'Pro bono' is the free legal advice we provide to non-profit organisations like charities, and to vulnerable people who cannot afford quality legal services. It is all about using our legal expertise and experience to increase access to justice, and do good in our communities in line with our approach to being a more responsible business.

Jamie Garside, Pro Bono Manager (Lawyer) UKIME

Read more about our impactful pro bono initiatives in our first-ever Responsible Business Impact Review

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Highlights:

The range and scope of what our lawyers do is broad and varied. From advising a charity on an employment law dispute, to working with a victim of domestic violence to obtain legal protections from their abuser, to educating students on the legalities of consent. Our pro bono work is delivered to the same standard of excellence we deliver to our fee paying clients.

75 Dentons Lawyers named in inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List in 2024

Our commitment to pro bono is reflected by the 75 dedicated lawyers from our firm who featured in the inaugural Pro Bono Recognition List which celebrates solicitors and barristers across England and Wales who have given over 25 hours of their time to pro bono work over the past year. Jamie Garside said: "It's brilliant to see so many Dentons lawyers in the inaugural list. Our lawyers do incredible, impactful work for charities, vulnerable individuals, and their communities, and I'm delighted that they'll get the recognition they deserve."

Supporting refugees with access to justice in Greece

In 2019, we joined five other firms in a collaboration with European Lawyers In Lesvos to form the Greece Pro Bono Collaborative, a project designed to help address the current access to justice crisis for asylum seekers in Greece. The need to support these vulnerable people continues today. London-based Associate Georgina Kirkwood took on the two-week pro bono secondment at ELIL's centre in Athens in 2023, following in the footsteps of multiple secondees over the past five years. Reflecting on her experience, Georgina said:

“My experiences from the two weeks will stay with me for the rest of my life. These applicants have experienced unimaginable trauma, hardships and often then had to put themselves in further danger to get to Greece, fleeing their home countries in search of safety, for basic human rights and simply to be able to live their lives. I often confess to feeling helpless watching or reading the news, not knowing what it really must be like for those people impacted or what difference I can make. I was able to channel some of that during my secondment to try and do something small to help those with stories not dissimilar from what I have seen on the news.”

Securing a much-loved riverside landmark in Glasgow for future generations

A cross-practice team in Glasgow from Real Estate, Construction and Tax, provided pro bono advice which has enabled Glasgow Building Preservation Trust to restore the magnificent West Boathouse in Glasgow Green.

The restoration project, valued at £3.05 million, was spearheaded by Glasgow Building Preservation Trust (GBPT) working with conservation architects, ARPL Architects to revitalise the popular historic building, ensuring its longevity for years to come. Susan Gillon (Counsel), said:

“Community is at the heart of our local work, and with many of our team based in Glasgow, this was a perfect initiative for us to help with. There are many buildings at risk in Scotland and restoration of The West Boathouse was an incredible project that meant a lot to so many people - it is very gratifying to see everyone’s hard work come to fruition."

Read the full article here. 

Pro Bono Climate Disclosure Reporting for the Middle East and North Africa

To support the London School of Economics 'Grantham Institute' and the New York City Bar Association's 'The Vance Center', two Senior Associates from our Muscat office led a pro bono research project on climate regulation and reporting obligations across the Middle East and North Africa. They coordinated a team of thirteen lawyers from our offices in the region, who diligently researched and analyzed the different environmental laws and requirements and resulted in a detailed report providing a clearer understanding of the regulatory environment, aiding our pro bono clients in navigating the complexities of climate-related policies within these jurisdictions.