Fredrikson Pro Bono Mobilization Team Named Unsung Legal Heroes

A group of Fredrikson legal support professionals have been named Unsung Legal Heroes by Minnesota Lawyer. Senior Electronic Records Analyst Tracy Backer, Director of Pro Bono & Community Service Katy Drahos, Senior Paralegal Elizabeth Prisby, Pro Bono & Community Service Assistant Beverly Skulratana and Senior Research Librarian Susan Trombley were honored for their behind-the-scenes work that was indispensable to one of the most significant pro bono mobilizations in recent Minnesota history.

The Unsung Legal Heroes award recognizes non-attorney law firm employees whose essential work supports colleagues, builds stronger client relationships and makes a difference in the community.

"These five individuals embody the spirit of this award: They have our attorneys' backs, our clients' backs, and, in this case, the backs of hundreds of people whose constitutional rights hung in the balance," Fredrikson President Melodie R. Rose said. "They did not argue in court or sign their names to briefs, but without their work, the attorneys who did could not have moved as quickly, as effectively, or at the scale that Minnesota's moment demanded. They rose to protect constitutional rights, and they deserve to be recognized for it."

Backer, Prisby and Trombley helped manage the American Civil Liberties Union intakes in Tincher et al. v. Noem et al coordinating more than 300 potential witnesses over a few weeks and helping to generate more than 100 declarations, 70 of which were filed. Drahos and Skulratana drew on deep relationships with nonprofit partners such as Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota, the James H. Binger Center for New Americans and The Advocates for Human Rights to organize a large-scale online training session designed to streamline the intake process for Minnesotans in immigration detention both in state and throughout the country.

The group will be recognized along with all Minnesota Lawyer Unsung Legal Heroes honorees at a Friday, September 11 event.

Fredrikson & Byron is a leading Midwest law firm working collaboratively to help businesses achieve their goals regionally, nationally and globally. With a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet,” our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients and operate as business advisors and strategic partners as well as legal counselors. The firm’s 425 attorneys serve clients from offices in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Mexico and China. Learn more at fredlaw.com or LinkedIn.