Cleary Gottlieb London associates Natalie Farmer and Christina Edward have been selected as joint winners of the 2016 Wig and Pen Prize, awarded by the City of London Law Society (CLLS).
The lawyers have been recognized for their outstanding dedication in setting up, managing and volunteering (together with other female associates and trainees of the firm) at a Saturday morning women-only free legal advice clinic at Toynbee Hall in East London.
Toynbee Hall’s clinic provides a safe environment for women across London to seek legal assistance on a wide range of legal issues, from employment and housing law to domestic violence and child law.
Since January 2016, Natalie and Christina have not only volunteered at the clinic, but coordinated Cleary’s volunteers at each session, liaising with the clinic organizers at Toynbee Hall to receive and review case notes in advance. As a result of their efforts, Toynbee Hall has been able to increase the number of women accessing legal advice at their clinics, and many new clients have already received advice in a wide range of legal areas. Many of the women seeking advice at the clinic have experienced issues relating to domestic violence and sexual exploitation for which the advice of a trained lawyer has been essential.
The Wig and Pen Prize is awarded to solicitors with up to five years’ post-qualifying experience practicing in the CLLS catchment area who have made an outstanding contribution to broadening access to justice in their communities.