Emma Frank Shortlisted for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year at Chambers USA Awards

Emma Frank, an associate in Wolf Greenfield’s Litigation Practice, has been selected as a finalist in the “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year” category at the Chambers USA Awards 2024. Emma is one of only 10 attorneys in the country recognized in this category.

Emma represents clients in patent, trademark, and trade secret litigation matters in federal district courts, at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), and before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She uses her training as a scientist to dig into clients’ technologies and develop solutions that protect and capitalize on their most important inventions and defend against assertions of competitors’ intellectual property.

Throughout 2023, Emma led the team that secured a victory for pro bono client, Mr. Emmanuel Thiersaint, at the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit. Mr. Thiersaint was detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for nearly two months, during which he was subjected to a series of transports and detentions across the country with gross disregard for his physical disabilities. Along with Yale Law School’s Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic (WIRAC), the Wolf Greenfield team has been advancing Mr. Thiersaint’s claims in federal district court against ICE and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department. After leading the team through briefing and oral argument preparation, Emma argued before the First Circuit with co-counsel from WIRAC in April 2023. In November 2023, the First Circuit ruled in Mr. Thiersaint’s favor and reversed the district court’s summary judgment decision dismissing his tort claims against ICE. That decision now sets important precedent for individuals with disabilities seeking to advance tort claims stemming from their treatment while detained.

Emma also maintains a robust pro bono practice representing clients facing a variety of other legal challenges and proudly mentors many Wolf Greenfield employees in their own pro bono endeavors. She has represented clients in family law matters through the Women’s Bar Foundation, unemployment assistance appeals through the Volunteer Lawyers Project, and veteran affairs appeals through the Veterans Consortium. She has also worked with the Innocence Project on amici briefs in criminal cases involving genotyping software evidence.

The Chambers USA Awards reflect achievements over the past 12 months including outstanding work, impressive strategic growth, and excellence in client service. The pro bono awards will be announced during the diversity, equity, and inclusion portion of the ceremony, which will take place virtually on June 13, 2024. Learn more.