Hecht Partners recognized for historic Sudan human rights verdict

Hecht Partners LLP was named part of Public Justice’s 2026 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award-winning team for its role in Kashef et al. v. BNP Paribas et al. The case led to a landmark jury verdict for more than 23,000 Sudanese refugees and could affect how banks assess liability tied to international human rights abuses.

Why it matters: - The award spotlights a verdict that broke new ground in U.S. civil litigation over international atrocities. - The case could influence how financial institutions assess exposure when processing transactions tied to sanctions evasion and human rights abuses. - More than 23,000 Sudanese refugees were represented in the decade-long lawsuit.

What happened: - Public Justice named the litigation team in Kashef et al. v. BNP Paribas et al. as a recipient of its 2026 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award. - The award was presented on July 27, 2026, at Public Justice’s 44th Annual Gala and Awards Dinner in Chicago. - Hecht Partners said its attorneys were recognized as part of the winning team. - Kathryn Lee Boyd, a partner at Hecht Partners, originated the litigation, served as Co-Lead Class Counsel, and represented class members in the case.

The details: - The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Sudanese refugees who fled genocide carried out by the regime of former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. - Boyd built the case over nearly a decade and worked closely with the Sudanese-American community. - The case went to a six-week bellwether trial in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. - Boyd presented parts of the plaintiffs’ case and examined three Sudanese survivor witnesses and CNN Chief International Correspondent Nima Elbagir. - On Oct. 17, 2025, the jury returned a unanimous $20.75 million verdict for the three bellwether plaintiffs. - The jury found that BNP Paribas aided and abetted human rights abuses by processing financial transactions that helped the Sudanese government evade U.S. sanctions. - Following the verdict, BNP Paribas stock fell more than 10% during trading. - The recognition covered the broader trial team, including Hecht Partners, Hausfeld LLP, DiCello Levitt LLP and Zuckerman Spaeder LLP. - Hecht Partners’ trial team included Kathryn Lee Boyd, David L. Hecht, Maxim Price, Kristen Nelson and Michael Eggenberger. - David L. Hecht said Boyd earned the trust of a community that endured severe atrocities and helped deliver a verdict that could reshape bank exposure to international human rights abuse claims.

Between the lines: - The award recognizes not just trial performance, but long-horizon legal organizing, survivor engagement and case development. - The verdict appears to raise the litigation risk for banks tied to transactions that may support sanctioned regimes. - The result also signals that juries can hold major financial institutions civilly liable in human rights cases when the factual record is strong.

What's next: - Hecht Partners is likely to continue highlighting the case as a precedent-setting victory in human rights litigation. - The verdict’s broader legal and market effects may become clearer as related litigation and compliance responses evolve. - Public Justice’s recognition may elevate similar public-interest cases aimed at corporate accountability.