UGANI PROSTHETICS

Pro Bono for Accessible Prosthetics in Africa and Beyond

We are proud to have matched Ugani Prosthetics with the exceptional legal experts at Crowell & Moring LLP to help advance their life-changing mission: providing amputees worldwide with access to affordable, high-quality prosthetics.

The Cause: Affordable Prosthetics for All

Millions of amputees globally face barriers to mobility and independence due to the high cost and limited availability of prosthetics. Ugani is tackling this issue by pioneering innovative, affordable solutions using open-source 3D printing technology. Their vision? To ensure that every amputee, regardless of economic status or location, has access to state-of-the-art prosthetic and orthotic devices.

Ugani – High-Quality & Affordable Prosthetics & Orthotics (video)

Co-founded by Joren and Florian Vallaeys and Cristobal Venegas, Ugani bridges innovation and accessibility. They design prosthetics through cutting-edge technology, enabling partners worldwide to manufacture devices locally at minimal cost. From the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to Palestine, Ugani’s mission is fueled by partnerships and a commitment to delivering dignity through mobility.

Growing for Good

As Ugani expanded its operations, legal complexities emerged: they needed support to navigate contracts, safeguard operations in challenging regions and manage partnerships effectively. In particular, they needed expert assistance to review and refine:

  • shareholders’ agreements and corporate structure for their R&D hub in Belgium;
  • partnership and sales agreements for their collaborations;
  • terms and conditions to protect operations in high-risk settings.

The international law firm Crowell & Moring LLP

Stepping up to the challenge, Brussel’s office of Crowell & Moring LLP — known for its excellence in legal advisory and its strong commitment to social responsibility — agreed to assist. Under the leadership of Wietse Vanpoucke and Camille Degrave, Crowell provided tailored, pro bono legal support to ensure Ugani could continue its mission without legal hurdles.

The Pro Bono Legal Support

Crowell’s team meticulously analysed Ugani’s legal documents and is providing:

  • a revised shareholders’ agreement that strengthens Ugani’s foundation;
  • clear, protective contract templates for sales and partnerships;
  • advice on managing risks in volatile regions like the DRC and Palestine.

Their responsiveness and dedication stands out; as Florian Vallaeys shared, “Wietse and Camille treat us like their clients — always searching for ways to assist us in any context. They are flexible, reliable and a true asset to our team.”

Empowering Ugani’s Mission

Thanks to Wietse and Camille’s expertise, Ugani is receiving for free the advice needed to develop a stronger legal framework, enabling them to:

  • build safer, more effective partnerships worldwide;
  • focus resources on lowering costs for their prosthetics, helping patients from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds;
  • mitigate risks in high-conflict areas while scaling their operations.

Florian summed up the impact, stating, “Thanks to the support Crowell & Moring offered to us on a pro bono publico basis , we can lower the cost of our solutions even more and help patients from the lowest socio-economic backgrounds!”

Pro Publico: Connecting Causes with Experts

This collaboration underscores the value of pro bono legal support in driving social change, as receiving this assistance is truly empowering Ugani Prosthetics to keep transforming lives and expand access to mobility for those who need it most.

Are you an organisation in need of expert pro bono support? Submit your case to Pro Publico today and let us connect you with professionals committed to making a difference. 

Thanks to @Crowell&Moring @Ugani Prosthetics @Joren Vallaeys @Florian Vallaeys @Cristobal Venegas @Wietse Vanpoucke @Camille Degrave @ProPublico @Francesco Zatelli

#ProBonoLegalSupport #InnovationForGood #AffordableProsthetics #AccessToJustice #SocialImpact #ProPublico