ABOUT | Rapid Defense Network | RDN | Our Story and Our Team

RAPID DEFENSE NETWORK provides rapid legal representation on a pro bono basis to immigrants facing unlawful and imminent detention or deportation. By leveraging partnerships with well-resourced leading law firms and law school clinics, mentoring their teams of attorneys on the successful legal techniques pioneered by Rapid Defense Network, we are able to efficiently and relentlessly address the soaring demand for our services.

OUR STORY

Rapid Defense Network (RDN) launched in January 2019 as an innovative legal services organization dedicated to providing rapid pro bono legal assistance to non-citizens facing imminent deportation or detention.

Over 1 million non-citizens without current immigration status in the United States have final orders of removal. This is approximately 10% of all non-citizens without status. Many are unaware that they were ordered removed because the government frequently fails to provide notice of immigration court hearings. The Trump Administration’s systematic crackdown on immigration has put these vulnerable community members at a heightened risk of detention and deportation without any semblance of due process: without notice, warning, or an opportunity to challenge being torn from their communities – even though many individuals have strong claims to protection from removal. The government has also employed increasingly aggressive and clandestine tactics to carry out this mandate.

To combat these efforts, RDN has made it its mission to provide rapid legal defense to protect non-citizens who are detained or on a fast-track to be deported. RDN is unique because of our lawyer's expertise in emergency litigation, their innovative legal techniques that are now being replicated nation-wide, and their willingness to take on – and win – cases that most others refuse.

MEET THE TEAM

Sarah T. Gillman

FOUNDER AND LEGAL DIRECTOR

Founded Rapid Defense Network in January 2019. From 2007-2016 was a staff attorney at The Legal Aid Society and from 2017-2019 was a Supervising Attorney in the Immigration Unit. Served from 2012-2014 as an Adjunct Professor of Law at New York University School of Law, Washington Square Legal Services where she taught and supervised students in the Immigrant and Advanced Rights Clinics. Holds a B.A. from Earlham College and a J.D. from CUNY School of Law.

Gui Stampur

CO-CHAIR

Lawyer, social entrepreneur, and activist. Co-founder of Safe Passage Project, a non-profit organization that provides free, full legal services to almost 900 undocumented youths each year. Prior to law school, worked as a legal assistant at Skadden Arps. Before co-founding Safe Passage, worked at The Door and Make the Road serving immigrant youth. Recently served as Co-Counsel in R.G.H. v. Sessions challenging aspects of the current administration's family separation policy. Holds a B.A. from Columbia University and a J.D. from Fordham Law School where he received the Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award.

Peter Cobb

CO-CHAIR

Former Managing Partner and Chair of the law firm of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver Jacobson, LLP. Previous positions include serving as President of the Legal Aid Society, Chief Financial Officer of the International Center for Transitional Justice, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation of the U.S. Congress, and Assistant Professor of Mathematics at Fordham University. In addition, has served as Board Chair of the Correctional Association of New York. Holds a J.D. from Columbia Law School, a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the City University of New York and a B.A. from Pomona College.

Rachael N. De Chacon

Vice President at The Blackstone Group. Previously served as corporate partner in the New York office of Kirkland Ellis LLP, focusing on the formation, operation, and regulatory compliance of private equity funds and other investment vehicles. From 2016-2018, worked for Blackstone in Real Estate Legal & Compliance. Holds a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law and a B.A. from Boston College.

Amy Drury

Investment-banking instructor with over 17 years of experience teaching management within financial institutions how to be more effective at their jobs. Specializes in accounting, valuation, financial modelling and Excel training, which all draw on her background in corporate finance. Author of academic texts, contributor to accounting and investment banking textbooks and producer of online e-learning content. Holds a B.A. in Architecture from the University of Liverpool, England.

Katy Brodsky Falco

Senior Fellow at NYU School of Law's Criminal Justice Lab. Prior to this, worked as Executive Director of Crime Lab New York, a criminal justice research organization that partners with civic and community leaders to identify, test, and help scale the programs and policies with the greatest potential to improve lives. Also served as Executive Director of Assessments and Reentry Services at the New York City Department of Correction, where she implemented national best practices and piloted the use of evidence-based assessment tools. Was Director of Advocacy and Associate General Counsel for Grameen America, Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus’ non-profit microfinance organization. Also worked at Legal Aid Society as a staff attorney in the Criminal Defense Division, and at the International Center for Transitional Justice in Cape Town and New York.

Philip Graham

Became a partner of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP in 1977 and Of Counsel in 2011. Practice involves all aspects of commercial litigation. Has a wide range of experience in and interest for community matters. In addition to supervising the pro bono work of associates at his firm, was a former member of the Civil Justice Reform Act Committee for the Southern District of New York and a Member of Advisory Group on Immigration Reform (Katzmann Committee). Holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and an A.B. from Harvard University.

Georgi Natalichvili

Recently co-founded Riverhead Realty Group LLC. Has spent most of his career in the automotive industry, first in sales at Mercedes of Brooklyn and later working his way up to finance manager at Potampkin GMC. Came to the United States in 1993 and from 1997-2003 founded and ran the successful American Jewelry Design Company before transitioning to the automotive industry. Born in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, where he obtained a business degree from the State Medical University.