The clients found themselves the subject of a fraudulent online transaction which left them at risk of losing a large sum of money. They commenced litigation but the matter soon became too complex to proceed as litigants in person. With the support of Advocate they obtained initial assistance from barrister Daniel Kessler of 4 Stone Buildings. As the case progressed, counsel sought solicitor assistance through Pro Bono Connect.
This request was answered by a commercial team at Dechert led by former partner Simon Fawell, who has since moved to Signature Litigation. They, along with counsel, were able to review the case and strategy and progress matters substantially. Before the first case management conference, a suitable settlement was reached in summer 2021 following a mediation.
The complex nature of the case made it very stressful for the clients as litigants in person. The fantastic support they received from counsel made a huge difference both to the case and to their circumstances overall. They were extremely impressed at the level of contribution made by the team at Dechert knowing they were working pro bono. They were highly professional, considerate and supportive throughout.
Mr Y says that without the whole legal team on board, they would not have been able to continue with the claim. Of Pro Bono Connect he said:
“.. it is an amazing service. Victims of fraud do not have the means or the ability to conduct a case like this alone, so a service like this is vital.”
and of his legal team he said:
“I am amazed at how hard all the lawyers worked without charge. They were fantastic.”
He went on to say that the various different contributions to strategy and planning really helped to find a way forward. He feels he has learnt a lot from this collaboration.
Simon Fawell said:
“It was great to get a result for two clients who had been the victims of fraud and, without pro bono assistance, would simply have been unable to pursue their claim. We were delighted that Pro Bono Connect was able to facilitate this."
Daniel Kessler of 4 Stone Buildings said:
“It would not have been possible to agree to help my two clients without support from Simon and his team at Dechert. Thanks to Pro Bono Connect for putting us in touch”.
Pro Bono Connect is the only scheme that enables solicitors and barristers to be matched to work on cases together pro bono. This collaboration between lawyers ensures that the client gets the best possible service.
March 2022