PRO BONO INITIATIVE OF THE YEAR 2018

FreshfieldsWINNER

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer is recognised this year for its long-running partnership with Shelter. In 2017, the firm acted for the charity’s Children’s Legal Service in a test case concerning the government’s benefit cap. At issue: whether the cap disproportionately impacts housing and finances of lone parents with children under two and puts them at risk of poverty and homelessness. The claim was successful in the High Court, with the judge finding that the benefit cap was unlawful in so far as it applied to lone parents with children under two.

Judges praised both the firm’s work on the individual case backed up by the longstanding and committed approach that it has taken to this particular pro bono initiative. “It is clear just how important Freshfields have been for such a long time,” said one. “The length and depth of this relationship is striking and it is clear the firm made a real commitment to the CLS and made a real difference as a result,” added another.

Highly commended: TrustLaw (Thomson Reuters Foundation)

TrustLaw, from The Thomson Reuters Foundation, is the world’s largest legal pro bono platform, and in 2017 facilitated 253 pro bono projects in the UK and provided its free service to 890 UK-based NGOs and social enterprises.

Commended: Hogan Lovells and Manchester Law Society

Hogan Lovells, alongside Manchester Law Society and others, are representing victims of terrorism at the Coroner’s inquests into the terrorist attacks at Westminster Bridge and Palace, London Bridge and Borough Market, Finsbury Park Mosque and the Manchester Arena bombing.