The great, the good and the generous gathered together this week to highlight the ‘justice gap’ on both sides of the Atlantic at the LawWorks Annual Pro Bono Awards and Lecture.
Hilarie Bass, President of the American Bar Association (ABA), giving the annual lecture, noted that the phrase ‘Equal justice under law’ originates from the Magna Carta and is now engraved on the front of the United States Supreme Court Building. She spoke about a growing ‘justice gap’ in both the UK and US, and the importance of pro bono.
Michael Napier QC was honoured with an award for Outstanding Commitment to Pro Bono, which was presented by the Solicitor-General, Robert Buckland QC MP. Napier’s long CV includes leading the successful law firm Irwin Mitchell, being President of the Law Society, a member of the Civil Justice Council and, since 2001, the Attorney-General’s pro bono envoy.
A further nine awards were presented (see results below).
James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR at LexisNexis UK, said: ‘On behalf of LexisNexis I would like to congratulate all those nominated, for their dedication and commitment to enabling access to justice.
‘LexisNexis is honoured to support the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards which raise awareness of the impressive range of pro bono projects being delivered across the country.’
Christina Blacklaws, vice-president of the Law Society, and Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks, also welcomed the guests. Broadcaster Paddy O’Connell, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s ‘Broadcasting House’, hosted the evening, at Chancery Lane this week.
The winners were: Best Contribution by a Small Firm (Curtis Law Solicitors, and Hugh Jones Solicitors); Best Contribution by a Firm with an English Regional Head Office (Muckle); Best Contribution by a Firm with a London Head Office (Duncan Lewis Solicitors); Best Contribution by an International Firm (Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton); Best Contribution by an In-House Team (Microsoft Limited); Best Contribution by an Individual (Rebecca Greenhalgh, Ashurst, and Felicity Kirk, Ropes & Gray); Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award (Josh Little, Allen & Overy); The LawWorks Cymru Award (Citizens Advice Rhondda Cynon Taff); and Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership (Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Haringey Law Centre).
