ISSUE 08 Increasing Access JUN-DEC 2021 Pro bono and community investment This PDF has elements Contents of interactivity
04Tackling social inequality News06 from Racial08 discrimination A10 buzz of enthusiasm in the aftermath of the network within criminal for A&O’s PBCI a pandemic justice systems programme in Australia
14A&O’s first global pro 22The disproportionate 25Successful UK 26Ten questions for bono and community impact of Covid-19 High Court ruling Tokyo counsel investment award on women around for immigration Osamu Ito winners announced the world detainees in prison
2 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 “Given the impact Covid-19 is having on already disadvantaged groups in our societies, we felt it was right to focus our next global partnership on tackling social inequalities. It’s perhaps the most pressing challenge every country faces as we come out of this pandemic.”
Hilde Van Der Baan – Partner, Amsterdam
allenovery.com 3 Foreword Tackling social inequality in the aftermath of a pandemic
Hilde Van Der Baan and Franz Ranero – our global pro bono and community investment partners – explain why social mobility is a focus internationally and is becoming the theme of our next Global Charity Partnership.
Our Global Charity Partnership 2021-2023
“It’s a harsh reality that in 2021, in almost “We recently reviewed our work in this area A&O’s current Global Charity Partnership “Bringing the resources of the whole every country, the socio-economic across the firm,” Hilde says, “and so many with Hope and Homes for Children ends business together means we can background children are born into is still the offices have long-running programmes, in July this year, having been extended make a real impact on this issue with biggest factor in their life chances,” says particularly around education, so it’s an throughout the Covid-19 crisis (see p6). our Global Charity Partner,” Hilde says. Franz. “Some of the wealthiest countries in issue we know people feel strongly about. The process of choosing our next partner “But equally important is continuing the the world, like the UK and U.S., have the is now underway. broad programme of work we do at a “Given the impact Covid-19 is having worst records on income mobility. local level to address the specific social on already disadvantaged groups in our “We’ve deliberately kept the social mobility backdrops and challenges that exist in “How we help young people to break cycles societies, we felt it was right to focus our theme broad,” Franz says, “to see the range each country.” of disadvantage and build better futures is next global partnership on tackling social of organisations our people want to support. something I care deeply about – coming inequalities. It’s perhaps the most pressing That could be anything from education and from a working-class immigrant background challenge every country faces as we come employability initiatives to digital inclusion.” myself – and an issue I think businesses can out of this pandemic.” A shortlist of charities nominated by partners make a real impact on by raising aspirations and staff will be put to a global vote and the and broadening access to opportunities.” new partnership will begin in September, Social mobility has been at the centre of providing financial support – with a A&O’s pro bono and community investment fundraising target of GBP1 million – as well work for years, with access to education and as pro bono and in-kind support. employment a focus of local programmes in virtually every office.
4 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Social mobility addressed locally School exclusions in the UK
In 2019, nearly 8,000 young people were permanently excluded from school – up more than 70% over the past seven years. Excluded children are four times more likely to have grown up in poverty; only one in 100 achieves the five exam passes usually required in the employment market; and over half the UK prison population were excluded from school. “The long-term impact of school exclusions on young people’s educational outcomes, mental wellbeing and life chances are profound,” says Franz Ranero. “We’ve been looking at what we can do for some time and are now launching a programme in London to tackle preventable exclusions by providing resources for parents and school governors, extracurricular activities targeted at vulnerable children and a new legal advice clinic to – Internationally (for example in Germany, – Belgium – we have a long-term relationship help parents challenge exclusion decisions.” Hong Kong, Luxembourg, South Africa, with a weekend school for underprivileged Spain and the UK) we provide bursaries children in Brussels to supplement their In addition, we are funding an initiative, ‘Excluded’, which and scholarships to support students schooling and learn about careers in top supports secondary schools that have exclusion rates higher from low socio-economic and immigrant professions. We will soon welcome our first than the national average. Our funding will help four London backgrounds through higher education. intern from the school. Read more in our schools implement activities to tackle the causes interview with Niels De Waele on p18. of exclusions. – Hong Kong – our programme increasingly focuses on marginalised ethnic minority – Spain – we are providing training and communities, including paying all living support for students in foster care and and education costs for five Nepalese girls, those at risk of being excluded from the from primary school through to college. education system. – Singapore – we funded high-speed WiFi – Budapest – our long-running litigation installation and data for 2,000 residents in has seen financial compensation public housing blocks, which proved vital granted to over 60 Roma children who during the pandemic in enabling access experienced segregation in schools – to online learning and job sites. We also despite government pressure on the supported a charity in moving its STEM judiciary to rule against us. lessons online, meaning it now reaches – Australia – we are providing financial and 10,000 children living in shelters across pro bono support for people experiencing South East Asia. homelessness (read more about our work in Australia on p10). allenovery.com 5 News from the network
Hope and Homes for Children – partnership breaks records as response to Covid-19 continues A&O’s Global Charity Partnership with Hope and “We reached 136,000 children throughout 2020 New A&O interest group launched to support Homes for Children ends in July, having been – our highest number ever – keeping them safe forcibly displaced people extended to help deal with the effects of the through the Covid-19 crisis and enabling us to pay Providing access to justice for displaced people has been Covid-19 pandemic. rent for families at risk of eviction. We provided food a focus of A&O’s pro bono programme for many years, and medicines, deployed frontline social workers to Our latest global campaign has raised GBP475,000 for example through our partnership with European respond to an explosion in domestic violence, and – making it our most successful ever – and bringing Lawyers in Lesvos, which is helping thousands of asylum protected children who might have been sexually our fundraising total to a record GBP1.8 million. seekers stranded on Greek islands, as well as our long- exploited or trafficked into forced labour. term relationship with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) As Mark Waddington, CEO at Hope and Homes for “But in India and Nepal, the Covid situation is and our recent Global Charity Partnership with War Child. Children, says: “Our challenge in 2020 was to tackle currently at its worst, so we are working with our the threat of children being driven into institutions Our new Forcible Displacement Interest Group – local partners CINI and Forget Me Not to tackle in horrifying numbers during the pandemic, at part of A&O’s wider Human Rights Interest Group – the immediate risks and to address longer the same time as protecting children already is being launched to consolidate our network of lawyers term problems. in orphanages from panic closures, which saw across the firm who have expertise in refugee and asylum thousands sent back to families with no planning, “The majority of other countries we work in are also work, as well as providing a hub for know-how, resources preparation or oversight. still grappling with the effects of the virus so we must and the specialised training required to provide support for continue to ensure children and their families are at a particularly marginalised group of people. “It has been one of the greatest challenges in our the heart of our efforts, both during the pandemic history, but A&O’s decision to extend our partnership and through the recovery period,” Mark says. was a game changer. Read more about our next Global Charity Partnership on p4.
6 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Managing partner Gareth Price appointed to government taskforce on social mobility Gareth Price, A&O’s global managing partner, has been appointed to the Advisory Board for a UK government “Fake and substandard taskforce to boost socio-economic diversity at senior medicines are a global levels in financial and professional services sectors. A&O recently took part in research by non-profit problem but one that is consultancy, the Bridge Group, across ten major law firms, which showed that lawyers from lower particularly prevalent in socio-economic backgrounds take on average a year and a half longer to progress to partnership than their sub-Saharan Africa...” peers from higher socio-economic backgrounds – a trend reflected in other sectors. In his role in the government taskforce, Gareth will join a cross-sector advisory group looking at new ideas, sharing examples of good practice and championing the case for greater socio-economic diversity at senior Tackling the trade in falsified and substandard medicines in Africa levels of business. An international team of over 20 A&O lawyers, Fake and substandard medicines are a global “The work of this taskforce is necessary and important,” along with a team from Morgan Stanley, is working problem but one that is particularly prevalent in Gareth says. “The legal industry – and many others – still with the Brazzaville Foundation to enact legislation sub-Saharan Africa, where up to 60% of medicines recruit disproportionately those from affluent and privately to prevent the manufacture and distribution of are believed to be substandard or counterfeit. educated backgrounds and I feel strongly that we should substandard and falsified medicines across Despite posing a serious threat to public health and be more inclusive and representative of society. sub-Saharan Africa. being linked to organised crime, a lack of criminal “The economic, societal and business benefits of legislation and sanctions has contributed to a The Brazzaville Foundation supports African improving social mobility are clear to us as a firm, and growing marketplace in some states. leaders across public and private sectors to create I look forward to being part of the new Advisory Board solutions to the challenges facing the continent. A&O is providing ongoing support for the to engage employers and encourage more action on A key area of focus is the growth in falsified and Foundation’s work by researching existing laws this issue.” substandard medicines – both the deliberately and advising on potential reforms. Following several fake medical products manufactured by criminal years of planning, in 2020 the Foundation launched gangs, and those produced through poor-quality the Lomé Initiative, an international agreement with manufacturing processes. the heads of state of the Gambia, Ghana, Uganda, Senegal, Togo and Congo, supported by the WHO, to introduce legislation and criminal penalties and to build the capacity of law enforcement agencies to tackle the issue.
allenovery.com 7 Racial discrimination within criminal justice systems
In 2020, A&O began a research project with long- Discrimination evident in every country While there was limited information on the experiences of standing pro bono partner, Fair Trials, into racial and “Unsurprisingly, we found evidence of racial and ethnic minority groups when exiting custody in EU countries, in the ethnic disparities within criminal justice processes discrimination within criminal justice systems in every country UK the lack of targeted post-custodial support for racial and across the EU and UK. we looked at,” Annie says. “And in the majority of EU states ethnic minorities is seen as a factor in recidivism rates. Led by London associate Annie Johnston, an international there is little evidence of regulatory efforts to address this.” Fair Trials is already using this research to prepare briefings team of 20 lawyers conducted research across 14 countries Discrimination is most evident in police bias, violence for meetings with MPs from EU states. and found evidence of discrimination in every country; from towards offenders and criminalisation of behaviour that “Doing this work has impacted me more than I expected,” policing practices through to sentencing. disproportionately affects immigrant populations – at the Annie says. “It shows the role bias plays in the treatment The first phase of research focused on 13 EU jurisdictions, same time as failing to criminalise activities, such as hate of individuals, which manifests itself as institutionalised looking for trends or outliers – “i.e. countries that were better, crimes, that impact minority groups. discrimination in similar ways across different cultures. or indeed worse, at addressing inequalities,” says Annie. “One interesting finding,” Annie says, “was that people of It absolutely makes you go a step further and think about how racism is institutionalised in other social A second phase looked specifically at the UK, and whether colour were more likely to be fined for breaches of Covid-19 constructs, too.” better documentation of racial discrimination had led to legislation in the UK.” changes in regulation and legislation. Once in the system, bias is evident in both trials and Read the full briefing from Fair Trials here. outcomes. Across most countries, immigrants, racial and ethnic minorities and traveller populations are more likely to be held in pre-trial detention, experience violence while in custody and receive longer sentences than non-migrant or white counterparts for the same crime in the same circumstances.
“In the context of the growing discourse on racial discrimination, coordinating this project gave me an opportunity to do something practical to bring evidence of racial injustices to governments – particularly those who deny its existence.”
8 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 “Criminalisation and lapses in procedural protections for people of colour are widespread, from being held in pre-trial detention too often and for too long, to facing worse outcomes within the system and longer custodial sentences.”
Fair Trials, 2021
allenovery.com 9 A&O’s pro bono and community investment A buzz of programme in Australia has grown significantly in recent years, led by partners Karolina Popic in Sydney and Meredith Campion and David Jenaway in Perth. enthusiasm Both the number of volunteers and volume of pro bono hours recorded in Australia have increased – the latter by over 1,000 hours in the past financial year alone – driven both by a well-developed local programme of work, as well as involvement in many of A&O’s high profile in Australia international projects.
“The volume of pro bono work done by our lawyers in Australia has grown by over 1,000 hours in the past year alone.”
10 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 We speak to A&O’s pro bono coordinators – Julia Burvill (Banking lawyer, Perth) and Lachlan Shelley (Corporate lawyer, Sydney) – about taking on their new roles last year and the issues A&O is focusing on in Australia.
“I’ve been involved in pro bono work for several years “Our key areas of focus in Australia are aligned with A&O’s now, which I have really enjoyed as it gives me the chance firm-wide themes of human rights, social justice and to do something different outside of my day-to-day role,” displaced people,” Julia says. “A crucial area for us within Julia says. “Taking on more responsibility for the Australian this is supporting organisations that are working to address offices’ pro bono programme means Lachlan and I have injustices towards First Nations Australians, as part of the an influence over the direction of our work and can engage Australian offices’ wider development of a reconciliation more people in our offices – particularly transactional action plan.” lawyers who traditionally see pro bono as something typically for disputes lawyers.” Lachlan agrees. “Like Julia, I was keen to be more involved in building the profile of our pro bono practice and shaping the kind of work we do. I also want to develop our network of pro bono clients so that we can offer people opportunities that cater to the wide spectrum of issues they care about. That – along with fostering a culture where people understand the benefits and feel encouraged to take on pro bono and community investment (PBCI) work – is key to driving engagement.” Lachlan and Julia’s roles – done alongside their fee- earning work – are joined up with their pro bono associate counterparts in Europe and the U.S., as well as A&O’s central PBCI team and network of over 100 partners and champions globally.
allenovery.com 11 Tackling entrenched issues referred by Law Access, a not-for-profit that coordinates the “We’re actively working In Sydney, an A&O team is currently acting in a public interest provision of pro bono assistance by the Western Australian litigation representing an Aboriginal man who suffered assault legal profession). to increase our support while detained in custody. “The broader public interest “We’re actively working to increase our support for First context to this,” says Lachlan, “are the complex issues of Nations Australians,” Julia says, “and are scoping out the for First Nations Aboriginal deaths in custody and the disproportionate rates of pro bono and volunteering opportunities coming through. incarceration of First Nations Australians. We have good expertise to bring to this, in particular the end- Australians and are “This is something we’re engaged with broadly across to-end casework we do to represent individuals and charities our offices – within our community investment programme, throughout the entirety of a legal process. This also aligns with ‘Communitas’, our pro bono pipeline and our diversity and our Communitas initiative to develop a relationship with the scoping out the pro inclusion work – to expand how we address entrenched Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch University in Perth. and systemic issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait “End-to-end casework is very involved but also very bono and volunteering Islander peoples to contribute to our country’s journey high-impact,” Julia says, “for example, we recently spent towards reconciliation.” two years providing corporate governance and restructuring opportunities In Perth, the Western Australia State Pro Bono Model requires advice to the Valued Lives Foundation, a charity that assists law firms that are awarded State government contracts to people with disabilities and/or mental health conditions coming through.” provide pro bono legal services – equivalent to at least 10% to continue to live independently in their homes in the of the value of their government legal work – for approved community, for which Valued Lives was very grateful.” causes, such as community legal centres and representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, as well as certain others who cannot access legal aid (including those
A&O was one of three finalists in the Western Australia Volunteer of the Year Award 2021, with judges highlighting the impact of A&O’s community investment programme – ‘Communitas’ – and legal pro bono work.
12 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Rights for refugees and asylum seekers Driving engagement Another important focus in both offices is supporting access Both Julia and Lachlan agree that having a local pro bono to justice for displaced people. In Sydney, as Lachlan management presence has helped to drive engagement explains, “we’re working with asylum seekers that have across their offices. come to Australia by boat, as they are subject to a specific “The biggest change has been people actively bringing us subset of Australian immigration laws.” new pro bono clients and opportunities they’ve sourced One of A&O’s key pro bono clients in Sydney is the Refugee within their own networks,” says Lachlan, “and A&O Advice and Casework Service (RACS), an organisation that being able to support these causes that people have a provides free legal advice and representation to financially connection to. We want to encourage more of that – people disadvantaged and vulnerable people seeking asylum. furthering their own involvement in pro bono and community Lachlan established the relationship with RACS and is investment work.” coordinating a team of A&O lawyers in Sydney who have One area that Lachlan and Julia have seen an increased received specialised training to provide advocacy and legal interest in from colleagues and clients is addressing representation services to asylum seekers in relation to environmental issues. “We’ve done work in Sydney with the their protection visa interviews with the Department of Jane Goodall Institute on an education programme around Home Affairs. conservation and the natural environment, but we want to do “Without the assistance of RACS, we’ve seen instances more in this area,” Lachlan says. In Perth, Julia has recently of asylum seekers attending their interviews without arranged for Corporate lawyers to assist a charity focused representation or guidance on the complex immigration on environmental conservation in the Kimberly – a remote process in Australia,” Lachlan says. “These are extremely region in Northern Western Australia. vulnerable people so I’m glad we’ve established the Other plans for the coming years in Perth and Sydney are partnership with RACS so that our lawyers can assist to continue focusing on making meaningful contributions to their clients.” First Nations Australians and displaced people – “as they are In Perth, senior associate Jessica Stratford and partner two of the most pressing social issues in Australia right now,” David Jenaway are leading on a large-scale project for a Julia says. “We are also identifying opportunities to major international agency in the Asia Pacific region, looking work together with our commercial clients on areas of at international standards and domestic laws on refugee shared interest. protection in certain key jurisdictions. “There is a genuine buzz of enthusiasm about pro bono and Julia has also coordinated the involvement of the Perth community investment work across our offices in Australia, office in a long-term global project for the same organisation which is really encouraging and something we both want to – funded by A&O’s Global Grants Programme – to review work hard to sustain.” a database of refugee case law for the benefit of those involved in status determination processes.
allenovery.com 13 A&O’s first global pro bono and community investment award winners announced
Lawyers and support professionals across A&O have been nominated by colleagues in our first ever global awards. The winners – each of whom receives GBP1,000 for their chosen charity – are announced below. Following a successful pilot in London, these global awards recognise the outstanding pro bono and community investment (PBCI) contributions made by our people around the world. “Given the extra pressures and demands of the past year, everyone who was nominated by a colleague deserves a huge amount of respect and admiration,” says A&O senior partner Wim Dejonghe. “Volunteering our skills and resources is crucial to the kind of business we want to be and it makes me incredibly proud to see the scale and impact of the work we’re doing, and how committed our people are.”
14 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Outstanding Contribution Award Professional Support Award
Niels De Waele – Ana Isabel Delgado – Gary Tearle – Senior Associate, Antwerp Marketing Manager, Madrid HR Administration Manager, Belfast
Niels is the pro bono coordinator for Belgium. Ana is a member of Spain’s PBCI committee Following the stillbirth of his daughter Sarah, He has a long history of volunteering on and helped to launch an annual pro bono Gary has dedicated significant support to projects as wide-ranging as a reforestation day, as well as a day for families to come the charity Sands NI, which helped Gary and programme and weekend school for together and support our Global Charity his wife through their loss. Sands NI became underprivileged children. He was praised by Partner each year. the local charity partner of our Belfast office all those who nominated him as “incredibly in 2019 and since then Gary has mobilised Ana’s nominators stress her “tireless efforts” dedicated”, “caring” and “exemplary”. staff to raise over GBP20,000 – including to identify and promote pro bono opportunities. GBP5,000 by completing a skydive with three “A great part of our culture in Spain is thanks Read Niels’ interview on p18. colleagues – as well as finding volunteers to to the efforts Ana has made to ensure our pro assemble memory boxes and knit 40 blankets bono activities reach every person in the office. for bereaved families. As his nominator says, She is on top of every initiative and always has “Gary has raised awareness of losing a baby a minute to help you. She brings a special aura by speaking openly and movingly about his to the team that makes us all better people.” own experiences in order to help others.”
Trainee Award
Justin Farrance – Hannah Pye – Trainee, London Trainee, London
As one of his nominators put it, “Justin’s Hannah has been active on several matters commitment to social mobility and diversity for key charities, including judicial reviews for “Given the extra is remarkable.” In his first year as a trainee, Bail for Immigration Detainees, one of which Justin launched GROW, a mentoring platform recently achieved a significant victory in the pressures and demands that connects university students from High Court (see p25). She is also part of the underrepresented backgrounds with legal 40-strong international team providing crucial of the past year, everyone professionals, focusing on pairing people comparative law analysis to support A&O’s from similar backgrounds. representation of the family of Harry Dunn in who was nominated by a judicial review proceedings. Harry Dunn was Despite the pandemic, Justin brought lawyers from killed in a road traffic collision in 2019 by a U.S. colleague deserves a huge A&O’s global network together with clients to host citizen who is claiming diplomatic immunity. the virtual GROW Next Gen Summit, and to date amount of respect GROW has supported 1,600 students from across Hannah is also a regular volunteer at Toynbee the UK and U.S. In October 2020, he was appointed Hall’s Women Only Clinic, which provides free and admiration.” Social Mobility Ambassador for the Law Society. legal advice to vulnerable women on housing, family and other issues. She has recorded “To launch a successful initiative like GROW at any some of the highest pro bono hours of all time would be impressive – to do so as a busy current trainees in London. trainee during a pandemic is amazing.”
allenovery.com 15 Access to Education and Access to Justice Award Employment Award Global Charity Partnership Award
Michał Gajdus – Michelle Eggleston – Nitish Upadhyaya – Senior Associate, Warsaw Client Relationship Manager – Senior Innovation Manager, Document Services, London Advanced Delivery – Michał’s work to uphold the independence of Legal Tech, London the Polish judiciary, as well as his support for As her nominator says: “Without Michelle, protestors charged for demonstrating against Smart Start 2020 would not have happened.” Nitish has led the team delivering our key pro the ban on abortion last year, is described Michelle was instrumental in converting bono project for Hope and Homes for Children. as “extraordinary”. Smart Start from an in-office work experience The India Solutions Project is building an Read more on p20. programme to an online experience, providing innovative framework for stakeholders working on technical support to students, “mostly in her child protection in Jharkhand, one of the regions own time”, and enabling A&O to provide 35 our partnership has focused on, to enable better hours of online learning during the pandemic. access and information sharing and, ultimately, Lucy Grey – to improve outcomes for children. Senior Associate, London Michelle also supported charity Law for Life in preparing a webinar and guide on refugees’ “Nitish has been committed to pro bono work Lucy’s work for charity Law for Life is rights, transforming legal content into a throughout his entire career at A&O,” says his “exceptionally committed and supportive.” “polished, informative and accessible guide”. nominator. “This project is an excellent example Her “vast knowledge of different areas of She has also supported the pilot of a virtual of his dedication combined with his expertise.” law” has helped to produce a range of public volunteering ‘mapathon’ for a charity that legal education resources for vulnerable maps areas of the developing world so that groups, such as ethnic minority communities organisations can better respond to crises. Kahori Aoki – and refugees, and her “positive attitude and Secretary, Tokyo compassion” have enhanced the quality of the Hanneke Schreur – charity’s work. Associate, Amsterdam Kahori is a “model ambassador” for Hope and Homes for Children in Tokyo. She has Lucy was also one of two associates seconded Hanneke helped launch a new PBCI committee been involved in promoting fundraising events, to a local law centre to help residents affected in Amsterdam, which has expanded the office’s such as the Around the World challenge, by the Grenfell Tower fire in London, which portfolio of work and helped to create a broader and regularly sends encouraging messages killed over 70 people in 2017. platform for involvement among colleagues. “adding her own personal reflections to keep She is involved in various education-focused colleagues motivated”. The success of Kahori’s projects, for example providing legal advice efforts is evident in the increased levels of to Campus010 – an organisation that offers engagement in the partnership across Tokyo educational programmes during the school over the past year. holidays for children from low socio-economic and minority backgrounds – and JINC, an organisation that works to ensure all children, regardless of their background, receive equal opportunities in the labour market. Her nominator says: “In her enthusiastic way, Hanneke has been able to involve more colleagues in this project, meaning it can now be extended to other cities in the Netherlands.”
16 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Single Office Team Award Multi-office Team Award
London – Adferiad Recovery charity merger team Research in a number of A&O’s global offices into the criminalisation of suicide Partners: Peter Banks; Andy Cork; Nigel Parker; David Stone; Emma Willoughby Partners: Jean Lee (Washington D.C.) Counsel/Consultants: Tim Harrop (Counsel); Senior Associates: Lizzi Evans (London) Stuart Grey (Peerpoint Consultant) Associate: Frances Beddow (London) Senior Associates: Hannah Crisp; James Green; Lucy Grey; Adam Smith; Trainee: Louise Utting (London) Associates: Anthony Bowen; Andrea Leonelli; Emily Robinson Around the world, nearly 800,000 people die by suicide every year, and for every person who dies it is estimated that 20 more Trainees/Paralegals: Harriet Lister; Nicholas Hooper; attempt suicide. A&O has been conducting a major comparative Maaya Sachdev; Mark O’Connell (Paralegal, Belfast) review of the relevant law in jurisdictions where attempted suicide A cross-practice team led by partner Peter Banks and associate is criminalised, as part of a project by a mental health charity to Anthony Bowen has completed a merger of three mental health find ways to destigmatise mental illness. Our review will inform the charities to create Adferiad Recovery, now one of the largest organisation’s work on what is an under-researched and relatively charities in Wales. As one nominator said: “This was a fantastic under-publicised area. team effort. Few firms would be able to execute a transaction like this and far fewer would do it all pro bono.” Read more on p21. New York and Washington D.C. – immigration and asylum work
Senior Counsel: Caroline Lapidus (New York) Madrid – Spanish Emergency Committee Senior Consultant: David Krischer (New York) Partners: Javier Castresana; Ignacio Hornedo; Adolfo Zunzunegui Associates: Sofia Bernaciak; John Hibbard; Brendan Holman; Associates: Regina Mozo de Rosales; Lara Ruiz; Oscar Guinea Rachel Lee; Eric Olson; Taylor Saviano; Ari Yannakogeorgos – all New York; Nancy Canales and Derek Manners – Washington D.C. Trainee: Daniel Cruz Paralegal: Cara Eisenstein (New York) PA: Sandra Pidal In the U.S., against a turbulent political backdrop, each of these In 2015, six major NGOs committed to creating a Spanish A&O lawyers has advised on immigration and asylum matters in a Emergency Committee in order to respond more effectively to “dedicated, committed and passionate way” to improve the lives humanitarian crises. After several years of legal obstacles, A&O’s of vulnerable individuals and families. They have worked together team stepped in to assess the different options and finally present to share experiences and know-how, “ensuring that clients get the a solution on the most appropriate form of independent legal entity. best possible advice in a climate where people seeking asylum are A year later, in April 2020 the NGOs signed the founding act and often the first target of governments trying to change the subject”. registered as a formal entity. “This was fantastic team work and a real success for the pro bono community in Spain.” Read about our recent asylum success in the U.S. on p21.
allenovery.com 17 Award winner profiles Winner: Outstanding Contribution Award
Niels De Waele – In our first ever global PBCI awards, Niels has won the I also believe strongly in trying to break the cycles of poverty Senior Associate, Antwerp overall Outstanding Contribution Award, receiving the most children are born into. It’s something our Global Charity nominations of any individual. Partnerships have been effective at raising awareness of, particularly in parts of the world we don’t often see, like What first motivated you to become involved in refugee camps in Jordan or orphanages in India and Nepal. PBCI work? But what impacts me most is closest to home – I started volunteering when I was fairly young, helping to the levels of deprivation around us and the lost fundraise at school and participating in community investment opportunities. For example, we’ve been working with programmes. The interest and commitment has stayed with Toekomstatelierdel’avenir (TADA), a weekend school in me ever since. Essentially, I believe pro bono work is an Brussels, for nearly ten years to help address inequality intrinsic part of being a lawyer. We’re in a privileged position in education. TADA targets children living in challenging to help people – to open doors, to provide access to legal circumstances, mostly very low-income households, and advice even when people can’t afford it. When you look at the provides supplementary schooling and practical insights communities around you and see the inequalities that exist, into careers. Law is the focus of classes for one month each I think if you have a sense of justice, pro bono work is a year, so different legal professionals come in to talk about natural thing to do. what they do. What issues do you care most about? I must say, teaching 10-13 year-olds is harder than it sounds – they ask very direct questions! But the school achieves Lots! One of the biggest challenges we need to address amazing results – these children come in on Saturdays and is the environment. We’ve worked with the Jane Goodall study harder than all their peers in a language that’s usually Institute in Belgium for several years, providing legal advice not spoken at home. The alumni are remarkable – they’re and supporting a big reforestation programme in Belgium and speaking several languages and are full of self-confidence Africa, but it’s an area in which we must continue to invest. and determination. It shows that everyone deserves the encouragement to find their talents and use them to their maximum ability. We’re going to be joined by our first legal intern from TADA once we’re back in the office, which is an exciting step in our relationship.
18 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 “What I would like more than anything is for this recognition to motivate others to get involved and join the amazing group of A&O people who do PBCI work.”
You’ve worked on a wide range of projects – What are your plans for developing the What do you get most from doing PBCI work? how do you choose what to spend your time on? programme in Belgium? I get to escape the ‘ivory tower’. I love my job as a finance Coordinating our PBCI programme means I get an overview When setting our PBCI priorities for Belgium, one of the things lawyer, but pro bono adds an entirely different perspective to of a lot of projects, which I love, but I’ve learnt that I can’t we most want to achieve is a diverse portfolio of opportunities my life and work. I meet so many people, I hear their inspiring become involved with everything! Instead my focus is on that is inclusive of everybody in our offices. Sustainability is stories about what motivated them to get involved and their bringing more people in and making sure we have a range a good example of something we know people care about, dedication to fight for causes close to their hearts. I have such of opportunities that reflect the issues people care about. another is social and digital mobility. We’re working with an different interactions and conversations – it opens up your organisation, Close the Gap, which applies the WorldLoop mind. Most importantly, I see on a daily basis how every one In that regard, one of the things we’ve tried to do over the model when collecting old ICT equipment from businesses, of us can have an impact when we take action. past year is respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. For example, repurposing it for use in developing countries and in local we provided IP advice on whether personal protective I also get to work with people across A&O that I just wouldn’t Belgian projects, thereby promoting digital inclusion and equipment could be reverse-engineered – i.e. made by meet otherwise – you hear new ideas and join dynamic reducing hazardous waste at the same time. duplicating existing designs – to help address a scarcity of teams. It brings another dimension to your career. equipment for healthcare staff early on. I’m also looking for more ways that we can tackle poverty and inequality in our communities, which have become so much What does winning this award mean to you? We’ve also seen local charities really struggling, so have worse during the pandemic. I want to develop relationships provided extra financial support. One nice example was It’s an incentive for me to do more! It’s also great recognition with organisations making an impact in this area and find funding a charity that offers shelter to runaways and – but more than for me personally, it is recognition for A&O’s opportunities for our people to use their skills to address this. unaccompanied migrant children to create outside spaces PBCI work in Belgium and across the firm as a whole. On a personal level, I want to get more involved with coaching for them during lockdown. We’ve also funded a foundation to help people out of the isolation created by poverty. What I would like more than anything is for this recognition to supporting the hard-hit live music industry, which we’ve motivate others to get involved and join the amazing group missed a lot in our daily lives. This ties in with the social mobility theme of our next Global of A&O people who do this work. It is most definitely a team Charity Partnership, so I’m looking forward to seeing the effort – not the work of one person! shortlist of charities and thinking of ideas for how to support whichever is chosen.
allenovery.com 19 Winner: Access to Justice Award
Michał Gajdus – Michał was the lead advocate in a successful challenge to Michał represented five of the judges, arguing that the political Senior Associate, Warsaw uphold the independent process of nominating judges to the nature of the NCJ and the government’s attempt to prohibit Polish Supreme Court. a judicial review violated EU laws. In March, the Court of Justice upheld the arguments – a standpoint later confirmed Among the 2018 nominees were members of the Polish by the Supreme Administrative Court – which brings success Judges Association – ‘Iustitia’ – an organisation that has been in one of several cases Michał is litigating to uphold the openly critical of the government’s reforms of the judiciary in independence of the Polish judiciary. recent years. “This landmark case is tremendously important,” says Michał, The National Council of Judiciary (NCJ) initially rejected “as it acknowledges that the new reforms governing the NCJ all Iustitia candidates but, following a challenge by the in Poland are unconstitutional. If the government takes control judges, appointments were suspended by the Supreme of the judicial system, we effectively have no place in EU law.” Administrative Court until the appeal was heard. The Polish government then attempted to prevent a judicial review of Michał is also acting as an attorney for judges facing the process, but the Supreme Court allowed the challenge repression from the government for opposing its attacks on to continue. the independent judiciary, and as a criminal defence advocate for protesters charged by police for demonstrating against the near-complete ban on legal abortion in 2020. “I am driven by the need for basic human rights and feel strongly that our system must continue to be independent. By being involved in these cases I hope I can shape how our country will look in the next decade and beyond.”
20 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Winner: Single Office Team Winner: Multi-Office Team Award
Adferiad Recovery – charity merger team, London By the end of the merger, nearly 20 A&O lawyers from Corporate, Asylum and immigration team, U.S. Banking, IP, Employment, Pensions, Real Estate and Tax had Partners: Peter Banks; Andy Cork; Nigel Parker; been involved. Despite an increasingly turbulent political environment in recent David Stone; Emma Willoughby years, A&O’s team in the U.S. has seen success in another “It was a massive team effort from everyone,” says Peter, “and asylum case with long-term pro bono partner IRAP – the Counsel/Consultants: Tim Harrop (Counsel); hugely rewarding to contribute to putting Adferiad Recovery in a International Refugee Assistance Project. Stuart Grey (Peerpoint Consultant) strong and resilient position so that it can continue to provide Associate John Hibbard and senior consultant David Krischer Senior Associates: Hannah Crisp; James Green; vital support services in the years to come.” recently succeeded in obtaining a Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) for Lucy Grey; Adam Smith; “Professionally, this has given me an insight into a whole new area an Afghan translator who had worked closely with the coalition Associates: Anthony Bowen; Andrea Leonelli; Emily Robinson in Charities law,” Anthony adds. “The merger presented some forces and, as a result, was at significant personal risk from the complex drafting tasks as we were in slightly new territory, so it Taliban – with a family member already having been killed. Trainees/Paralegals: Harriet Lister; Nicholas Hooper; Maaya was a great exercise in going back to first legal principles, listing Sachdev; Mark O’Connell (Paralegal, Belfast) out what we wanted to achieve and creating documents David and John managed to secure SIVs for the client and his to implement that. family but the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic prevented them A cross-practice team led by partner Peter Banks and associate from travelling to the U.S. at the start of 2020 and the visas Anthony Bowen has completed a merger of three Welsh mental “This is without question the most rewarding thing I have done at expired. Fortunately they were renewed at the start of 2021 and health charities to create Adferiad Recovery, now one of the A&O. Our clients were so grateful for the help and we formed a our client and his family were finally able to travel to safety. largest charities in Wales with 800 staff and 20,000 service users. great relationship that will continue into the future,” Anthony says. “Getting to work with different people across the firm who I hadn’t “David and I first got involved with this case as IRAP wanted a Adferiad Recovery provides support for people struggling with met previously was also a bonus.” team of lawyers with prior experience of refugee work to oversee mental health issues and substance misuse, as well as for service three students from the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law,” veterans and people with learning difficulties. It was formed from Adferiad Recovery’s Chairman Clive Wolfendale described John says. “The students were outstanding so our role was really three charities with existing close links, given that many people A&O’s contribution as “nothing short of astonishing. In 46 years to leverage our experience of asylum applications to give the case struggle with mental health in parallel with addiction or of work in public, third and private sector, I have never seen direction and make best use of the students’ efforts. In many substance misuse. advice of this type delivered with such clarity, authority and cases, the physical safety of the clients and their families is on the timeliness. Simply fantastic.” As Anthony explains, “Peter and I are both A&O Mental Health line, so the outcome is immensely important. Being a part of a Allies, which is why we were first approached internally to Actor Michael Sheen, recently announced as Adferiad Recovery’s client’s story in this way is a unique experience.” help with this merger. It was a perfect opportunity to use my patron, also gave “special thanks to the team at Allen & Overy The U.S. team has had several “heartening successes” in recent M&A experience on an issue I’m passionate about, and to do whose pro bono support has been invaluable”. years, David says, including reversing the denial of asylum for a something close to home, having grown up in Swansea. woman and her family as they fled her abusive former husband. “We had initial conversations with the charities on their rationale “We also had one very sad defeat – a failure to achieve asylum for for coming together and were convinced from the start that this a Darfuri man because we couldn’t establish a coherent enough union would make a huge difference to their service users story. It was a very tough case for many reasons and still hurts – across Wales.” but we carry on because with each case we build our experience and ability to help a very vulnerable group of people.”
allenovery.com 21 The disproportionate impact of Covid-19 on women
“Across every sphere, from health to the economy, security to social protection, the effects of Covid-19 are exacerbated for women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.” Photo credit: Emily Kinskey
22 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 As the world’s poorest countries divert medical resources Threat to livelihoods to the Covid-19 response, women are suffering from cuts The economic effects of the pandemic are also having a to other healthcare provisions too, particularly sexual and disproportionate impact on women who, even in more In the early stages of the Covid-19 health crisis, the UN reproductive health services. developed countries, are often doing low paid work, in roles Secretary General issued a briefing on the multiple ways “These are life-saving services,” says Siri May from the that cannot be done remotely and in sectors hardest hit by the pandemic was impacting women: “Across every Center for Reproductive Rights. “Restricting access can lockdowns, such as hospitality. sphere, from health to the economy, security to social lead to increased rates of unintended pregnancy, unsafe protection, the effects of Covid-19 are exacerbated for Calls to Maternity Action’s Advice Line “exploded” over the abortion, maternal death, miscarriage, sexually transmitted women and girls simply by virtue of their sex.” past year, Ros says, with nearly 30% of women reporting infections and early and enforced marriage – all of which Covid-related issues – the vast majority in low-income roles. Here, three of our partner organisations – Women for place additional strains on healthcare systems and have a The demand is so great that Maternity Action has launched Women International, the Center for Reproductive profound impact on women’s and girls’ lives.” a new email service, supported by volunteer lawyers from Rights, and Maternity Action – assess the impact of Access to reproductive health rights is not only an issue in A&O and other firms, to respond to the greater need. Covid-19 on women’s rights around the world and what developing countries – as research by the Center shows, response is needed. “More waves of redundancies are likely, and from what some governments and anti-abortion groups are exploiting we’ve seen over the past year pregnant women and new “Covid-19 is undoubtedly having a very gendered impact,” the global health crisis to create further barriers to safe mothers are at much higher risk,” says Ros. “The number says Sara Bowcutt from Women for Women International. abortions. “Several states in the U.S., for example, have tried of women who’ve already lost their jobs is astounding.” “It is exposing women to greater health risks, threatening to impose severe limits on abortion care,” Siri says. livelihoods, exacerbating gender-based violence and forcing For women in developing countries – even more so in Even the vaccine roll-out reveals gaps for women. As Ros women and children into extreme poverty – particularly those conflict and humanitarian settings – fewer if any employment Bragg from Maternity Action says: “Pregnant women were living in the most marginalised communities.” protections exist. classed as a vulnerable group early on in the pandemic but scant research has been done into whether vaccines As Sara says: “Women have the least education and most Health risks – and responsibilities are safe for them, meaning that millions of pregnant or childcare responsibilities, so are often in informal jobs Globally, women perform over 75% of unpaid care work breastfeeding women around the world are left in with no financial security. Our programme equips women – more in countries with failing healthcare systems – and limbo indefinitely.” to earn money by teaching them in many countries women occupy the majority of frontline marketable skills and providing business training to earn a public health roles, putting them at the centre of the Alongside a mounting health crisis is the rise of gender- stable income – but they can’t do Covid-19 crisis. based violence in virtually every country. “This pandemic that in lockdown situations.” compounds existing discrimination already experienced by “Women are carrying the responsibility for prevention and women and girls,” says Siri. “Women are being locked inside treatment within homes and communities, while at the same with increasingly violent abusers at the same time as vital time facing a greater risk of infection,” Sara says, “especially support services are removed. It’s a terrifying situation – in difficult situations like conflict and humanitarian settings, and one that’s very hard to respond to as some women where access to information, resources, health and social become increasingly isolated.” services are limited.”
“The number of women who’ve already lost their jobs is astounding.”
allenovery.com 23 Understanding and exercising rights A top down and bottom up response The impact of Covid-19 on women’s employment is not Women for Women International is also taking a community- confined to low income work, but people in low-skilled sectors led approach to the pandemic. The A&O Foundation recently have far less power to challenge employers. This highlights a awarded a three-year grant to support a project to digitise broader point about women’s lack of power to influence the women’s Village and Savings Associations in Rwanda. decision-making process during the pandemic. “This is educating women about new mobile and financial “Women should be a central consideration for governments technologies,” Sara says, “thereby enabling them to seize formulating their response to this crisis,” says Sara. “Women income-generating opportunities, save money and make know what is needed within their communities but their long-term plans for their families.” voices aren’t being heard.” While a community-level response is crucial, so too is One example Ros gives in the UK is the failure of the ensuring wider responsibility falls squarely on governments government’s furlough scheme – for those unable to work and decision makers. during lockdown – to fully consider women on maternity For this, evidence-based campaigning is key. Maternity leave. “It was such an obvious gap in the financial support Action has collected “unambiguous evidence”, as Ros says, package – it just needed one person round the table to think on the scale of maternity discrimination in the UK, which is of it but nobody did.” bringing support from prominent organisations like the Royal A key element of the response to this crisis is therefore College of Midwives for better protections. “We now need to ensuring women know their legal rights and are able to make sure action is taken quickly so that we’re not chasing exercise them. changes to law once the damage is already done.” A&O associate Arpita Ashok has been providing pro bono Collecting data, however, presents its own challenges. support to the Center for Reproductive Rights for three “Policy-making in a pandemic must be rapid and address years, most recently looking at how to improve accountability the needs of the most marginalised women,” Arpita says, for protecting women’s sexual and reproductive health rights “but it can be difficult to gather the data required, for in humanitarian and conflict settings. example in rural areas where women are very isolated or in conflict settings with large numbers of migrant women.” “Legal mechanisms do exist to protect women,” Arpita says, “but they are often unavailable in practice. It’s therefore Sara agrees. “We need an approach to this global pandemic crucial to educate women directly about what their rights are that is coordinated and puts gender at its core, with decision – sometimes women believe, for example, that harmful and makers responding to the realities women around the world illegal practices are permitted, even required, by law because are facing.” that’s the way they’ve always been presented.” “This is really a question of what society values,” Siri adds. Siri agrees. “We find that informing women and girls about “Everyone has a role to play – governments, businesses their rights in specific areas can facilitate communities and individuals – to ensure women don’t lose what we have speaking up together. Supported in the right way, that can worked so hard for decades to gain.” be very powerful.”
24 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Successful UK High Court ruling for immigration detainees in prison
Continuing our long-term relationship with Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), a charity that challenges immigration detention in the UK, we have assisted in a successful intervention on the provision of free immigration legal advice for people detained in prisons under immigration powers.
Those due to be deported from the UK following the end of In February, the Court found that this lack of legal aid The Litigation team is now acting for BID in another a custodial sentence are either detained in prison or in an provision in prisons amounted to unlawful discrimination intervention, this time a Court of Appeal case on the immigration removal centre (IRC) pending deportation. under the European Convention on Human Rights. imposition of stringent bail conditions on individuals who In principle, the decision to keep individuals in prison is can no longer lawfully be detained in IRCs. In the course of this legal challenge, the Lord Chancellor based on risk factors, but in reality can depend as much also launched a review into how best to provide equal “This sort of pro bono work is one of the reasons I joined on chance factors such as bed space. access to specialist immigration and asylum advice for A&O,” says associate David Siesage. “It’s an opportunity to Despite having completed their sentence, individuals immigration detainees. develop broader litigation skills and be involved in significant detained in prison are treated as remand prisoners. cases that can have a positive long-term impact on very “This ruling shows what a difference BID’s expertise can They often need urgent immigration law advice, given the marginalised groups.” make by intervening in important cases,” says partner imminent risk of deportation, but have very limited access Maeve Hanna, who led the A&O team along with partner to the outside world and, crucially, to legal aid. In contrast, Andrew Denny, associate David Siesage and trainee those held in IRCs have access to a free legal advice Hannah Pye. surgery, telephones and the internet. “Strategic litigation like “The judgment is significant because the Lord Chancellor’s In this High Court case, the claimant in question had been review will have to take into account the Court’s finding of detained in prison without access to legal advice for ten unlawful discrimination, which we hope will benefit more this is an important part months, making it very difficult to appeal against the rejection people detained in prisons under immigration powers. of his asylum claim. BID acted as intervener in the case, Strategic litigation like this is an important part of our pro of our pro bono work, providing comprehensive evidence to the Court on the bono work, as it allows us to support interventions in cases unequal provision of immigration legal aid advice in prisons that address systemic issues and could therefore benefit a compared to IRCs. as it allows us to address large number of people.” systemic issues.”
allenovery.com 25 Osamu Ito is a counsel in A&O’s Corporate team in Tokyo. For over 25 years he has & advised Japanese and international clients on inbound and outbound matters, Q specialising in M&A, joint ventures and general corporate work. He also advises clients on regulatory, employment, data protection and other compliance matters in Japan. Osamu is Vice Chair of the Foreign Lawyers and International Legal Practice Committee for the Japan Federation of Bar Associations, and a former Chair of the International Committee A at the Tokyo Bar Association. Here, he tells us a bit more about himself and his reasons for getting involved with pro bono work, as well as his proudest achievement in this area.
26 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 Ten questions for…Osamu Ito
Describe yourself in 30 words How has doing pro bono work helped to Which is your favourite city in the world and why? I am a Japanese-qualified corporate lawyer and have been build your career? Rome – there have only been two or three summers in the with A&O since 2007. I try not to be a Japanese workaholic I see pro bono work simply as a professional obligation – 20 years before the Covid-19 pandemic that I didn’t visit but it seems I’m not trying hard enough! not in the sense that it’s forced upon us, but more as the city. My interest in Mediterranean history first attracted something that we all have a duty to do as lawyers. me to Rome. I then spent several months living there with What motivated you to start doing pro bono work? an Italian family while I was studying Italian, and another few I don’t think of it so much as a tool to help me develop months working in the Rome office of a major Italian law During my mandatory legal training before qualification, my career – however, one positive consequence of firm soon after I qualified. I fell in love with the city not only I did a lot of work with lawyers who were assisting foreign becoming involved with pro bono work (other than the for its history, but for its people, culture, food, fashion and nationals in Japan on immigration and criminal matters. satisfaction of doing something good and helpful for others!) everything else – and so did my family. When I was qualifying, it was a tough choice between joining is that it gives me opportunities to meet a broader range of a commercial law firm to do cross-border corporate work lawyers in the legal community than the peers we meet on Tell us something not many people know about you and joining a boutique firm of civil and criminal lawyers to deals. That brings different perspectives in how I think about continue helping foreign nationals. I chose the former but my career as a lawyer. I was named Osamu by accident. My parents had intended still have a keen interest in supporting people in need. to call me something different, but were told at the family Describe your perfect day off work registry office that the Chinese character in the name How do you balance your pro bono and fee- they had chosen for me could only be used for the name Reading (something other than law) with a glass of wine, earning work? “Osamu” under the government’s ordinance at the time. and planning holidays to my favourite destinations… I spend quite a lot of time on community work through The character, incidentally, means ‘reason’. the roles I hold at the Japan Federation of Bar Associations and the Tokyo Bar Association. These account for the majority of time I spend on pro bono and community work. Because we have a small, specialist team in the Tokyo office focusing on outbound work into overseas markets, it’s practically very difficult for us to spend substantial amounts of time on pro bono work on a constant basis, but I try to do “My favourite city in the world is Rome. as much as I can with the time I have. I love not only its history, but its people, culture, food, fashion and everything else.”
allenovery.com 27 My proudest pro bono achievement is… Working with a Ugandan man for over ten years However, we were able to take advantage of in support of his asylum claim in Japan. I have a new policy that the Immigration Bureau was represented him through numerous immigration and experimenting with at the time to allow ‘good’ What words of advice would you give to someone judicial processes and finally succeeded in obtaining refugee applicants to stay with their families interested in getting involved in pro bono and a stay permit that allows him to live in Japan with in Japan, even if they had failed to satisfy the community investment work? his Thai wife, who he met while going through the requirements for refugee recognition or special process of seeking refugee recognition. stay permits (requirements that are interpreted and Get yourself involved, or you never will. Whether that’s applied by the Japanese government and courts volunteering to be a pro bono champion within the firm, The case was initially referred to me through my very narrowly). taking on your first case or assuming a role at a non-profit connection with the Japan Federation of Bar organisation like the law society – making that first step will Associations, and came via the Japan Association The policy has now been incorporated into a bill ensure you find the time to do what you need to in the role. for Refugees, which is a non-profit organisation to amend the Immigration Control and Refugee If you don’t jump in, you’ll always feel that you are too busy that provides assistance to individual asylum Recognition Act, which is currently being deliberated with your daily job to do pro bono work. seekers in Japan. on in the National Diet – this is despite being strongly criticised by the Japanese bar because of certain The Immigration Bureau (now the Immigration Who do you admire in the world, and why? other proposed changes around the detention of Services Agency) had initially refused to grant my over-stayers. But I am pleased to have made a Charles Lindbergh and Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, both 20th client refugee recognition or a special stay permit, contribution by assisting on one of the test cases Century aviators. Charles Lindbergh made the first solo and our plea to reverse the decision was turned that has brought about this change, and I am very transatlantic flight in 1927 at the age of 25, flying non-stop down by the court. We even went as far as asking for happy that my client is finally able to settle into life in for 33 hours from New York City to Paris in a purpose-built, permission to appeal to the Supreme Court, which Japan with his wife. single-engine plane. was also denied. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry was a French writer – most famous for The Little Prince – and also a pioneer of aviation, flying postal air services in Patagonia in the 1920s, and crash-landing in the Libyan Desert while vying for the world speed record for the flight from Paris to Saigon in 1935. During WWII, he disappeared during a reconnaissance mission for the Free French Air Force in the Mediterranean aged just 44. I admire both men’s pioneering spirit in the days when civil aviation was still in its infancy (and I like airplanes!).
28 Increasing Access | JUN-DEC 2021 allenovery.com 29 For more information, please contact:
GLOBAL PRESENCE GLOBAL PRESENCE
Allen & Overy is an international legal practice with approximately 5,500 people,Allen & Overyincluding is an some international 550 partners, legal prworkingactice within over app 40ro ximatoffi cesely worldwide. 5,500 people, including some 550 partners, working in over 40 offi ces worldwide.
Allen & Overy means Allen & Overy LLP and/or its affiliated undertakings. AllenAllen & Overy& Over LLPy means is a limit Allened &liability Overy partnership LLP and/or ritsegist affiliatereded in undertakings.England and WAllenales & Overy LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales with registered number OC306763. Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited is a limitwithed company registered regist numberered OC306763.in England andAllen W &ales Overy with (Holdings) registered Limit numbered is 07462870. a limited company registered in England and Wales with registered number 07462870. Allen & Overy LLP and Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited are authorised and regulatAllen &ed Overy by the LLP Solicit andors Allen Regulation & Overy Authority(Holdings) of Limit Englanded ar eand authorised Wales. and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority of England and Wales.
The term partner is used to refer to a member of Allen & Overy LLP or a directTheor toferm Allen partner & Overy is used (Holdings) to refer Limit to aed member or, in either of Allen case, & Overy an emp LLPloyee or aor dir ector of Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited or, in either case, an employee or consultant with equivalent standing and qualifications or an individual with equivalentconsultant status with equivalentin one of Allen standing & Overy and LLP’ qualificationss affiliated or undertakings. an individual with equivalent status in one of Allen & Overy LLP’s affiliated undertakings. A list of the members of Allen & Overy LLP and of the non-members who areA designat list of theed members as partners, of Allen and a& listOvery of the LLP dir andect orsof theof Allennon-members & Overy who are designated as partners, and a list of the directors of Allen & Overy (Holdings) Limited, is open to inspection at our registered office at One Bishops(Holdings) Square, Limit Londoned, is E1 open 6AD t.o inspection at our registered office at One Bishops Square, London E1 6AD. UK UK © Allen & Overy LLP 2021. This document is for general guidance only and does not constitute advice. CS2105_CDD-64401_ADD-96082