Manatt is thrilled to announce that partner Sirena Castillo has been named the firm’s director of pro bono.
A shining example of pro bono leadership and engagement at Manatt, Castillo’s recent pro bono highlights include leading the Manatt team that successfully represented a class of more than 2,000 vulnerable juvenile immigrants who had been unlawfully denied applications for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) by the federal government. Her efforts in this case resulted in Castillo’s receipt of a 2020 California Lawyer Attorney of the Year award, and were also a key factor in Manatt’s 2020 ABA Pro Bono Publico award recognition as well as its Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area’s prestigious 2020 Father Cuchulain Moriarty award recognition.
“We could not be more excited to have Sirena lead our pro bono efforts,” said Donna L. Wilson, CEO and managing partner of Manatt. “Through her deep litigation experience and passion for pro bono, Sirena will continue to inspire our colleagues across the firm to uphold Manatt’s mission of ensuring that everyone retains the liberties and protections to which they are entitled, regardless of who they are, where they come from or whom they love.”
Castillo will continue to build on Manatt’s steadfast commitment to helping build a more equitable world and fighting for the liberties and protections to which everyone is entitled. The firm’s efforts were recently demonstrated in its wide-ranging pro bono work, from expanding voting rights to navigating COVID-19 challenges to tackling immigration matters. The firm also continues to support veterans, small businesses and entrepreneurs, those affected by domestic abuse or sexual assault, and nonprofits.
“At Manatt, pro bono is in our DNA, and we are extremely proud of our work to support the communities in which we practice and throughout the nation,” said Castillo. “I am honored to guide the firm’s efforts to provide equal justice for all, especially when their homes, families, businesses, immigration status or civil rights are threatened.”
As a two-time American Lawyer A-List firm, Manatt has played a leading role in a number of recent pro bono matters, including:
To learn more about Manatt’s pro bono efforts and commitment, click here.