Milbank LLP is pleased to announce that the Federal Bar Council has named Litigation & Arbitration partner Tawfiq Rangwala recipient of the 2022 Thurgood Marshall Award for Exceptional Pro Bono Service in the “Veteran Deserving of Recognition” category. Mr. Rangwala was recognized by the Council at the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on November 23.
The Thurgood Marshall Award recognizes and celebrates lawyers in private practice who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to pro bono legal service before federal courts or agencies. The Council has annually presented this award in the name of Justice Thurgood Marshall since 2014.
This recognition speaks to Mr. Rangwala’s leadership in addressing systemic discrimination and injustices in criminal and civil cases. His commitment to equal justice and equity has been a mainstay throughout his career with Milbank, beginning with his work as a young associate for the Neighborhood Defender Service of Harlem to his longstanding representation of John Francis Wille, a Louisiana man sentenced to death for murder in 1986, in a post-conviction proceeding to exonerate him on the basis of false confessions and numerous constitutional violations. Mr. Wille’s death sentence was vacated as result of litigation led by Mr. Rangwala, including appeals to the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Mr. Rangwala’s pro bono service also includes representing the All Muslim Association of America (AMAA) in a federal court case against Stafford County, Virginia and its Board of Supervisors for discriminatory acts under the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) and the US and Virginia Constitutions. The case pertained to Stafford County’s enactment of ordinances that precluded the Muslim non-profit from building an Islamic cemetery on land zoned for that purpose. It resulted in a complete repeal of the unlawful ordinances and a significant monetary payment to AMAA.
Mr. Rangwala has previously been recognized for his pro bono commitment. In 2021, Chambers & Partners named Mr. Rangwala Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year for his significant work on pro bono matters addressing systemic discrimination and injustices in criminal cases.
He serves on the Board of Directors of Legal Services NYC, the nation’s largest provider of legal services to the indigent, is the Chair of Milbank’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, and provides mentorship to young lawyers and law students through various diverse bar associations.
Mr. Rangwala's practice focuses on defense of US and international regulatory and criminal enforcement matters, as well as internal investigations relating to business activities and sensitive cultural topics. Mr. Rangwala is also a seasoned litigator with extensive experience before federal and state courts in complex commercial cases involving securities and corporate law, contract disputes and financial restructuring.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Rangwala is the author of a #1 best-selling non-fiction book regarding a major political scandal in Canada commonly known as the WE Charity Scandal. Released in May 2022, the book is called What We Lost: Inside the Attack on Canada's Largest Children's Charity. It reflects a detailed investigation into the circumstances behind a scandal that gripped Canadian politics and media during the Covid pandemic, almost led to the collapse of the government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and resulted in the closure of one of Canada's most celebrated non-profits. The foreword to the book is written by former Canadian Prime Minister Kim Campbell and the audio book is narrated by civil rights activist Martin Luther King III.
More information on the Federal Bar Council’s Thurgood Marshall Award is available here.
