Pro Bono for Human Rights
Pro Publico facilitated a pro bono collaboration between leading global law firm Dentons and the Rule 39 Initiative to ensure it could continue its mission to provide emergency legal assistance to those at risk of human rights violations.
The Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative
Since 2021, the Rule 39 Initiative has provided pro bono legal interventions to prevent imminent harm in cases of human rights abuses. In 2024, this pro bono women-led initiative entered its fourth year with significant updates: it is now hosted by the newly established nonprofit Pro Iura and supported by nine top-tier law firms. To address these changes, the Initiative needed to revise its Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the participating law firms.
Why Pro Bono Assistance Was Needed
Updating the MOU was essential for the Initiative to reflect its expanded structure and secure long-term support from its partners. However, crafting a legally precise and bespoke document required expertise beyond the Initiative’s in-house capabilities. Recognising this need, we were glad to match their request with Dentons’ office in Glasgow, ensuring access to top-tier legal assistance on a pro bono basis.
Dentons: a Leading force for Good
Dentons is a global law firm renowned for its commitment to pro bono work and global legal excellence. Their pro bono manager in London, lawyer Jamie Garside, facilitated the connection with his colleague Claire Gregory, Dentons’ experienced in-house legal counsel whose dedication and legal acumen made her the ideal partner for this project, delivering the same high standards provided to Dentons’ fee-paying clients.
How Dentons Delivered the Advice
Claire Gregory worked closely with Daria Sartori and Muriel Vicquery from the Rule 39 Initiative to revise the MOU. She carefully adapted the document to accommodate the Initiative’s new structure under the new hosting organisation and the expanded network of nine law firms. The final deliverable was a legally sound and tailored agreement that ensured the Initiative’s smooth operations.
Feedback on the Assistance Received
The updated MOU enables the Rule 39 Initiative to continue its vital work in protecting human rights. Muriel Vicquery expressed satisfaction with the legal advice received on a pro bono basis: “This collaboration fully met our expectations as Claire was exceptionally helpful, professional and punctual. Moreover the free matchmaking was invaluable: it was tailored to our needs and enabled us to promptly secure the help required to advance our Rule 39 Initiative.”
Feedback from the lawyer
On her side Claire was keen to add: ”It was a pleasure to work with Daria Sartori and Muriel Vicquery on this piece of work. Daria and Muriel provided clear instructions and together we adapted the MOU to best suit the needs of the Rule 39 Initiative and the new structure. It was very rewarding to be part of such a worthwhile cause. As a Lawyer, I feel it is important to recognise that success doesn’t always need to be judged by winning or monetary gain. A Lawyer can change lives through pro bono by giving their time to those with little or no access to legal services and/or justice.”
Get Involved with Pro Publico: are you a professional interested in offering pro bono assistance or an organisation seeking support? Contact Pro Publico today to learn more about our matchmaking service and how we can support your mission.
Thank to @Jamie Garside @Claire Gregory @Dentons @Atanas Politov @Dentons @Daria Sartori @Muriel Vicquery @Rule39Initiative @ProIura @Francesco Zatelli @ProPublico
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