TrustLaw Awards 2015

The impact of the legal projects undertaken through TrustLaw goes far beyond the scope of the initial work. The impact of previous winning projects has been wide ranging, from changing legislation on domestic workers in the Philippines to advising the Chinese government on treatment of underage rape victims. The Impact Award recognises projects that demonstrate significant, wide-ranging impact on the pro bono client, their community, and beyond.

The WINNERS of 2015 Impact Award are...Orrick and UnLtd

The video about the winning team and project is available here.

The nominees for 2015 were:

• Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa coordinated a team of firms including White and Case, Mughal Barristers, J Sagar Associates, and Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP to provide research on the admissibility of character evidence in rape cases for the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST). This research continues to support BLAST and their advocacy work to reform discriminatory legal provisions in Bangladeshi law.

• Orrick and UnLtd worked together across nine countries to understand how to lock social mission into social purpose businesses. This research formed part of the G8 Task Force on Social Investment.

• Linklaters led a team of lawyers from Hewlett-Packard Company, HSBC Bank PLC, DLA Piper, and Adnan Kelana Haryanto & Hermanto to help Indian NGO Vidya Sagar understand legal capacity in disability legislation. The published report makes a notable contribution to our understanding of how different countries interpret and apply ‘legal capacity’ of people with disabilities.

TrustLaw projects often span multiple jurisdictions and require a number of pro bono providers and clients to work together to achieve a common goal. Previous award winners have shown that lawyers across multiple countries working together for a common goal can produce exceptional results. The Collaboration Award showcases highly effective working relationships between pro bono providers and recipients that have dramatically increased the potential impact of projects as a result.

The WINNERS of 2015 Collaboration Award are... Paul Hastings and Reporters without Borders.

The video of the winning team and project is available here

The nominees for 2015 were:

• Marval, O'Farrell and Mairal coordinated Clifford Chance LLP, Hewlett-Packard Company, Torys LLP, Simba & Simba Advocates, Hogan Lovells, Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa, Mishcon de Reya and Rakhee Ditta to provide the International Association of Women Judges with research on “sextortion” - the abuse of power to obtain a sexual benefit or advantage. This report is a landscape study of legal and institutional frameworks for combating sextortion in nine jurisdictions.

• Indian firm LawQuest supported Nazdeek Trust with multiple projects that have supported their efforts to organise tea workers for right of association and a basic minimum wage.

• A team of 70 lawyers around the world from Paul Hastings built a 200 page Handbook on Freedom of Expression for Journalists and Bloggers for Reporters without Borders. The research covers the international and regional sources that journalists can rely on to protect their Freedom of Expression.

Ambitious legal projects have the potential to facilitate the evolution of an entire sector. The Innovation Award showcases projects that feature not only a new and exciting idea or enterprise, but a legal team that used creativity in addressing the issues faced.

The WINNERS of 2015 Innovation Award are ... Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arntsen & Martinez de Hoz, Hewlett-Packard Company, Garcia Sayan Abogados, Ferrada Nehme Limitada, Posse Herrera Ruiz, Romero Arteta Ponce Asociados Cia Ltda, Machado, Meyer Sendacz e Opice, Guevara & Gutierrez SC - Servicios Legales and Techo

The video of the winning team and project is available here

The nominees for 2015 were:

• Habibatou Toure helped Senegalese organisation Dimagi understand what type of legal structure would be most suitable for their unique needs.

• Five firms across Asia – Amuata Asia, Christopher Lee & Ong, Grunkorn & Partner Law, Rajah & Tann and White and Case – provided Liberty Asia with a tool to help front-line NGOs engaged in legal service provision to be creative with how they pursue traffickers.

• Perez Alati, Grondona, Benites, Arntsen & Martinez de Hoz led seven other firms and corporate counsel including Hewlett-Packard Company, Garcia Sayan Abogados, Ferrada Nehme Limitada, Posse Herrera Ruiz, Romero Arteta Ponce Asociados Cia Ltda, Machado, Meyer Sendacz e Opice and Guevara & Gutierrez SC - Servicios Legales to provide Techo with research on laws relating to the right to housing, forced evictions and "squatters rights" (or "Prescripcion Adquisitiva"). They have used this research to create a comprehensive guide on access to housing best practices and laws in the Latin American context and to inform policy decision makers on measures to fight social exclusion in Latin America.

This award recognises effort and enthusiasm in supporting pro bono clients over the last year on projects undertaken through TrustLaw in different categories: domestic law firm, international law firm, and in-house legal team.

This year we awarded a special TrustLaw Anniversary Award in celebration of our fifth TrustLaw Awards. Winner of the TrustLaw Anniversary Award is .... White & Case. Watch the video of the winner here. 

2015 International Law Firm of the year award WINNER is...Dechert

Watch the video of the winner here

International Law Firm of the Year nominees were:

• Dechert
• DLA Piper
• Latham & Watkins

2015 Domestic Law Firm of the year award WINNER is...Tilleke Gibbins (Thailand)

Watch the video of the winner here

Domestic Law Firm of the Year nominees were:

• Bonnard Lawson (Switzerland)
• Norton Rose Fulbright South Africa
• Tilleke Gibbins (Thailand)

2015 In-House Legal Team of the year award WINNER is...Citi

Watch the video of the winner here

In-House Legal Team of the Year nominees were:

• Citi
• HSBC
• SASOL Ltd. (South Africa)

Every year since 2013, the TrustLaw awards have recognised an individual lawyer or team of lawyers who have gone above and beyond in providing exceptional pro bono support on a TrustLaw project, as nominated by one of our NGO or social enterprise members. This year we received over 50 nominations and are delighted to present our shortlist of nominees for the 2015 TrustLaw Lawyer of the Year Award:

• Hyo Joo Kim, Aoife McCabe, Katie Peek and Frances Stocks from Latham & Watkins in London, UK
• Jared T. Nelson from MWE China Law Offices in Shanghai, China
• Julie Wynne from Bonnard Lawson in Lausanne Switzerland
• Linda Thilivhali from Spoor & Fisher Attorneys in Pretoria, South Africa
• Michael Steiner from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Frankfurt, Germany
• Richa Naujoks from Nixon Peabody in New York, US

Watch the video of the nominees and winner here

The WINNER of Lawyer of the Year Award 2014 is...Hyo Joo Kim, Aoife McCabe, Katie Peek and Frances Stocks from Latham & Watkins in London, UK