RSHC news

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila had the privilege of working with the City of Chicago in preparing an important amicus brief on behalf of the Cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and other major U.S. cities and counties, who have been negatively affected by President Trump’s executive order restricting travel from six predominately Muslim countries. On June 12, 2017, the Ninth Circuit mostly affirmed the district court’s injunction against enforcement of the travel ban. Citing the RSHC brief, the Court concluded that enforcement of the travel ban could “undermine trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities and inflict financial and social costs, such as loss of tourism dollars.”

On Wednesday, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles and other cities weighed in against the President’s updated immigration ban for six predominantly Muslim countries, arguing to the Fourth Circuit that lifting the injunction on the ban would hurt city economies across the country.

Patricia Brown Holmes and Leslie D. Davis, RSHC partners, co-authored the cover story for the Best Lawyers “Women in the Law” Spring Business Edition 2017. While lateral transitions are generally beneficial for both the attorney and the new law firm, firms are now charged with finding more effective ways to quickly integrate lateral attorneys, particularly as those attorneys become more diverse. In order to remain competitive, law firms must work to address the barriers that have inhibited the successful integration of diverse lateral attorneys.

On April 4, 2017, the Seventh Circuit issued a monumental opinion (Hively v. Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana), holding that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. It is the first [and only] federal circuit court decision of its kind; and comes only one week after the Second Circuit ruled that sexual orientation is not a protected category under Title VII..

RSHC Partners, Patricia Brown Holmes and Ron Safer, will be presenting at the March 30 – April 1, 2017 Black Women’s Law Association (BWLA) National Summit entitled, “Legacy: Celebrating Our History and Charting Our Future.”

Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila had the privilege of working with the City of Chicago in preparing an important amicus brief on behalf of the Cities of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and other major U.S. cities and counties, who have been negatively affected by President Trump’s new executive order.

The Black Women Lawyers Association (BWLA), during their 30th Anniversary year, recognizes former BWLA President and founding member Patricia Brown Holmes, also immediate past CBA President, as their 2017 Vanguard Award recipient. The Vanguard Awards provide Chicago’s legal community with a focal point that celebrates the accomplishments of diverse lawyers and organizations and fosters greater understanding and collaboration between the city’s diverse bar associations.

Patricia Brown Holmes is an inspirational leader in the legal and greater community. She personifies justice, equality, inclusion and hope. She is a highly respected and accomplished lawyer with a reputation for excellence, integrity and unerring judgment.

RSHC Serves as Pro Bono Counsel for ACLU, Hastings Center in Asylum-Seeker Detention Policy Suit

Patricia Brown Holmes will investigate and determine whether charges should be filed against Chicago Police Department personnel involved in the October 20, 2014 LaQuan McDonald shooting.

The symposium, held in April 2016 at the Everett McKinley Dirksen U.S. Courthouse in Chicago, examined and outlined strategies and best practices for empowering women lawyers as lead counsel and trial counsel in litigation. The event was sponsored by The United States District Court, the Chicago Bar Association, the Black Women Lawyer’s Association and the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois.

On April 19, 2016, Eddie Bolden walked out of jail, exonerated and a free man for the first time in 22 years, thanks to the efforts of private investigator Susan Carlson and a legal team led by RSHC founding partner Ron Safer.