Wolfe Recognized as Rising Star by National Immigrant Justice Center

CHICAGO (June 1, 2016) – Shook Hardy & Bacon Chicago Associate Matthew Wolfe has been named a Rising Star by the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) for his exemplary pro bono work. NIJC is a nonprofit organization geared toward providing human rights protections for immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers. Wolfe will be recognized by NIJC on June 2 at the organization’s 17^th Annual Human Rights Awards.

Each year, the organization honors individuals who have made “outstanding achievements to promote, protect and advance human rights throughout the world.” The Rising Star award “recognizes associate or junior-level attorneys who have demonstrated extraordinary commitment to ensuring access to justice for immigrants through their pro bono work with NIJC.”

Wolfe has worked with the NIJC for the past four years. In 2012, he helped organize a clinic where Shook attorneys and paralegals assisted 15 youths applying for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals status. Following the clinic, Wolfe and other Shook attorneys continue to represent a number of those youths in renewing their applications every two years. Wolfe also represents, in complex proceedings in both immigration court and before the U.S. Asylum Office, two unaccompanied minors from El Salvador who fled forcible gang recruitment there and are seeking asylum in the United States.

At Shook, Wolfe focuses his practice on commercial litigation and insurance coverage disputes. He has a wealth of litigation experience, having litigated numerous matters to conclusion, both by dispositive motions and through trial or arbitration.

Aside from his pro bono work with the NIJC, Wolfe has also served as pro bono counsel to Chicago nonprofit Housing Choice Partners. 

Wolfe received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Chicago Law School in 2011, and his B.A., summa cum laude, from Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland, in 2003.