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Freshfields ranks second in Legal Week’s ‘best law firms for pro bono'
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP (‘Freshfields’) has been recognised in Legal Week’s UK ‘Pro Bono Rankings’, placing 2nd in the table of ‘best law firms for pro bono in the UK’ for a second year running.
A total of 43 international law firms took part in the annual survey, with the top 10 firms selection based on six key metrics: the total number of pro bono hours worked in the U.K. in the last financial year; the number of pro bono hours per fee earner; the percentage of lawyers doing pro bono; the number of full- or part-time pro bono professionals; whether pro bono work counts towards lawyers’ utilisation targets; and how the firm’s efforts were rated by their peers.
The firm was recognised for ‘continuing to make strides in developing its pro bono practice in the UK and recording just under 30,000 pro bono hours in the latest reporting period.’
An unusual aspect of these rankings is that it considers recommendations from peers and competitors, with the firm ‘overwhelmingly listed as a leading law firm in the area by its peers’ and praised for its third party interventions practice, acting for leading charities intervening in significant cases in the highest courts in England and Wales. The firm was recently recognised by the Law Society for England and Wales for ‘Excellence in Pro bono’ when acting as third-party interveners
The firm was acknowledged in particular for its assistance to longstanding pro bono client Save the Children International on the establishment of an isolation and treatment centre for COVID-19 in the Cox’s Bazar refugee camp in Bangladesh.
The appointment of Paul Yates, global head of pro bono, to counsel in the London office was also recognised as indicating an ‘exceptional commitment to pro bono’ by the firm.
For more information please visit the global pro bono intranet page or the dedicated website hub.
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About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on groundbreaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise, and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.