Quarles & Brady Wins Pro Bono Case for Political Prisoner

CHICAGO, IL. (December 11, 2013) — The national law firm of Quarles & Brady LLP recently volunteered their legal services to help an Ethiopian political prisoner gain asylum following repeated persecution.

The firm’s legal team obtained asylum for an Ethiopian woman who was detained and tortured while fighting for democracy in Ethiopia. The team was led by Steven V. Hunterand the trial was conducted by Vincent Angermeier and Daniel Lewin, all of the firm’s Chicago office. Quarles & Brady has represented the Petitioner since shortly after she filed her asylum application in 2008.  

Our client, is a 54 year-old (former) Ethiopian citizen. Our client was a grassroots organizer for a democratic political party in Ethiopia. She fled Ethiopia in 2007 after being detained for weeks in a crowded cell, with no bathroom facilities and which was infested with insects. During her multiple detentions she was interrogated, tortured and sexually molested as a result of her support of democracy. 

Earlier phases of the case were handled by Joshua Schneider and Michael Rhinehart. In pursuing a successful result, Professor Don Levine of the University of Chicago, one of the country's leading experts on conditions in Ethiopia, was retained and provided key assistance.

The case is in the Matter of Asnakech Alemu Bekele, Case No. A087-344-148, U.S. DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review --- Office of the Immigration Judge.

About Quarles & Brady LLP

Quarles & Brady LLP is a full-service law firm with more than 450 attorneys practicing from offices in Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz.; Naples and Tampa, Fla.; Chicago, Ill; Madison and Milwaukee, Wis.; and Washington, D.C. The firm provides an array of legal services to corporate and individual clients, which range from small entrepreneurial businesses to Fortune 100 companies. Additional information about the firm may be found at www.quarles.com, and on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.