Dentons was awarded “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year” at the 2018 Good Lobby Awards, in recognition of the Warsaw office’s innovative litigation work to promote human rights and freedom of expression in Poland.

The Good Lobby Awards honor the most successful public interest projects and advocacy campaigns led by citizens, companies, civil society organizations, political representatives, academics and/or foundations. The “Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year” award recognizes the most impactful pro bono project by law firms and lawyers in Europe.

Under the leadership of partners Wojciech Kozłowski and Agnieszka Wardak, and senior associate Aleksandra Gliszczyńska-Grabias, Dentons’ Warsaw office has developed a unique strategic litigation practice to promote and protect civic freedoms and the rule of law in Poland. Over the past several years, the team has represented clients in a number of pro bono cases to counter Nazi propaganda and Holocaust denial; protect the freedom of expression of individuals critical of the government; counter xenophobia, religious hatred and homophobia; and protect the rights of disadvantaged groups, such as people with disabilities, migrants and ethnic minorities.

“It is important to remember that serving our communities is not only the right thing to do, but it is also a lawyer’s social responsibility,” said Wojciech Kozlowski, founder of the strategic litigation program.

In one notable example, the team represented a blogger in a landmark freedom of speech case that Dentons took on in cooperation with the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights. Andrzej Radke, a retired solidarity activist, published critical blog posts and a video that proved embarrassing for the local government. The authorities retaliated by claiming that a blog was a “periodical publication” and charging him with the petty offense of failing to register the blog in the official Polish media registry. Following an initial conviction in the district court, Dentons appealed to the higher court, which ruled in favour of Mr. Radke.

Atanas Politov, Europe Pro Bono Director, said: “We are very proud of the Warsaw team, whose strategic litigation program is unique in the European pro bono landscape. Dentons is one of very few law firms, which have taken a long-term, mission-driven approach to defending individual rights and liberties.”

Dentons is committed to making a meaningful contribution to the community through pro bono legal advice. In 2017, Dentons lawyers worked more than 92000 pro bono hours around the world.

About Dentons

Across over 80 countries, Dentons helps you grow, protect, operate and finance your organization by providing uniquely global and deeply local legal solutions. Polycentric, purpose-driven and committed to inclusion, diversity, equity and sustainability, we focus on what matters most to you. www.dentons.com