Cleary Gottlieb won the award for ‘Best contribution by an international firm’ at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards, held on December 5, 2017 at the Law Society in London.
The Awards recognize and celebrate achievement in the legal pro bono work, undertaken by organizations and individuals, as well as the commitment of the legal sector more generally to enabling access to justice and supporting individuals, communities and not-for-profit organizations in England and Wales.
Cleary was selected for the award following the outstanding commitment of its female lawyers to setting up and volunteering at a Saturday morning women-only Free Legal Advice Clinic at Toynbee Hall, as well as the significant time dedicated by its London lawyers to international pro bono projects.
Byron Spring, Cleary’s Pro Bono Coordinator in London, commented, “We are delighted that our Pro Bono work in London has been recognized this way. Cleary Gottlieb is committed to assisting the communities in which we live and work, both locally and globally. Through the exceptional efforts of our female lawyers and the staff at Toynbee Hall, the Saturday morning clinic has become an invaluable safe space providing advice and support to those who need it most.”
Last month, Cleary associate Guy MacInnes-Manby was selected as the winner of the 2017 Wig and Pen Prize, awarded by the City of London Law Society. Guy was recognized for his dedication to the firm’s pro bono representation of individuals fleeing violence and persecution through the International Refugee Assistance Project (“IRAP”) at the Urban Justice Center.
Toynbee Hall supports people and communities to break down the barriers that trap them in poverty. More than 20 runners from Cleary’s London office also raised funds in support of Toynbee Hall in the Victoria Park 5k, 10k and half marathon event on Saturday, December 2, 2017.