The Awards recognised and celebrated the pro bono commitment of LawWorks members, their charity and corporate partners, and the work of independent clinics in the LawWorks Clinics Network.
Lady Hale, President of the Supreme Court, spoke at the event and presented the awards to the winners. The evening was hosted by Matthew Stadlen, radio and television presenter, producer and writer.
Over 260 finalists and guests from across the pro bono, advice, legal aid and charity sectors, were welcomed by Simon Davis, President of the Law Society and Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks. James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR at LexisNexis UK, spoke on behalf of the award sponsor.
LawWorks Chief Executive Martin Barnes said:
"Congratulations to the winners and finalists – all deserve recognition and celebration of their work and the difference they make in enabling access justice. It was also inspiring to hear from Lady Hale who has been a role model for the legal profession and everything that we value about the rule of law’."
James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland said:
“On behalf of LexisNexis I would like to congratulate the winners, and all those shortlisted and nominated, for their dedication and commitment to enabling access to justice and advancing the Rule of Law. LexisNexis is honoured to have had the chance to express our support for all involved, and to continue our sponsorship of the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards for another year.’”
Yasmin Batliwala, Chief Executive, A4ID said:
“As the first-ever recipients of the Best International Pro Bono Award, I congratulate Dechert for their exceptional work and well-deserved recognition. Congratulations are also due to all of the nominees for this award, your invaluable international pro bono assistance is an inspiration to all of us in the pro bono sector – keep up the brilliant work!”
The winners of the Awards are:
- Best contribution by a small firm: Emma Williams Family Law.
- Best Contribution by a Medium Firm: Morrison & Foerster.
- Best Contribution by a Large Firm: Howard Kennedy.
- Best contribution by an in-house team: Visa.
- Best contribution by an individual: Andrew Lidbetter – Herbert Smith Freehills.
- Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award: Imene Hamdi-Cherif – Ashurst.
- LawWorks Cymru Award: University of South Wales Legal Advice Clinic
- Best International Pro Bono Award: Dechert
- Best contribution by a pro bono clinic: Cardiff Law School Pro Bono Clinic.
- Best New Pro Bono Activity: BID Exceptional Case Funding Project with Bail for Immigration Detainees, Ashurst, Debevoise & Plimpton, Dechert and Orrick.
- Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership: Mencap Legal Network Pro Bono Programme.
You can find out more about all the nominees and winners in the 
LawWorks Pro Bono Awards programme 2019.
Alasdair Douglas, Chair of LawWorks welcomed the guests.
Over 260 nominees and guests attended the ceremony.
The evening was hosted by Matthew Stadlen
Simon Davis, President of The Law Society congratulated the shortlisted nominees.
James Harper, Executive Sponsor, Rule of Law and CSR for LexisNexis UK & Ireland.
The Rt Hon. the Baroness Hale of Richmond DBE
Lady Hale in conversation with Matthew Stadlen.
Lady Hale "One man’s commons sense is another women’s pointless idiocy".
Emma Williams Family Law collected the first award of the evening, Best Contribution by a Small Firm. Pictured Emma Williams and Lady Hale.
The award for Best Contribution by a Medium Firm was won by Morrison & Foerster. Mike Bell, Gemma Anderson and Mercedes Samavi, joining Lady Hale on stage.
Howard Kennedy won the award for Best Contribution by a Large Firm. Alan Banes, Julia Wookey, and Charlotte Towerton pictured with Lady Hale.
Visa won the award for Best Contribution by an In-House Team. Mark Hoskin and Juan Pena pictured with Lady Hale.
Lady Hale and Imene Hamdi-Cherif, Ashurst, winner of the Junior Lawyers Division Pro Bono Award.
Andrew Lidbetter, Herbert Smith Freehills won Best Contribution by an Individual
The LawWorks Cymru Award was won by University of South Wales Legal Advice Clinic. Parris Durham, Rachel Lewis, Hannah Menard, Holly Evans, Jessica Taylor-Goddard, Taylor Jones, Samantha Bevan and Konrad Bogath pictured with Lady Hale.
Best Contribution by a Pro Bono Clinic was won by Cardiff Law School Pro Bono Clinic, Professor Jason Tucker from Cardiff University pictured with Lady Hale.
Yasmin Batliwala, Chief Executive, A4ID, introduced the Best Contribution to International Pro Bono Award
The winner of the Best Contribution to International Pro Bono was Dechert. Yasmin Batliwala, A4ID and Charles Wynn-Evans, Dechert pictured with Lady Hale.
BID Exceptional Case Funding Project won the Best New Pro Bono Activity award. Lara Nonninger, Orrick; Sara Ewad, Debevoise & Plimpton; Claire Fourel, Ashurst; Carmen Kearney, BID; Katie Cotton, Orrick; Emma Rehal-Wilde, Debevoise & Plimpton; Pierre Makhlouf, BID and Mehreen Malik, Orrick - pictured with Lady Hale.
The final award of the evening, Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership was won by the Mencap Legal Network Pro Bono Programme, Catrina Filmer and Danielle Zeider of Mencap pictured with Lady Hale.
