Thomas Brunner to Co-Chair the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Board of Directors

November 17, 2006

Wiley Rein & Fielding partner Thomas W. Brunner, head of the firm’s Insurance Practice, has been selected to serve, with Melvin White of McDermott, Will & Emery LLP, as co-chair of the Board of Directors of the Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs. 

Mr. Brunner and WRF have a longstanding relationship with the Lawyers’ Committee Board.  As part of its pro bono efforts, the firm frequently partners with the group to handle cases involving employment, housing and public accommodations.  Currently, WRF works with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee to represent the Disability Rights Council and 13 individuals with significant disabilities in a class action law suit against MetroAccess, the curb-to-curb "paratransit" service provided by Metro.

The Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs has represented both individuals and groups seeking to vindicate their civil rights for over 35 years.   It has handled over 5,000 civil rights cases, in employment, housing, public accommodations, and other aspects of urban life. It represents people with claims of discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, disability, age, religion, and sexual orientation.  Leveraging its own broad expertise in discrimination litigation with the resources of Washington, DC’s private bar, the Committee’s litigation efforts have become nationally known for landmark court victories, record judgments, and precedent-setting consent decrees.  Its capacity to mobilize the private bar has made it possible for the Committee to provide its clients more than 50,000 hours of quality legal representation every year.  Nearly 50 leading DC law firms are represented on its Board of Directors.