In the Public Interest

On August 15, 2021, the Taliban overthrew the Afghan government shortly after the United States announced it would withdraw its troops from Afghanistan. In the weeks that followed, the US government evacuated over 120,000 US citizens and Afghan allies from Afghanistan, and the United States welcomed 76,000 Afghans as refugees, most as humanitarian parolees. While many Afghans are now safe in the United States, thousands more are waiting for the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Agency (USCIS) to review their applications for humanitarian parole.  

In this episode, co-host and Partner John Walsh is joined by Senior Associate Alexandra Stanley to hear from Mr. Ahmed, an Afghan refugee who fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. Mr. Ahmed worked as a translator for the U.S. military in Afghanistan beginning in 2011, and as a result, his life was put in immediate danger when the Taliban took over the country in 2021. Alexandra Stanley is a senior associate who focuses her practice on complex securities enforcement matters and investigations and has dedicated her pro bono practice to assisting Afghan refugees applying for humanitarian parole.   

Today, Mr. Ahmed shares the story of his flight from Afghanistan and his experience living through the Taliban takeover. Walsh and Stanley speak with Mr. Ahmed about his heroic endeavors to help 109 refugees escape Afghanistan, his work with WilmerHale to help other Afghans apply for humanitarian parole, and the work that is still to be done.  

As of June 2, 2022, USCIS has only approved 297 humanitarian parole applications, while over 90% of reviewed applications have been denied. These applications can take more than a year to be reviewed, leaving families to continue hiding from the Taliban in Afghanistan or in neighboring countries, hoping the United States will grant them a safe place to restart their lives. Mr. Ahmed reminds listeners of the thousands of other refugees, many of whom worked shoulder to shoulder with the U.S. government, who remain in peril.  

Cryptocurrency continues to dominate the headlines, from starting the year at a high with major TV ads to questions in recent weeks about the stability of the market. In this episode of In the Public Interest, co-host and Partner John Walsh is joined by fellow Partners Tiffany Smith and Zachary Goldman to explore the world of Web3 with Jai Ramaswamy.

Ramaswamy is the Chief Legal Officer at Andreessen Horowitz—otherwise known as “A16Z,” an ode to the practice of shortening long words used repeatedly in code by taking the first and last letter of a word and the number of letters in between.

Prior to joining A16Z, Ramaswamy served as the Chief Risk and Compliance Officer at cLabs. He has over a decade of experience at the Justice Department, first serving as a prosecutor focused on white collar crime and cybercrime in the Southern District of New York and later as Chief of the Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section. Ramaswamy also worked in the Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section at the Justice Department. Smith and Goldman regularly advise clients on regulatory issues related to cryptocurrency and the broader FinTech sector. Both write frequently on regulatory developments affecting the Web3 space, including cryptocurrency and stablecoins.

Smith, Goldman and Ramaswamy probe the many applications of decentralized systems in Web3, from cryptocurrency to NFTs and beyond. Ramaswamy shares why he believes regulatory concerns—not technology issues—will be the principal roadblock in this new decentralized ecosystem. The episode also touches on the delicate balancing act of promoting innovation while mitigating the emerging risks associated with decentralized computing.

Over the last two years, one topic has dominated headlines and conversation across the world: the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, new variants of the coronavirus have emerged, but so too have vaccines, antiviral treatments, mask mandates and more. In this episode, co-host and Partner Felicia Ellsworth is joined by fellow Partner Thomas Strickland to discuss the current landscape of COVID-19 with one of the nation’s leading authorities on the pandemic, Andy Slavitt.

Slavitt is a former senior advisor to the White House’s pandemic response team under President Biden and a former consultant to WilmerHale. Prior to serving on Biden’s COVID-19 response team, Slavitt served as the acting administrator of the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services under President Obama. He is the author of “Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response,” and host of his own podcast, “In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt.” Strickland served as Chief of Staff and Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks for the United States Department of the Interior during the Obama Administration. He also served as United States Attorney for the District of Colorado and Chief Legal Officer at UnitedHealth Group. 

Ellsworth and Strickland speak with Slavitt about the trajectory of COVID-19 over the next few months and the politicization of the pandemic response. They also delve into the complex patchwork of local and state government policies to combat COVID-19 infection rates. The episode wraps up with an eye toward the future, attempting to answer one salient question: are we ready for the next pandemic?

Related Resources:

• Preventable: The Inside Story of How Leadership Failures, Politics, and Selfishness Doomed the U.S. Coronavirus Response
• In the Bubble with Andy Slavitt
• Obama’s health care guru has been right so far about coronavirus. His message: This will be over, but it’ll hurt. (Chicago Tribune)
• Ex-Obama official who helped fix botched healthcare.gov rollout to join Biden’s Covid-19 team (CNN)
• The Health 202: Andy Slavitt describes life on the White House coronavirus task force (The Washington Post)
• What COVID might look like in the U.S. once we reach the endemic phase (NPR)

In honor of those who serve our country, WilmerHale’s In the Public Interest podcast is proud to highlight our nation’s veterans and the work being done by the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP). WilmerHale has had the privilege of assisting former members of the United States Armed Forces who apply for combat-related disability services.

We are first joined by Rochelle Bobroff, director of NVLSP’s pro bono program Lawyers Serving Warriors®, to discuss the impactful work being done to help veterans. The NVLSP is a national nonprofit organization that has worked since 1981 to ensure that the government delivers to our nation's 22 million veterans and active duty personnel the benefits to which they are entitled because of disabilities resulting from their military service. The NVLSP has been able to support hundreds of veterans in securing vital benefits.

We are then joined by Rob, a veteran who served in Afghanistan, and WilmerHale Partner Amy Doberman, who worked on his case. While Doberman has more than 25 years of experience in securities and financial services, she has also dedicated her practice to working with veterans and helping them apply for Combat-Related Special Compensation (CRSC). Rob served as a Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps for 12 years, including during the war in Afghanistan. He was medically retired in 2019 after sustaining serious injuries in the line of duty and was able to secure CRSC with the help of Doberman and the NVLSP. Before his retirement, Rob was stationed in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, where he served three tours of duty between 2009 and 2013.

Related Resources:

• Lawyers Serving Warriors® (LSW) Program
• National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP)

In the Public Interest welcomes renowned environmental activist and former Argentine Secretary of the Environment and Sustainable Development, Romina Picolotti, who speaks with WilmerHale Senior Associate Kelsey Quigley and Counsel Jessica Lutkenhaus. This episode focuses on the important intersection of climate justice and human rights, and highlights the work of environmental defenders around the world—and the threats that they sometimes face. Picolotti has filed a claim before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, challenging Argentina’s criminal prosecution of her for a crime that she did not commit, and which she alleges is politically motivated and filed in retaliation for her groundbreaking environmental justice efforts.

The case has been stagnating in Argentine courts for nearly 15 years, and is just one example of how judicial and criminal processes around the world have sometimes been used to threaten and intimidate environmental defenders—at a time when their work fighting the climate crisis is ever more important. Quigley and Lutkenhaus are two of the lawyers on Picolotti’s WilmerHale legal team, which also includes Partner David Bowker and Associate Courtney Murray, who both deserve special thanks for their work on this case.

Quigley focuses her practice on representing individuals and corporations involved in investigations, enhancing regulatory compliance, and complex litigation/controversies. She is part of the firm’s globally renowned litigation team, and is active in pro bono matters involving human rights and critical issues related to Latin America. Lutkenhaus represents corporations and individuals in criminal defense and civil and government regulatory litigation matters, and has substantial experience in government and internal investigations. Lutkenhaus was selected as WilmerHale’s 2019 Pickering fellow and spent six months at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). She also represents pro bono clients in various matters, including one alleging numerous violations of the American Convention for Human Rights.

Related Resources:

• Report on the Misuse of Criminal Justice Systems to Retaliate Against Environmental Defenders
• Informe sobre el uso indebido de sistemas de justicia penal para tomar represalias contra los defensoras y defensores del ambiente
• Petition Alleging Violations of the Human Rights of Environmental Defender Romina Picolotti by the Republic of Argentina
• Petición que alega violaciones de los derechos humanos de la defensora del medio ambiente Romina Picolotti por parte de la República Argentina
• Center for Human Rights and Environment (CHRE)

In the Public Interest welcomes Partner Kim Parker, who speaks with Helene Krasnoff, the Vice President of Public Policy Litigation & Law at Planned Parenthood, and Dr. Amna Dermish from Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas. Planned Parenthood is a nonprofit organization that provides reproductive healthcare services in the United States and around the world. The organization has also been a key player in challenging laws that restrict abortion rights and access in the United States.

Their discussion focuses on two recent US Supreme Court cases with major implications for reproductive rights: Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson, a case that challenges a Texas law that bans abortion once cardiac activity is detectable in the pregnancy, typically at 6 weeks, and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, a case that involves a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks, with Mississippi also asking the Court to overturn longstanding precedents like Roe vs. Wade, which would then potentially allow states to ban all abortions.

Parker is the vice chair of WilmerHale’s Litigation/Controversy Department and co-chair of the firm’s Pro Bono and Community Service Committee. Parker has represented Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health providers in numerous legal challenges over the past 20 years. In the Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, Parker and a team of WilmerHale lawyers helped several leading medical organizations file a brief in support of Jackson Women’s Health, arguing that access to abortion is a critical part of reproductive healthcare.

At Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), Krasnoff leads a team of attorneys who challenge attempts to restrict access to reproductive health care, advise Planned Parenthood affiliates around the country about the legal issues raised by such attempts, and assist with PPFA’s efforts to influence state and federal legislation in order to improve access to reproductive health services. She has been with PPFA since 2000 and has been in a lead counsel, co-counsel, or supervisory position in dozens of challenges at every level of the state and federal courts to laws and policies that limit the availability of reproductive health care services. She has also worked with members and staff on Capitol Hill on many pieces of legislation, including the Affordable Care Act.

Dr. Dermish is a board certified OB/GYN with fellowship training in Complex Family Planning. She received her medical degree from the University of Colorado, followed by residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia and fellowship training at the University of Utah, where she also completed a master's degree in Clinical Investigation. Dr. Dermish is currently the Regional Medical Director for Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas where she also provides abortion care and oversees their transgender healthcare services, including gender affirming hormone therapy. Her clinical and research interests are in addressing barriers to accessing reproductive and sexual healthcare.

Related Resources:

• Brief amici curiae of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas Surgical Health Services, et al.
• What you need to know about Texas’ new abortion ban effective Sept. 1, 2021 (SB 8) (Planned Parenthood)
• SCOTUSblog: Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization
• What did Planned Parenthood v. Casey say? (NY Times)
• Texas Supreme Court deals final blow to federal abortion law challenge (The Texas Tribune)

In this episode, In the Public Interest welcomes WilmerHale Partner Alyssa DaCunha, who speaks with Walmart’s Executive Vice President of Global Governance, Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary Rachel Brand. In her role, Brand oversees hundreds of employees in the company's legal, compliance, ethics, corporate security, corporate governance, digital citizenship, aviation and investigative functions. Before Walmart, Brand spent more than a decade in government, working for three different administrations and serving most recently as the United States Associate Attorney General. She also previously spent time in the private sector, including a stint at WilmerHale.

DaCunha’s practice focuses on government and internal investigations and crisis management assistance. She has represented major corporations and individuals in congressional, white collar and civil matters, and has extensive experience representing companies facing parallel proceedings, including cross-border investigations, civil and criminal litigation, and state attorney general inquiries.

DaCunha speaks with Brand about her unique and impressive legal career, working at Walmart, and how her years of experience in government and in the private sector have shaped her as a leader today.

Announcing Season 2 of In the Public Interest, a podcast from WilmerHale! Tune in for an update on our hosts and a preview of what to expect this season.

From international human rights and reproductive rights to cryptocurrency, the environment and beyond, this podcast explores the legal and policy challenges capturing the public interest. WilmerHale law firm Partners John Walsh, former Colorado United States Attorney, and Felicia Ellsworth, Vice Chair of the firm's Litigation Department, provide a front-row seat to the events making headlines. In each episode, they pass the mic to those with unique perspectives on the most challenging issues of the day.

From COVID-19 and civil unrest to climate change, the election and beyond, In the Public Interest explores the legal and policy challenges capturing the public interest. WilmerHale law firm Partners John Walsh and Brendan McGuire provide a front-row seat to the events making headlines. In each episode of season one, they passed the mic to those with unique perspectives on the most challenging issues of the day.

In this wrap-up episode, McGuire and Walsh look back on the season and share episode highlights, reflect on the process of recording a podcast, and chat about memorable challenges along the way.

WilmerHale podcast co-hosts and Partners Brendan McGuire and John Walsh welcome Partner Brittany Amadi, who is joined by guests Malini Moorthy and Ajit Narang to discuss diversity, equity and inclusion efforts at Medtronic. 

Amadi is a partner at WilmerHale who focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation at the trial and appellate stages. She was recently named a National Bar Association “40 Under 40 – Nation’s Best Advocates” honoree for 2021. These annual awards recognize the nation’s top lawyers under the age of 40 who exemplify a broad range of high achievement in the legal field, including in advocacy, innovation, vision, leadership and overall legal and community involvement. She was also recognized by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a “Woman Worth Watching in STEM.” 

Moorthy is vice president and chief deputy general counsel and Narang is chief counsel of pelvic health at Medtronic, a global leader in medical technology, services and solutions. Medtronic is leading the way in advancing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in the legal field by adopting a collaborative approach to engage outside counsel.

Amadi, Moorthy and Narang share their perspectives on how companies and law firms can work together to foster opportunities and increase awareness to create a more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace.