In the short time since he joined McDermott Will & Emery, Amandeep Sidhu, 33, has built a reputation as a strong litigator with a solid commitment to pro bono cases. Sidhu, a 2005 graduate of the University of Richmond School of Law, started at the firm in 2007 after clerking for Chief Judge Walter Felton Jr. of the Virginia Court of Appeals. Sidhu, who is himself Sikh, has witnessed the backlash and discrimination against Sikhs in a post-Sept. 11, 2001, environment. He is one of the founding members of The Sikh Coalition, formed in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, which serves to advocate for Sikhs whose civil or human rights were violated.
In the past 2 ½ years, Sidhu fought a pro bono battle on behalf of three Sikh men who wanted to serve in the U.S. Army. Since 1984, Sikhs have been barred from military service because the Army said the Sikh’s unshaved beards and turbans ran contrary to its uniformity requirement. The Army also cited safety concerns and said that the men’s presence would affect unit cohesion. “Based on the fact that Sikhs serve in a number of nations around the world and are able to meet all the uniformity and safety requirements ultimately proves that any Sikh candidate would be able to meet the Army’s requirements,” Sidhu said.
