Community Involvement
We founded Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel to ensure the rights of every citizen are fully protected. When it comes to our community, we extend this commitment to work towards progress and helping individuals every day. Read on to learn more about the organizations we work with.
Anti-Defamation League
At Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, we believe justice is for all—regardless of color, creed, race, religion, or orientation, so we strongly support the anti-hate values of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Since 2019, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has sponsored the organization’s Walk Against Hate. Net proceeds from the Walk Against Hate enhance and expand ADL’s efforts in providing anti-hate and anti-bullying programs in schools, civil rights advocacy work, extremism training for law enforcement, as well as incident response and community support for the region. “The organization combats all kinds of hateful ideology,” said Partner Charles S. Siegel. “And now more than ever, this seems like a cause well worth supporting.” In 2023, the North Texas chapter of the Anti-Defamation League awarded founding Partner Peter Kraus its Larry Schoenbrun Jurisprudence Award. The award is presented to a member of the legal community for outstanding leadership, exemplary contributions to the community, and a demonstrated commitment to the ideals of ADL. Founded in 1913, the ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. Today, ADL continues to fight all forms of antisemitism and bias, using innovation and partnerships to drive impact.
North Texas Food Bank
Founded in 1982, the North Texas Food Bank distributes donated and purchased foods across 13 counties. In 2022, 97 million meals were given to hungry residents of North Texas, a region where one in five children is food insecure. In addition to the volunteer efforts of individual attorneys, we’ve also undertaken firm-wide initiatives. We participated in the Partners 4 Hope fundraiser. Partners 4 Hope is an annual friendly competition among firms in the North Texas legal community that unites attorneys and law firms to spread awareness of hunger in our local community and raise funds to combat this challenge. Facilities Manager and Director of Leasing, Jan Cunningham, won Best Advocate during the 2022 drive. “Each of us has a responsibility to help those in need,” said Jan. “Every effort, regardless of how small, makes a difference.” We look forward to participating in the Partners 4 Hope fundraiser again in 2023, when the effort will be focused on summer break childhood hunger.
American Association of Justice
For over 75 years, the American Association for Justice (AAJ) has successfully defended Americans’ right to trial by jury and continues to fight every day to protect our legal practice, our clients’ rights and our civil justice system. We share the AAJ’s vision of justice for all and are proud to have supported it in a variety of ways. Many of our attorneys have served in important roles in the AAJ. Partner Gary Paul won the distinguished Service Award in 2017 and 2019 for his service, which has included countless roles including the Board of Governors, Executive Committee and more. Founding Partner Peter Kraus won the Above and Beyond Award in 2017 after taking on many positions within the organization including on the Board of Governors. Other individual attorneys also support the organization including partner Caitlyn Silhan, who is a member of the Qui Tam Litigation group. Partner Chris Johnson currently serves as a member of the Voter Protection Committee and has previously held the role of Committee Chair for the Diversity and Inclusion Committee.
Dallas Children Advocacy Center
The only agency of its kind in Dallas County, Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center (DCAC) works in agreement with public and private agencies to investigate, prosecute and provide healing services for child abuse cases in Dallas County. We are proud to partner with DCAC annually for the Holiday of Hope Toy Drive. Every year, we collect toys to donate to children who have suffered child abuse. The holidays can be a difficult time, especially for children living in the aftermath of criminal child abuse. DCAC’s Holiday of Hope program brings a smile to thousands of their clients’ faces with gifts and toys. Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel has also been a Corporate Champion Protector for DCAC since 2021.
Public Justice
Founded in January 1982, Public Justice is a nonprofit legal advocacy organization that takes on purveyors of corporate corruption, sexual abusers and harassers, and polluters who ravage the environment. We are proud Founding Donors for their Justice For All Fund: Opening the Courthouse Doors. At Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, we work for regular citizens to fight the corporations and individuals that harm them. We are proud to support Public Justice.
Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
The Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program (DVAP) increases and enhances pro bono legal services to low-income people in Dallas through the recruitment, training, and support of volunteer attorneys. In 2022, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel was a Silver Sponsor of its Equal Access to Justice fundraising drive. Many of our attorneys also volunteer pro bono services to the clients DVAP serves. There are over 800,000 people in Dallas who qualify for DVAP services, and we are proud to be a part of assisting those in need. DVAP is a joint program of the Dallas Bar Association and Legal Aid of NorthWest Texas created in 1997 when both organizations merged their previously separate pro bono programs to create one cohesive effort to address the legal needs of low-income people in Dallas.
Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum
Founded in 1984, The Dallas Holocaust & Human Rights Museum is dedicated to teaching the history of the Holocaust and advancing human rights to combat prejudice, hatred, and indifference. Since 2018, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel founding partner Peter A. Kraus has sat on the organization’s board of directors. In January of 2024, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel sponsored a weekend of free admission in honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
Pro Bono Cases
Texas “Motor Voter” Law
At Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, we believe every citizen should be able to exercise their right to vote. So when the State of Texas attempted to limit the ability of its citizens to register to vote, we took action. We joined the Texas Civil Rights Project in representing Texas voters against the State of Texas for its violation of the National Voter Registration Act — commonly known as the ‘motor voter’ law. In September of 2020, a settlement was reached in the lawsuit. This created the first-ever opportunity for Texans to register to vote when they renew or update their driver’s license online. Within 10 months, over one million voters in Texas took advantage of this. This shows the far-reaching impact this settlement will have for generations of Texas voters’ ability to access their constitutional right. “Our state has long had the technology to comply with federal law and save taxpayer money by registering or updating the voter registration information for Texans who transact with DPS online. Now, after more than five years of litigation, it’s finally doing so,” said Partner Caitlyn Silhan. “We are so proud to have fought alongside the Texas Civil Rights Project to achieve this important voting rights win for Texans.”
How Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel Can Help
With a national presence and international experience fighting fraud and negligence, Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel provides aggressive representation throughout the entire course of litigation. To learn more about legal representation at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, or to have one of our attorneys review your potential case, email us or call 800.226.9880.