Ropes & Gray Recognized for “Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership” by LawWorks

Rankings & Awards
December 8, 2022

Ropes & Gray has been named joint winner of the ‘Most Effective Pro Bono Partnership Award’, at the LawWorks Pro Bono Awards 2022, in recognition of the firm’s collaboration on the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI), working with Safe Passage International, Refugee Legal Support and 13 other law firms.

The APBI was launched in March 2022, to offer pro bono representation to Afghan refugees seeking legal advice and support following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021. The APBI helps reunite refugees with their family in the UK and access the Afghan Relocation and Assistance Policy scheme (ARAP). Through extensive community outreach, including community events, online sessions and monthly newsletters, the APBI has been able to connect with affected communities and disseminate legal and practical information in their preferred language. To date, the APBI has supported around 250 Afghan nationals and successfully resettled seven Afghans in the UK.

The annual LawWorks Pro Bono Awards, which this year took place at The Law Society in London on 6 December 2022, celebrate the best legal pro bono activities undertaken by organizations and individuals and the positive impact they have had on those helped.  Announcing the award, judges said: “The impact of the Afghan Pro bono Initiative will be long lasting and life changing to the people you work with.”

Matthew Czyzyk, London Pro Bono partner, said: “We are delighted that Law Works has recognized the important work of the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative. At Ropes & Gray we are committed to helping those with nowhere else to turn and this project exemplifies the dedication of our lawyers to those who need our expertise the most.”