Foley Hoag LLP partner Madeleine Rodriguez and associate Stephen Bartlett were recipients of the Victim Rights Law Center's (VRLC) Shining Star Award, presented at the organization's 20th Anniversary Celebration on September 20, 2023.
The annual Shining Star Award recognizes pro bono attorneys for exceptional compassion, dedication and contributions to the VRLC and the sexual assault survivors that it serves.
Of Rodriguez, the organization said she has "continuously gone above and beyond for survivors." It also called attention to her "taking on interlocutory appeals on Rule 17 cases and helping the VRLC become more involved in the appellate space."
At Foley Hoag, Rodriguez represents educational, healthcare, and financial services institutions in civil cases, internal and regulatory investigations, and civil rights compliance matters. She also represents foreign States, State-controlled entities, and multinational corporations in U.S. federal courts and treaty disputes before international arbitral tribunals. Rodriguez serves as Co-Chair of the firm's Education practice group.
The VRLC noted that Bartlett's "continued and zealous commitment...has been invaluable to our organization and our survivor-clients," and recognized his dedication to "providing services to some of the most vulnerable survivors we serve and helping to moot appeals cases."
Within his practice, Bartlett counsels both public and private clients operating in heavily regulated industries on energy and environmental disputes, real estate, transportation and infrastructure projects and state and federal regulatory compliance issues. He also has extensive experience advising medical and adult use cannabis companies on complex state licensing questions and related regulatory compliance and enforcement matters.
Foley Hoag has long been dedicated to advancing the rights of survivors and has partnered with the VRLC since 2001 to represent more than 100 survivors of rape and sexual assault.
Founded as the first law center in the nation dedicated solely to serving the legal needs of sexual assault survivors, the VRLC is a leader in representing sexual assault survivors' legal rights in the civil context. The organization not only provides legal representation to survivors of rape and sexual assault to help rebuild their lives, but also promotes a national movement committed to seeking justice for every rape and sexual assault survivor.