Standout
Uría Menéndez: Winner
Originality: 9; Leadership: 9; Impact: 8; Total: 26
The law firm acted for a six-year-old girl who was born while her mother was travelling from Cameroon to Europe via Morocco. At a regional court of appeal in northern Spain, it secured Spain’s first granting of nationality to an “invisible child”, whose nationality has not been recognised by any state. Lawyers argued that her original denial of nationality was in breach of the child’s rights, including equal access to healthcare and education.
Ashurst, Akin Gump, Allen & Overy, Clyde & Co, Norton Rose Fulbright, Orrick, Reed Smith, Simmons & Simmons, and White and Case
O: 8; L: 8; I: 9; Total: 25
These nine law firms worked with the charity Safe Passage to help refugees navigate the UK’s Homes for Ukraine visa scheme, after Russia’s attack on the country. Volunteer lawyers at a clinic in Poland provided free support with applications and helped to advise on new immigration rules surrounding the relocation of unaccompanied minors. They have acquired 32 visas so far.
Highly commended
DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Orrick, Osborne Clarke, and Reed Smith
O: 8; L: 8; I: 7; Total: 23
The firms launched a pro bono project for migrants, called the Rule 39 initiative, in collaboration with campaign group the Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights (CILD). It was led by Daria Sartori, a lawyer and human rights expert. Through the project, the firms’ lawyers make use of Rule 39 of the European Court of Human Rights to address the human rights violations faced by asylum seekers and migrants. This rule allows the court to apply interim measures in the most urgent cases where there is an immediate risk of irreparable harm to the applicant. So far, the initiative has helped more than 400 people.
Linklaters
O: 8; L: 8; I: 7; Total: 23
The firm helped to advise UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, on a pilot scheme providing emergency cash aid to 5,000 displaced Ukrainians using a dollar-equivalent cryptocurrency.
Refugees were able to exchange the funds for cash via a digital wallet on their smartphones. The lawyers worked to ensure the tech was secure and that anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing protocols were followed.
Morais Leitão
O: 7; L: 7; I: 8; Total: 22
The firm supported the Afghanistan National Institute of Music after it was under threat by Taliban fundamentalists, who have imposed strict censorship of performers in the country. The firm helped to evacuate more than 270 musicians from the institute to Portugal and is working to secure their legal status, housing and education.
Dentons, Hogan Lovells, Linklaters, and Orrick
O: 7; L: 7; I: 7; Total: 21
The Italian Coalition for Civil Liberties and Rights worked with the four law firms to support Afghan asylum seekers in Italy with legal advice and representation. More than 120 refugees, including children, benefited, with around 70 being reunited with family members.
Commended
Akin Gump, Allen & Overy, Ashurst, Cleary Gottlieb Steen and Hamilton, Clyde & Co, Debevoise and Plimpton, Eversheds Sutherland, Gibson Dunn, Hogan Lovells, Mayer Brown, Orrick, Reed Smith, Ropes and Gray, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom
O: 6; L: 6; I: 7; Total: 19
In March 2022, the firms began working with charities Refugee Legal and Safe Passage to provide legal advice for Afghan refugees in different countries on the UK’s Arap resettlement scheme, following the overthrow of the Kabul regime by the Taliban in August 2021. About 70 volunteers have helped more than 90 Afghan nationals with applications.
BonelliErede
O: 5; L: 7; I: 7; Total: 19
The firm formed a partnership with Italian social enterprises Comete Formazione and ITA2030 to help Ukrainian refugees in Milan to secure jobs.
Its lawyers have conducted 400 mock interviews, found employment for 70 refugees, and provided professional training and literacy classes.
