appropriate organization, Frías talked about Greenberg Traurig being the only firm in Mexico with a full-time attorney dedicated to the coordination of a pro bono program, and highlighted that this effort resulted in over 3,000 hours of attorney work donated to different social causes in 2017 in Mexico City alone. In Mexico, the purpose of the firm’s local program includes protection of civil rights and affirmative action, strategic litigation, anti-human trafficking, immigration, and political asylum, he said.
“These are the same lawyers that handle commercial matters for our clients,” Frías said. “We offer some of the most talented attorneys in Mexico, working for free, to support social causes and the purpose that they believe in. We want to encourage other law firms in Mexico to follow us in this effort, to find a purpose in social causes, and increase pro bono participation and give back to our community.”
Ramírez, CDHDF President, explained that the importance of this agreement resides in the possibility of offering human rights victims tools for seeking reparation which, eventually, will promote justice and strengthen support mechanisms. She said that she appreciated the willingness of a firm like Greenberg Traurig to collaborate with a governmental human rights commission, and encouraged other law firms in Mexico to follow this initiative and join efforts to form a society mindful about and actively protecting human rights. She explained that the CDHDF has 144 ongoing cases, which impact almost 3,000 victims, and at least half of them are entitled to reparation.
“Victims of human rights violations need this type of legal advice and support to solve administrative proceedings and obtain the reparation they deserve,” Ramírez explained.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firm’s offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig Mexico: Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico, and who have held positions in Mexican government offices and regulatory agencies. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firm’s award-winning Latin American and Iberian Practice, and has recently been recognized with leading banking, infrastructure, real estate, privacy, administrative litigation, and competition practices in Mexico.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.
Frías spoke and highlighted the importance of coordinated action between government and non-governmental organizations in the current human rights crisis fueled by social inequality. In the context of appropriate organization, Frías talked about Greenberg Traurig being the only firm in Mexico with a full-time attorney dedicated to the coordination of a pro bono program, and highlighted that this effort resulted in over 3,000 hours of attorney work donated to different social causes in 2017 in Mexico City alone. In Mexico, the purpose of the firm’s local program includes protection of civil rights and affirmative action, strategic litigation, anti-human trafficking, immigration, and political asylum, he said.
“These are the same lawyers that handle commercial matters for our clients,” Frías said. “We offer some of the most talented attorneys in Mexico, working for free, to support social causes and the purpose that they believe in. We want to encourage other law firms in Mexico to follow us in this effort, to find a purpose in social causes, and increase pro bono participation and give back to our community.”
Ramírez, CDHDF President, explained that the importance of this agreement resides in the possibility of offering human rights victims tools for seeking reparation which, eventually, will promote justice and strengthen support mechanisms. She said that she appreciated the willingness of a firm like Greenberg Traurig to collaborate with a governmental human rights commission, and encouraged other law firms in Mexico to follow this initiative and join efforts to form a society mindful about and actively protecting human rights. She explained that the CDHDF has 144 ongoing cases, which impact almost 3,000 victims, and at least half of them are entitled to reparation.
“Victims of human rights violations need this type of legal advice and support to solve administrative proceedings and obtain the reparation they deserve,” Ramírez explained.
About Greenberg Traurig’s Pro Bono Program: Greenberg Traurig lawyers across the firm’s offices provide pro bono legal services to the indigent and working poor, as well as to numerous civic and charitable organizations dedicated to assisting them. The firm focuses its resources on specialized and interrelated issues including civil rights and affirmative action, anti-human trafficking, family law matters, criminal appeals, immigration and political asylum, housing, and homelessness.
About Greenberg Traurig Mexico: Greenberg Traurig’s Mexico City office has more than 60 bilingual attorneys who have been contributors to major national projects in Mexico, and who have held positions in Mexican government offices and regulatory agencies. The Mexico City office is an integral part of the firm’s award-winning Latin American and Iberian Practice, and has recently been recognized with leading banking, infrastructure, real estate, privacy, administrative litigation, and competition practices in Mexico.
About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2018 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law.