Clifford Chance and Permira link up for pro bono initiative
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Clifford Chance is strengthening its relationship with client Permira by teaming up with the private equity house to offer free legal advice.
The initiative follows on from the magic circle firm's similar pro bono link-up with Barclays, which marked the first time the firm has set up a pro bono initiative with a client, as first reported by The Lawyer (15 May).
Permira partner Ian Sellars said that the organisation's link with Clifford Chance was not as formal as the firm's partnership with Barclays, but would see them team up to assist not-for-profit law firm Law For All.
Permira has recently begun providing funding and volunteering partner and staff time to Law For All as part of the 'Breakthrough' initiative, launched in conjunction with the Community Action Network last week (25 July).
The initiative sees Permira working alongside Clifford Chance, which had already been seconding 16 junior lawyers to Law For All on a rotational basis each year for around 10 years.
Clifford Chance head of public policy Michael Smyth described the link-up as a "fortuitous coincidence".
However, Sellars, who is volunteering his own time to the initiative, said that the firm's involvement had been a "factor for us", adding that Permira "would value Clifford Chance's continuing involvement".
