Assisting Survivors of Gender-Based and Intimate Partner Violence
Lawyers from nearly all of our US offices help individuals and families obtain emergency and permanent restraining orders against their abusers. For the past decade, for example, colleagues in Washington, D.C. have worked closely with the Network for Victim Recovery of DC, representing clients in fast-paced restraining order cases and helping clients navigate the legal system to ensure their safety. Our lawyers also represent victims of sexual assault in Title IX hearings and criminal proceedings. In New York, through a partnership that began in 2001, our lawyers support clients of Sanctuary for Families, which counsels and empowers people impacted by gender-based violence. Lawyers in Orange County advise residents of Human Options, while colleagues in Silicon Valley represent domestic violence survivors seeking restraining orders in partnership with Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto.
Building on the success of our longstanding relationships with frontline organizations, our firm developed several new partnerships in 2023, including working with Killed Women, a nonprofit that is led by, and represents, the relatives of women who died from gender-based violence. Our lawyers provide structuring, charity registration, and data protection advice to this organization. We also conducted research for End Honour Killings, a nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about and eliminate the practice of killing those who are thought to have brought disgrace or dishonor to their families; and Surviving Economic Abuse, the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of and transforming responses to economic abuse. Our lawyers drafted an agreement that will help Tender Education and Arts, a nonprofit that educates young people about healthy relationships to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, as the nonprofit works with companies that wish to donate a percentage of sales or profits to Tender. In Paris, we advised Solidarité Femmes Beaujolais on governance, structuring, and employment. This nonprofit provides free, anonymous support and protective services to women and children escaping violence in rural France.
Our firm is proud to be among the founders of several impactful collaborations designed to help survivors of domestic abuse. For example, in 2023 our London office continued its work with the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA), an alliance of firms that bridges a gap in legal services by providing free legal counsel to domestic abuse survivors in England who cannot afford private representation. Our London lawyers assist individuals who have experienced many forms of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical violence, control, coercion, economic abuse, and psychological or emotional abuse.
DARA now includes more than 250 volunteer lawyers from participating firms who have collectively acted for a multitude of domestic abuse survivors. Latham has taken on 24 individual cases to date, successfully assisting clients in obtaining non-molestation or protective orders.
Building on the success of our longstanding relationships with frontline organizations, our firm developed several new partnerships in 2023, including working with Killed Women, a nonprofit that is led by, and represents, the relatives of women who died from gender-based violence. Our lawyers provide structuring, charity registration, and data protection advice to this organization. We also conducted research for End Honour Killings, a nonprofit that seeks to raise awareness about and eliminate the practice of killing those who are thought to have brought disgrace or dishonor to their families; and Surviving Economic Abuse, the only charity in the UK dedicated to raising awareness of and transforming responses to economic abuse. Our lawyers drafted an agreement that will help Tender Education and Arts, a nonprofit that educates young people about healthy relationships to prevent domestic abuse and sexual violence, as the nonprofit works with companies that wish to donate a percentage of sales or profits to Tender. In Paris, we advised Solidarité Femmes Beaujolais on governance, structuring, and employment. This nonprofit provides free, anonymous support and protective services to women and children escaping violence in rural France.
"With the assistance of lawyers in Latham’s Singapore office, we were able to submit reports to the UN highlighting the extent to which legislation in selected countries aligns with the UN Model Law on Rape. We are grateful for our ongoing partnership and close collaborations, and the team has been extremely supportive."Lawyers from our London office have been advising The Vavengers, a charity focused on ending female genital mutilation and violence against women and girls through outreach, education, and campaigning. The organization offers direct support to the survivors of such abuse and violence while raising awareness of these issues worldwide. Latham counseled The Vavengers on the charity’s compliance with UK and EU data protection laws in light of its growth and plans for expanding its outreach program. In May 2023, TrustLaw recognized the Latham team with its “Lawyer of the Year” award for this work.
Natasha Latiff, Founder & Legal Director, Strategic Advocacy for Human Rights
Our firm is proud to be among the founders of several impactful collaborations designed to help survivors of domestic abuse. For example, in 2023 our London office continued its work with the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA), an alliance of firms that bridges a gap in legal services by providing free legal counsel to domestic abuse survivors in England who cannot afford private representation. Our London lawyers assist individuals who have experienced many forms of abuse, including sexual abuse, physical violence, control, coercion, economic abuse, and psychological or emotional abuse.
DARA now includes more than 250 volunteer lawyers from participating firms who have collectively acted for a multitude of domestic abuse survivors. Latham has taken on 24 individual cases to date, successfully assisting clients in obtaining non-molestation or protective orders.