“Using our legal skills to better lives, communities and our profession.” Partner
A firm that takes its role in society seriously
Since 2020, Kirkland attorneys have provided substantial Pro Bono support to Amicus, an apolitical, non-campaigning, non-profit organisation that helps provide legal representation to those facing the death penalty in the United States, by building a portfolio of user-friendly case files for prisoners on death row. The London office partners with Refugee Legal Support and several City law firms in the Family Reunification From Europe Project, which aims to reconnect refugees living in England with their family members in refugee camps across Europe. Throughout 2022, the Firm helped Afghan refugees find new beginnings, assisting more than 100 refugees with U.S. asylum applications or adjustment of status. After war broke out in Ukraine, Kirkland quickly launched a multi- firm project to assist Ukrainians in the U.S. with applications for Temporary Protected Status, a project that is expected to expand to include eligible individuals from other countries of origin. Our Investment Funds Group is currently assisting Big Issue Invest, an affiliate of the Big Issue group of charities, which is forming an investment fund alongside the charity, UnLtd, called the Growth Impact Fund after their research uncovered very significant unmet funding needs in the social enterprise sector, particularly for enterprises founded by individuals from underrepresented groups. Kirkland has already successfully raised capital from a diverse group of investors into a novel fund structure to enable Big Issue to invest in social enterprises across the UK. The establishment of the Growth Impact Fund was named a finalist for “Best New Pro Bono Activity” in LawWorks’ Pro Bono Awards 2022.
Over the last year, lawyers from Kirkland & Ellis London have provided Pro Bono services to a diverse range of organisations and benefitted enormously from the experience of clients and challenges outside of their usual legal work. More importantly, they have really made a difference to the people for whom they have worked. Every hour of Pro Bono work counts as billable equivalent, hour for hour for associates and our Firm aims for each associate to spend at least 20 hours per year on Pro Bono work. Pro Bono opportunities are available to attorneys at all levels, including trainees. We have highlighted some of the Pro Bono projects in which attorneys at the Firm have been involved. Kirkland has partnered with the University House Legal Advice Centre, one of London’s oldest legal aid organisations, to provide volunteer staff for its weekly housing clinic in East London since 2017. The clinic provides free legal support to vulnerable individuals facing housing issues including homelessness, evictions, and poor living conditions. Since the autumn of 2015, Kirkland attorneys have represented numerous clients in welfare benefits appeals with a success rate of over 90%.
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In 2022, Kirkland & Ellis worldwide devoted more than 149,500 hours to organisations and individuals on Pro Bono matters. Our commitment as a firm to providing legal services without charge to those who cannot afford legal counsel is based on our goals of helping to improve clients’ lives, bettering communities and deepening the professional experience of our attorneys. “At Kirkland, we are committed to advancing the local and global communities in which we live and work. To fulfil that mission we dedicate substantial energy, talent and resources to an array of meaningful causes and initiatives that reflect our values and vision.”
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