Two days before President Donald Trump issued the first of three orders in 2017 restricting the travel of people from majority-Muslim countries, Katie Marquart, pro bono counsel and director at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, got a call from a colleague at the International Refugee Assistance Project who made some dire predictions about the looming emergency in immigration law. By the time the initial travel ban order dropped on Jan. 27, Marquart says, more than 75 Gibson Dunn lawyers were ready to join a cohort of pro bono attorneys around the country who flocked to airports in droves to offer their assistance to travelers and their families caught up in the sudden legal crisis.

From Dulles to DFW and JFK to LAX, the legal community united in action, dealing with customs and border patrol agents, tracking flights to prepare for any incoming travelers who might be detained, drafting and filing habeas petitions and answering the legal questions of anyone in jeopardy. To streamline the process of protecting people whose rights were threatened, typically competitive Big Law firms even shared work product.