In late 2008, lawyers challenging the New York Police Department’s “stop-and-frisk” policy turned to Covington & Burling for help. They claimed victory nearly five years later. U.S. District Judge Shira Scheindlin in August found the city liable for violating the constitutional rights of the city’s black and Hispanic residents (the city has since appealed).

“This was a racial injustice that cried out for judicial remedy,” Covington of counsel Eric Hellerman said.