Criminal Justice / Wrongful Convictions
Writ of Actual Innocence – Anthony Hall
HS partner Barry Pollack represented Anthony Hall pro bono in securing a writ of actual innocence for a 1991 murder conviction, resulting in the reversal of Mr. Hall’s convictions and the dismissal of all charges. The case followed a full evidentiary hearing that exposed suppressed exculpatory evidence and false eyewitness testimony, underscoring the firm’s commitment to correcting wrongful convictions through meticulous investigation and courtroom advocacy.
HS Contact:
Barry J. Pollack
External Link:
Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP
Criminal Defense / Sentencing Advocacy
Teaming with Public Defender Organizations
HS maintains an ongoing partnership with The Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem, supporting clients facing serious criminal charges by providing targeted advocacy at critical stages of their cases. In one representative matter, firm attorneys helped secure the dismissal of murder charges and a significantly reduced sentence by drafting a comprehensive pre-plea memorandum highlighting mitigating factors, community ties, and equitable considerations.
HS Contacts:
Andrew St. Laurent, Martin Braxton, Dr. Monica Delgado
External Link:
Neighborhood Defender
Civil Rights / Employment Discrimination
Southern District of New York Pro Bono Program
At the request of the Chief Judge of the Southern District of New York, HS serves as pro bono counsel to pro se litigants pursuing civil rights and employment discrimination claims. The firm brings its trial, negotiation, and mediation experience to matters involving constitutional and statutory rights, assisting individuals who would otherwise be unable to secure legal representation in complex federal proceedings.
HS Contacts:
Martin Braxton, Megan Dubatowka
Economic Justice / Regulatory Access
Cannabis Social Equity License Initiative
HS provides pro bono legal services to New York cannabis social equity license applicants, assisting entrepreneurs from communities disproportionately affected by prior cannabis enforcement. Drawing on decades of experience in business formation and regulatory licensing, the firm helps clients navigate application requirements, corporate structuring, and compliance considerations to position their businesses for long-term success.
HS Contacts:
Martin Braxton, Megan Dubatowka
Education / Access to the Legal Profession
Paid Undergraduate Internships (Pro Bono Program)
Through its paid undergraduate internship program, HS works to expand access to education and professional opportunity within the legal field. The program offers pre-law students hands-on exposure to legal practice, mentorship from experienced attorneys, and meaningful participation in firm matters, while fostering diversity and inclusion within the profession.
HS Contact:
Martin Braxton
