In 2009, Bryan Cave announced the beginning of a substantial pro bono relationship with Family Equality Council and is currently the organization’s omnibus legal counsel, providing corporate and commercial guidance and analysis of numerous areas of federal and state law that treat same-sex households differently.
Jennifer Chrisler, the organization’s executive director, talked about the work on the federal regulatory side as well as work with federal agencies about the ever-evolving definition of “family.” She also touched on the situation with Catholic Charities and the Every Child Deserves a Family Act. The act bans an entity that receives federal assistance and is involved in adoption or foster-care placements from discriminating against potential adoptive or foster parents on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identification or martial status. Photos by Mel Ferrand