Wendolyn Wrosch Richards

Throughout her career, Wendy's work has focused on complex litigation including class actions, securities, and intellectual property matters. She is responsible for coordinating Miller Canfield's pro bono efforts firm-wide, which has resulted in the firm's involvement in several high-profile matters. Recently, Wendy has assisted in and led teams involving high-impact immigration litigation matters, community development projects, entrepreneurship opportunities for persons living in disadvantaged communities, as well as several other community enrichment or access to justice projects. 

Some of Wendy's more recent projects have included:

• In cooperation with ACLU of Michigan and others obtained an injunction in a national habeas class action to prevent the imminent deportation of hundreds of Iraqi nationals without due process in the immigration courts. Clients are primarily Catholic, Kurdish and other religions and ethnic minorities, facing persecution, torture and possibly death if returned to Iraq. The team also successfully obtained an injunction ordering bond hearings to determine if the roughly 300 class members that have been in prolonged detention should be released. 
• Lead role among 14 firms nationwide in coordinating a 50-state poll worker guide project on behalf of The Brennan Center for Justice, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Association of Pro Bono Counsel. Project focuses on encouraging qualified candidates to apply for the critical job of serving as poll workers on Election Day, and provides information on application, scope of duties, and high priority state-specific issues. 
• Work as co-chair to coordinate law firms nationally in connection with the Association of Pro Bono Counsel's Voting Rights Task Force. The association works with pro bono counsel from major law firms across the country to ensure access to justice. Wendy co-chairs the Voting Rights Task Force for the association, which works to support voting rights groups in their efforts to improve systems related to the democratic process. 
• To address COVID-19's devastating economic effects, Wendy established the remote COVID-19 Small Business Clinic in Detroit with Michigan Community Resources and the Lawyers for Good Government Foundation. Wendy co-created and has chaired the Small Business Legal Academy Detroit, which has partnered with Detroit Start-up Week to hold clinics where would-be entrepreneurs can obtain pro bono legal assistance with common business questions and issues.

"Best Practices for Establishing Driver's License Restoration Clinics," State Bar of Michigan Justice Initiatives Committee, Spring Pro Bono Workshop, May 16, 2023

"Making A Difference: Creating or Enhancing Your Pro Bono Programs," Association of Corporate Counsel Michigan, March 9, 2023

ABA Civil Rights and Social Justice Chair Chat, March 1, 2023

"The Election Minefield: What Exploded in 2020, What Was Defused in 2022 and What to Dodge in 2024," Moderator, State Bar of Michigan Government Law Section 2023 Winter Educational Seminar, February 17, 2023 

"Connecting Elections to Your Profession," Wayne State University Law School Voting Rights & Election Law Society and Wayne State University Schools of Social Work and Public Health, Sept. 16, 2022

"Practicing Voting Rights Litigation in Michigan," Wayne State University Law School Voting Rights & Election Law Society, March 22, 2022

"Legal Resources for Small Businesses," Detroit Digital Inclusion Week, Oct. 19, 2021

Voter Education and Protection Panel, WEGP, January 2021

Voting Rights Panel and Voting Rights discussion session, Moderator, Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance, Fall Summit, Oct. 2020

"Cross Examinations Fundamentals," Moderator with Thomas Cranmer, Lakeshore Legal Aid, Sept. 2020

"Helping Small Business in the Time of COVID," Practicing Law Institute, Practicing Justice Podcast, Aug. 2020

"Partners in Impact: How Non-profits + Big Law Join to Make Change," hosted by the University of Michigan School of Law Pro Bono Board, March 2019

Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast, Pro Bono Institute, Dec. 21, 2018

"Hamama v. Adducci - What Now?", Presented by University of Michigan Middle Eastern Law Students Association, Feb. 26, 2019

"Voting Rights," Facilitator, ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference, May 2018

"Pro Bono and Big Law," Panelist, University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2017 & 2018

"Political Discourse in the Workplace," Panelist, Employment Law Section Diversity Roundtable, State Bar of Michigan Employment Law Section, Detroit, Michigan, 2017

"Rapid Response Pro Bono," Panelist, State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Workshop, Lansing, Michigan, May 2017

"Voting Rights and Pro Bono," Panelist, ABA/NLADA Equal Justice Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 2017

"Corporate Basics for Entrepreneurs," Ford Motor Company-New Economy Initiative Small Business Clinic, Dearborn, Michigan, Oct. 2016