The Law Society (UK): Asylum Aid’s Statelessness Project Wins 2021 Pro Bono Award for Excellence
October 11, 2021
The Law Society Awards 2021 recognized the importance and effectiveness of collaborative efforts by law firms in the pro bono arena and named Asylum Aid’s Statelessness Project this year’s winner for its “Excellence in Pro Bono” award. The honor was presented to 12 global law firms for their work in helping to create “lasting and dramatic change in an area of significant public importance.”
O’Melveny associates Rebecca Evans and Emma Drysdale, and trainee solicitor Aoife Fahy, with the support of partner and London office head Jan Birtwell, have been involved in three cases assisted by the project, two of which are ongoing. They have played a key role in helping Asylum Aid to progress the applications of vulnerable individuals to obtain leave to remain in the UK and to secure proper legal status here. The team have assisted in the collection and presentation of evidence and the analysis of overseas law to verify that each individual is not recognized as a national in any other jurisdiction. The team then prepares an application on behalf of each individual evidencing that they are otherwise stateless and require recognized legal status in the UK so they can live freely, progress their education, and access the employment, healthcare and other benefits available to UK citizens.
The collaborative group of firms supporting this project in addition to O’Melveny are Akin Gump, Ashurst, Cooley, Dentons, Freshfields, Latham & Watkins, Morrison & Foerster, Orrick, Reed Smith, Skadden, and White & Case.
Find more information about Asylum Aid and its invaluable work here and about the Law Society awards here.