Dechert is committed to pro bono work aimed at promoting social justice, equality and human rights. This includes women's rights, reproductive rights, LGBTQ+ rights and disability rights.
The firm collaborates with various organizations to combat gender and disability discrimination, promote reproductive and equal rights, and to advocate for the interests of the LGBTQ+ community. Dechert's lawyers work on cases involving domestic violence, sexual harassment, reproductive healthcare, gender changes, marriage equality, accessibility and equal opportunities
Dechert is committed to advancing women's rights, fighting gender discrimination, and promoting equal opportunities. The firm handles cases related to domestic violence, sexual harassment and gender-based asylum claims. Lawyers partner with community organizations to represent domestic violence victims and collaborate with The Advocates for Human Rights to reform domestic violence laws globally. This initiative provides advocacy groups with insight into global best practices to support positive outcomes for clients.
Dechert is committed to protecting reproductive rights globally, providing legal support for access to reproductive healthcare and family planning services. The firm assisted Planned Parenthood in resisting Iowa’s 2018 “fetal heartbeat” law, with the state's Supreme Court upholding the ban's block. Lawyers helped the Center for Reproductive Rights develop legal strategies to expand sexual and reproductive health rights in Latin America and the Caribbean. Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Dechert challenged total abortion bans in Oklahoma, aiming to ensure abortion access.
Dechert supports LGBTQ+ rights through pro bono work, combating discrimination and promoting equal rights. The firm handles cases related to name and gender changes, marriage equality, workplace discrimination and transgender rights. Notably, lawyers assisted in the case of Olivera v. Peru, resulting in the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruling against discrimination based on sexual orientation. The firm partners with organizations such as the Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund and Whitman-Walker Health Legal Services to assist transgender, gender non-conforming and non-binary individuals in legally changing their names.
Dechert works with organizations to protect the rights of individuals with disabilities, providing legal support in cases involving discrimination, accessibility and equal opportunities. Dechert lawyers also advocate for policy changes to ensure the rights of individuals with disabilities are upheld.
See more on Disability Rights under Public Benefits on our Securing Access to Justice page.
