Winston For Good Heroes: Amandeep Sidhu Fights for Religious Freedom for All

Amandeep (Aman) Sidhu is a trailblazer in the truest sense of the word. He co-founded the largest nonprofit organization protecting the rights of Sikh Americans and is lead counsel in ongoing lawsuits to clear the way for Sikhs and other religious minorities to serve in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces while openly practicing their faith.

In the aftermath of 9/11 and a surge of discrimination and hate crimes against Sikh Americans, Aman co-founded The Sikh Coalition. For more than 20 years, The Sikh Coalition has fought for the rights of Sikh Americans and other religious minorities to practice their faith without fear.

An active member of the Sikh Coalition’s Legal Advisory Council, Aman led pro bono legal teams that secured the right for more than 150 observant Sikhs to serve with their articles of faith intact in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. The Sikh articles of faith include wearing unshorn hair and a turban.

In December of last year, a Winston pro bono team led by Aman, along with The Sikh Coalition and co-counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, and BakerHostetler, won a precedent-setting federal appeal that forced the U.S. Marine Corps to allow two Marine recruits to begin boot camp without having to compromise their religious beliefs.

The fight for religious freedom is ongoing, with Aman leading several pro bono lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Defense on behalf of Sikhs and Muslims. You can read a PBS News-Hour story about Winston’s most recent win and the ongoing litigation here.

A paragon of support for civil and human rights, Aman has also led lobbying efforts in the U.S. Congress regarding hate crimes, profiling, workplace, and public accommodation discrimination.

Aman is widely recognized within the industry for his legal prowess and has been included several times in The Legal 500 U.S. for dispute resolution (corporate investigations and white-collar criminal defense), healthcare, and life sciences. He was also named a “rising star” by the National Law Journal and the Minority Corporate Counsel Association and received “Best Under 40” awards from the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and the Washington Business Journal. Additionally, his pro bono practice and affiliation with the Sikh Coalition have earned him recognition as a “Bold Leader” and as an inaugural Asian Centennial Award from his alma mater, William & Mary.

Despite his heavy caseload, Aman is renowned among associates as being a great mentor, champion, and friend. Nasir Hussain, a senior associate, summed up his experience working with Aman this way, “Aman’s passion for service to those who otherwise would not have a voice, and his expert ability to leverage his considerable goodwill among powerful and influential stakeholders for the benefit of others, is nothing short of extraordinary and serves as a true inspiration for me and everyone who has the privilege of working alongside him.”