For immediate release
LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) is pleased to announce the shortlist for the 2023 Annual LawWorks Pro Bono Awards.
The Awards recognise and celebrate achievement in legal pro bono work, undertaken by organisations and individuals, and the commitment of the legal sector in enabling access to justice. Our finalists represent the breadth and range of pro bono activity undertaken by LawWorks members, pro bono clinics and many others across England and Wales.
The awards are kindly sponsored by LexisNexis and supported by the Law Society of England and Wales.
The winners will be announced at an event at the Law Society of England and Wales, Chancery Lane, London on 5th December. Hosted by journalist and broadcaster, Samira Ahmed, the evening will be a magical night celebrating the legal pro bono work undertaking by solicitors and LawWorks. The award presentations will be followed by an informal drinks and canapes reception.
Commenting on the awards shortlist, Rebecca Wilkinson, the Chief Executive of LawWorks, said:
“Congratulations to all those shortlisted. These awards acknowledge and celebrate the commitment of law firms, in-house teams and the many individuals who volunteer their time and share their expertise to improve the lives of others. As in previous years we have seen a sizable number of very high quality nominations, so it has been no easy task for the judges to settle on a shortlist.
We would like to thank the judges for their work and look forward to meeting the finalists and our supporters at our awards event on December 5th.”
James Harper, Director, Global Legal LexisNexis, said:
“LexisNexis remains incredibly proud to support the LawWorks Awards (as it has done since 2015) – it is part of our commitment to advancing the Rule of Law around the world.
However, our Rule of Law work does not begin and end with sponsorship. Instead, it is at the very core of the LexisNexis business. Whether that is in the volunteering work our teams do around the world, the projects we work on, or just our day to day business, from content to software, advancing the Rule of Law is the heartbeat that drives us.
From time to time, we get the opportunity to help ensure those working in this area get the recognition that they profoundly deserve. The nominees for the LawWorks Awards demonstrate incredible commitment, tireless effort and inspiring dedication to ensure those that might be denied access to the legal system are not left behind. We are honoured to stand with them and help shine a light on their work.
Our congratulations to all those shortlisted, which is an achievement in itself, and we look forward to being with you in December.”
The shortlisted nominees for 2023 are:
Best Contribution by a Small or Medium Firm
- Crowell & Moring U.K. LLP
- Pallas Partners LLP
Best Contribution by a Large Firm
- Baker McKenzie LLP
- Covington & Burling LLP
- Herbert Smith Freehills LLP
- Reed Smith LLP
- Sidley Austin LLP
- Travers Smith LLP
Best Contribution by an In-house Team or an In-house Solicitor
- Conde Nast Legal Team, Conde Nast
- The Financial Conduct Authority Pro Bono Group, Financial Conduct Authority
- Inmarsat London legal team, Inmarsat
Junior Lawyers Pro Bono Award
- Alessandro Angelico, Covington & Burling
- Frances Beddow, Allen & Overy
- Voirrey Blount. Reed Smith
- Maddie Drabble, Dechert
- Olivia Scalise Gaspar, Covington & Burling
- Arushie Marwah, Herbert Smith Freehills
Best Contribution by an Individual
- Julie Chiu, Herbert Smith Freehills
- Harry Eccles-Williams, Mishcon de Reya
- Josianne El Antoury, Covington & Burling
- Naga Kandiah, MTC Solicitors
- Emine Mehmet, Duncan Lewis Solicitors
- Rachel Metcalf, Linklaters
- Geraldine Palfreman-Pigot, Covington & Burling
The LawWorks Cymru Award
- Ukraine Project Cymru, Asylum Justice
- University of South Wales Legal Advice Clinic, University of South Wales
Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic
- Bath Law Clinic, Bath Spa University
- BPP Legal Advice Clinic, BPP University Pro Bono Centre
- Dads House Family Law Clinic, Dad’s house
- Family and Employment Law Assistance in Legal Advice Deserts, Charles Russell Speechlys LLP; Plymouth Citizens Advice and University House Legal Advice Centre
- Kent Law Clinic, University of Kent
Best International Pro Bono Award
- Covington & Burling
- Crowell & Moring U.K. LLP
- Dechert
- Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative: CILD and Orrick, Freshfields, DLA Piper, Linklaters, Herbert Smith Freehills, Osborne Clarke, Reed Smith and Eversheds Sutherland
Best New Pro Bono Activity
- Bath Law Clinic
- Bridge to the City
- City Community Legal Advice Centre
- Islamophobia Response Unit
- Micro Rainbow LGBTQI+ Ukraine Scheme
- Protect Environmental Whistleblowing Toolkit, Protect
- UCL iLAC-ESI PIP Form Filling Clinic
Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership
- City Community Legal Advice Centre
- Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA): Travers Smith, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells International, Latham & Watkins, Slaughter and May, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Debevoise & Plimpton, Eversheds Sutherland (International), DLA Piper UK, Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld
- Employment Law for London Project: BPP University & South West London Law Centres
- Green Tech Legal Collaborative: Bloomberg L.P., Ropes & Gray, Willkie Farr and Gallagher, Ashurst, Mayer Brown, Travers Smith, Shearman and Sterling, Venner Shipley
- Kids in Need of Defense UK (KIND UK) & Partners (see note below)
- Not Beyond Redemption & Akin, Clyde & Co, Latham & Watkins, Morrison Foerster and Sidley Austin
- Queen Mary University London & Mishcon de Reya
- The Small Business Advice Line, The University of Law
- University of Chester & Pregnant Then Screwed Partnership
LawWorks are incredibly grateful to our judging panel for the 2023 Pro Bono Awards, who are:
- Richard Atkinson, Vice President of The Law Society of England and Wales
- Yasmin Batliwala, Chief Executive of Advocates for International Development
- Julie Bishop, Director of the Law Centres Network
- Chris Minnoch, Director of the Legal Aid Practitioners Group
- Professor Richard Owen, Chair of the Law Society’s Access to Justice Committee
- Paul Rogerson, Editor of the Law Society Gazette
- Rebecca Wilkie, Chief Executive of Advocate
Notes to editors:
- LawWorks (the Solicitors Pro Bono Group) is a charity that promotes, supports and facilitates pro bono legal services that extend access to the law for individuals and communities in need and the organisations that assist them. LawWorks supports a network of over 300 independent pro bono clinics across England and Wales, and facilitates free legal advice for smaller charities and social enterprises through its Not-For-Profits Programme. LawWorks is supported by the Law Society of England and Wales, the independent professional body for solicitors.
- The LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards event is being held at the Law Society on 5th December (from 6.30pm). For more information, please contact: peter.jackson@lawworks.org.uk
- Nominees for the LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards must be, or include a member of LawWorks or a clinic in the LawWorks Clinics Network. Detail about LawWorks membership is available at: www.lawworks.org.uk/why-pro-bono/lawworks-membership-join-us
- A4ID is a global charity that works in partnership with the world’s leading law firms, providing access to the best legal advice for those engaged in the fight against global poverty, and contribute to the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). For the new “Best International Pro Bono Award” special attention is given to pro bono projects that contribute to the achievement of the SDGs. www.a4id.org
- LawWorks are extremely grateful for the sponsorship of the awards by LexisNexis Legal & Professional. At LexisNexis, our mission is to progress the Rule of Law around the world. Everything we do is about making the law easily accessible and simple to understand. To achieve this, we empower and enable legal, compliance and tax professionals with access to the very best in legal intelligence – wherever they are working. Our feature-rich solutions provide access to advanced research, data-driven insights, practical guidance and enhanced legal tools, all in one easy-to-use legal solution, Lexis+.
- KIND UK partners include: Allen & Overy LLP; Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP; Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP; Bank of America; Baker McKenzie LLP; Clyde & Co LLP; Cooley (UK) LLP; Covington & Burling LLP; Dechert LLP; Dentons UK and Middle East LLP; DLA piper (UK) LLP; Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP; Fieldfisher LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP; GSK; Gowling WLG (UK) LLP; Hogan Lovells (International) LLP; K&L Gates LLP; Mayer Brown (International) LLP; Microsoft, Norton Rose Fulbright LLP; Pinsent Masons LLP; PRS for Music and VMware, Reed Smith LLP; Ropes & Gray LLP; Shearman & Sterling LLP; Sidley Austin LLP; Simmons & Simmons LLP;Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett LLP; and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP.
Join the awards celebration across social media using #LawWorksAwards
Contact: Peter Jackson: peter.jackson@lawworks.org.uk
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