Rachel Fendell Honored for Pro Bono Work in Wrongful Conviction

Rachel Fendell Satinsky, a shareholder at Littler, has honored the 2025 Edward D. Ohlbaum Volunteer Award from the Pennsylvania Innocence Project. The award recognizes her legal work that helped secure the release of two men wrongfully convicted.

The award was presented on May 8 in Philadelphia. It honors Fendell Satinsky’s dedication to exonerating the wrongfully convicted and her leadership in pro bono legal cases. She has volunteered with the Pennsylvania Innocence Project since 2011.

One of the cases she worked on involved Jeffrey Dawkins. Dawkins was convicted at age 19 in 2004. His conviction was based on weak identification evidence and no initial witness statements naming him. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He maintained his innocence for two decades. Dawkins was released on July 19, 2024, after legal teams reexamined the case and presented new findings.

Fendell Satinsky also worked on the case of Tyrone Jones. Jones was arrested in 1973 at age 16. He was convicted based on his own statements, which did not match the facts of the crime. No witnesses were interviewed at the time of his arrest, and the gun in his possession did not match the bullet found at the crime scene. His legal team filed a Post Conviction Relief Act petition in 2011. Jones was released on parole on September 1, 2016.

The Pennsylvania Innocence Project focuses on four areas: exoneration, reentry support, education, and legislative reform. It helps prove the innocence of people wrongfully convicted. It also provides support for their return to society and works to prevent future wrongful convictions.

The Edward D. Ohlbaum Volunteer Award is named after the late Eddie Ohlbaum. He was a professor, legal advocate, and early supporter of the Project. The award honors those who make significant contributions through pro bono legal service.

In addition to her volunteer work, Fendell Satinsky practices employment litigation and counseling at Littler. Fendell co-chairs the firm’s Contractors, Staffing and Contingent Workforce Practice Group. She is known for resolving cases through summary judgment, trials, and appeals. She also focuses on building long-term relationships with clients.

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