Who We Help

Allen Matkins works with public interest and legal aid organizations on a variety of proceedings, including:

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Allen Matkins attorneys do pro bono work for a simple but compelling reason: to make the legal system accessible and fair, especially to the poor and disadvantaged and to the nonprofit organizations that serve them.

Access to Justice here.

PRO BONO

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Our Firm Commitment to Community Commitment to Diversity Firm Leadership

Our Firm

Commitment to Diversity

Firm Leadership

Pro Bono

Amanda Donson, Sandy Jacobson, and John Condas provided assistance to Laura’s House in the acquisition of a 19,000 square foot commercial property in Orange County, California for use as the non-profit’s new and expanded corporate headquarters. Laura’s House provides support, education, and shelter for women, men, and children experiencing the effects of domestic violence.

Amanda Donson

Sandy Jacobson

John Condas

Allen Matkins, through its involvement with the San Diego Volunteer Lawyer Program, is proud to have recently successfully secured approval for a Guardianship Petition and a Petition for Special Immigrant Juvenile Status findings on behalf of a 20-year-old Guatemalan client who sought responsibility for his 17-year-old younger brother with the help of Bo Peterson, working under the guidance of Tim Hutter. The approvals allow the minor’s immigration attorneys to terminate his immigration proceedings and enable the minor to take steps towards residency and eventual citizenship.

Bo Peterson

Tim Hutter

Recent Highlights

Immigration and asylum

Domestic violence

Representation of military service members

Real estate disputes

Debt relief

Adoption, guardianship and foster care

Civil rights and civil liberties

Real estate counsel to certain nonprofits serving the community

Access to justice

View Our Pro Bono Program in Action

Human Rights First honored Allen Matkins attorneys Peter Griffin and Emily Murray with the Pro Bono Star Award. The team was recognized for their work on behalf of a political activist and her five-year-old son who fled to the U.S. from El Salvador seeking asylum after threats from a gang member with ties to a rival political party. Western Justice Center awarded Allen Matkins the Defender of Justice award. The award recognizes law firms that demonstrate a continuous and distinguished record of supporting alternative dispute resolution, public service and community involvement. Allen Matkins has been a proud partner of WJC for over a decade with attorney Emily Murray serving in leadership roles as well as providing pro bono legal advice to WJC's Haven Social Network. A special thank you to the Allen Matkins attorneys, paralegals, and law clerks who supported the firm’s pro bono program in 2023: Gina Ahmar, Margaret Akerblom, Karine Akopchikyan, Grant Alexander, Kori Anderson, Iden Asghar-Rezaei, Courtney Barr, Melissa Bell, Jonathan Berger, David Blackwell, Amarveer Brar, Benjamin Brown, Anthony Burney, Mindi Canner, Haley Carpenter, Thomas Cavanaugh, Katie Chacho, Ryan Chen, Bridget Cho, Otto Clark-Martinek, Joshua Colfer, Joshua Del Castillo, Andrew Demirchyan, Amanda Donson, Nicholas Dubroff, Bryce Ellis, Brian English, Barry Epstein, Stephen Etheredge, Emily Feder, Wade Fisher, Matthew Fogt, Nancy Fong, Olivia Fox, Rick Friess, Kathryn Garcin, Leilee Ghassemi, Paige Gosney, Michael Greger, Peter Griffin, Mallory Gyulay, Michael Holmes, Charles Jarrell, Kamran Javandel, Spencer Kallick, Suzanne Kenney, Adam Korn, Rachel Kramer, Michelle Lagos, Matthew Lee, Crystal Lofing, Marcellino Loza, Kimberly Macey, David Magruder, Grayson (Trey) Marshall III, Cole Martinez, Eoin McCarron, Joseph McGeady, Brian Michel, Erin Murphy, Emily Murray, Marialexa (Mia) Natsis, Ross Neglia, Brad Nielsen, Mikayla O'Neal, Dana Palmer, Caroline Parks, Benjamin Patterson, Tara Paul, Michelle Pendleton, Simona Peng, Edward (Bo) Peterson, Matt Pham, Bryan Polan, Cheryl Prell, Max Rawn, Zachary Rego, Brett Richter, Meredith Rickers, Stephanie Roberts, Rachel Sanders, Grant Schwabrow, Jennifer Shakouri, Maxwell Shapiro, Kelly Smith, Shannon Song, Roseanne Sullivan, Lindsay Tabaian, Timothy Terry, Elizabeth Thompson, Nathaniel Touboul, Lucas Urgoiti, Christina Vier, Stacey Villagomez, Marshall Wallace, Brittany Wallach, Daniel Warren, Lucas Whelan, Andrew Whitman, Andrew Wood, Shauna Woods, Jordan Wright, Marc Young, and Brendan Winnefeld.

Recognition

Committee Members

Paul W. Nash

Rachel M. Sanders

Melissa K. Bell Co-Chair, Pro Bono Committee

Amanda D. Donson

Michael J. Holmes

Brian W. Michel

Jeffrey R. Patterson

Megan Hawn

Jeffrey R. Patterson

Brian W. Michel

Michael J. Holmes

Amanda D. Donson

Melissa K. Bell

Rachel M. Sanders

Paul W. Nash

View Pro Bono Representative Matters Here

Letter From the Chairs

Representative Pro Bono Matters

Pro Bono Partner Agency Case Studies

Allen Matkins Pro Bono Brochure

Allen Matkins attorneys partnered with our long-time client Kennedy Wilson to secure new office space for the Navy SEAL Foundation in Coronado, California.

Allen Matkins attorneys work with the Alliance for Children’s Rights to provide foster youth better access to college.

Allen Matkins attorneys work with Public Counsel to secure adoptions for families in the Los Angeles area.

Commitment to Community

Working in conjunction with Public Counsel, Allen Matkins has provided pro bono services in finalizing foster care adoptions in Los Angeles County for more than 17 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, attorneys from throughout the firm were able to assist due to remote finalization proceedings. More than 23 Allen Matkins attorneys and paralegals helped 10 families finalize adoptions of 19 children during the first year of the pandemic, with several more adoptions currently in progress.

Adoption, guardianship and foster care

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• Represented a political activist and her young son who fled to the U.S. from El Salvador after suffering threats and attacks from a gang leader with ties to a rival political party. With the immigration court’s orders, the clients are protected from deportation to El Salvador, where they would have faced imminent harm. • Represented a transgender individual seeking asylum to the U.S. from Armenia where he was socially ostracized, unable to maintain regular employment, and under the threat of physical violence. Our pro bono client was granted asylum and is now beginning a new life in the US.

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Immigration and asylum

Represented pro bono client in Los Angeles Probate Court. Our client was born to a mother who was victim of domestic violence. Afraid to go to the hospital for fear her son would be removed from her care upon seeing bruises sustained as a victim, she gave birth in an apartment building. Unaware she still needed to register her son’s birth, our client was not aware of this until he attempted to enroll in college. We succeeded in obtaining a Court Ordered Delayed Registration of Birth. Our client went on to be a straight-A honor student, enrolled in college, and his mother left her abuser.

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Domestic violence

As co-counsel with the ACLU of Southern California, Allen Matkins defended the 1st and 4th Amendment Rights of journalists and activists seeking to protect the rights of asylum seekers in a lawsuit in Arizona District Court.

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Civil rights and civil liberties

Served as co-counsel with Alliance for Children's Rights in securing a landmark victory in a case which involved a challenge to the California Community Colleges' 2013 regulations that denied priority registration to current and former foster youth. The regulation was a clear violation of the law, which afforded priority registration to these youth with no restrictions. Following two years of litigation, the Board of Governors of the Community Colleges capitulated and settled with the petitioners. The Board ultimately agreed to revise the regulation to ensure that foster youth could keep their priority registration in all situations.

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Access to justice

Served as co-counsel with The Oregon Law Center and Legal Aid Services in representing an indigent gay farmworker who suffered sexual harassment, in his response to an objection to a proof of claim in a pending bankruptcy case.

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Debt relief

Supported the San Diego County Bar Association in its pro bono mission by representing several active duty military servicemembers through The San Diego County Bar Association’s Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) program. The SCRA program provides an essential service to active duty military servicemembers by providing legal counsel to advocate for the stay of proceedings in pending family and civil litigation matters for those servicemembers who are unable to appear in court due to their military obligations.

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Representation of military service members

Represented the non-profit Heart of Los Angeles (HOLA) in a construction dispute against the general contractors for a new arts and recreation center. HOLA’s mission is to provide underserved youth with free, exceptional programs in academics, arts and athletics within a nurturing environment, empowering them to develop their potential, pursue their education, and strengthen their communities.

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Real estate disputes

Supported the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) in its mission to permanently protect and restore open spaces within the Ojai Valley. OVLC currently manages roughly 2,400 acres of open space for the benefit of the community with free public access. Allen Matkins assisted OVLC with general legal advice on its various acquisitions and land preservation agreements to further its conservation goals.

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Real estate counsel to certain nonprofits serving the community

Through our valued partnerships with courts, county bars, and public interest and legal aid organizations, we have assisted individuals in matters and proceedings involving adoption, guardianship and foster care; immigration and asylum; and breach of contract, debt relief, and unlawful detainer. Additionally, we have provided pro bono legal assistance to a variety of nonprofit institutions in business and real estate matters such as leasing, purchase and sale, and contract disputes as well as in litigation arising out of advocacy work conducted by our partner agencies on behalf of foster youth.

Working in conjunction with Public Counsel, Allen Matkins is pleased to have provided pro bono services in finalizing foster care adoptions in Los Angeles County for more than 17 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, attorneys from throughout the firm have been able to assist due to remote finalization proceedings. More than 23 Allen Matkins attorneys and paralegals have helped 10 families to finalize adoptions of 19 children over the last year, with several more adoptions currently in progress scheduled for finalization by remote proceedings in the Fall of 2021.

Allen Matkins is pleased to support the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy (OVLC) in its mission to permanently protect and restore open spaces within the Ojai Valley. OVLC currently manages roughly 2,400 acres of open space for the benefit of the community with free public access. Allen Matkins attorney Andrew Demirchyan has assisted OVLC with general legal advice on its various acquisitions and land preservation agreements to further its conservation goals.

Andrew Demirchyan

Allen Matkins is proud to have provided pro bono support and assistance to the REDF Impact Investing Fund (“RIIF”) RIIF provides financing and technical assistance to social enterprises that employ people who face barriers to employment, including incarceration, mental health issues, and homelessness. With the help of Allen Matkins attorneys Emily Feder and Max Rawn, RIIF’s Impact Lending Practice supports borrowers to improve their financial sustainability and strengthen their businesses so they can employ and empower more individuals striving to chart a new course in life.

Allen Matkins is pleased to support The San Diego County Bar Association in its pro bono mission. Most recently, our real estate partner, Mike Holmes, has represented several active duty military servicemembers though The San Diego County Bar Association’s Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) program. The SCRA program provides an essential service to active duty military servicemembers by providing legal counsel to advocate for the stay of proceedings in pending family and civil litigation matters for those servicemembers who are unable to appear in court due to their military obligations.

Mike Holmes

Emily Feder

Max Rawn

View Pro Bono Representative Matters Here

Our Firm Commitment to Community Commitment to Diversity Firm Leadership

Pro Bono

Firm Leadership

Our Firm

Commitment to Diversity

Assortment of green, yellow, red, blue paint chip samples.

Commitment to Community

Letter From the Chairs

Representative Pro Bono Matters

Pro Bono Partner Agency Case Studies

Allen Matkins Pro Bono Brochure

Allen Matkins provided assistance to small businesses since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic through a partnership with Bet Tzedek and LA Represents. The pro bono services provided by more than a dozen Allen Matkins attorneys and paralegals in the Los Angeles and Century City offices have included conducting intake and providing direct representation to struggling local small businesses navigating legal challenges, such as applying for PPP loans, stemming from the pandemic’s impact.

Human Rights First honored Allen Matkins attorneys Peter Griffin and Emily Murray with the 2016 Pro Bono Star Award. The team was recognized for their work on behalf of a political activist and her five-year-old son who fled to the U.S. from El Salvador seeking asylum after threats from a gang member with ties to a rival political party. Western Justice Center awarded Allen Matkins the Defender of Justice award in 2016. The award recognizes law firms that demonstrate a continuous and distinguished record of supporting alternative dispute resolution, public service and community involvement. Allen Matkins has been a proud partner of WJC for over a decade with attorney Emily Murray serving in leadership roles as well as providing pro bono legal advice to WJC's Haven Social Network. A special thank you to the Allen Matkins attorneys, paralegals, and summer law clerks who supported the firm’s pro bono program in 2020: Margaret Akerblom, Grant Alexander, John Allen, Courtney Barr, Sean Becker, Melissa Bell, Jonathan Berger, Keith Bishop, Jed Bonner, Jeffrey Briggs, Mindi Canner, Michelle Catapang, Jessica Chu, Molly Coyne, Delia Cuenca, Andrew Demirchyan, Marissa Dennis, Brad Diamond, Amanda Donson, Joseph Dzida, Stephanie Elder, Stephen Etheredge, Steven Farenbaugh, Michael Farrell, Emily Feder, Wade Fisher, Menachem Fishkin, Matthew Fogt, Olivia Fox, Danielle Freedman, Kathryn Garcin, Seth Garrett, Peter Griffin, Mark Hartney, Megan Hawn, Martin Hodis, Michael Holmes, William Huckins, Tim Hutter, Charles Jarrell, Kamran Javandel, Spencer Kallick, Jared Kassan, Tim Kelly, Suzanne Kenney, Rachel Kramer, Michelle Lagos, Andrew Lee, Baldwin Lee, Julia Lewitt, Nancy Lundeen, Trey Marshall, Adam Marx, Susan Maunu, Eoin McCarron, Elizabeth Medrano, Brian Michel, O’Malley Miller, Emily Murray, Paul Nash, Ross Neglia, David Norton, Mikayla O'Neal, David Osias, Molly O'Toole, Dana Palmer, Lauren Palmer, Jeff Patterson, Tara Paul, Simona Peng, Bo Peterson, Keith Pollock, Max Rawn, Rachel Rosenblum, Rachel Sanders, Shannon Snell, Lindsay Tabaian, Timothy Terry, Kent Toland, Nathaniel Touboul, Stephanie Varsha, Austin Vick, Stacey Villagomez, Ryan Waggoner, Lauren Warwick, Rebecca Williams, Andrew Wood, Marc Young, Brendan Zwaneveld

Committee Members

Courtney Barr Co-Chair, Pro Bono Committee

Courtney Barr

Rachel Kramer

Allen Matkins attorneys Matt Fogt, Amanda Donson, and Andrew Lee assisted the Orange County Rescue Mission purchase the 34-acre former St. Michael’s Abby site in the canyons of Orange County. Double R Ranch is a horse and livestock ranch where men, women, and children have a unique opportunity to experience the healing effects of time spent in the outdoors with animals, along with hands-on skill training. This amazing facility gives the students a safe place to learn how to care for others. It also serves as a weekend retreat for Village of Hope families. With the recent relocation of Double R Ranch, veterans and seniors will also benefit from the programs and transitional housing at Double R Ranch. This amazing facility gives its residents a safe place to heal, learn, and start a new life.

Matt Fogt

Amanda Donson

Andrew Lee

Lauren E. Palmer

Jeffrey R. Patterson