“Our lawyers combine compassion with legal knowledge to make a significant difference in the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable individuals and communities. This dedication to pro bono service is a hallmark of our culture, we are committed to supporting lawyers who want to be of service, and we are proud of the results they are achieving”.

We are dedicated to offering pro bono opportunities to all our lawyers in every office. Our multi-jurisdictional practice uniquely qualifies us to address pro bono matters around the world, whether at a San Francisco legal clinic or in Tanzania at the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Our full-time Pro Bono Counsel and associated staff work exclusively on directing our pro bono efforts and assist in effectively matching the interests of our lawyers with the needs of individual clients and non-profit organisations. In 2009, Shearman & Sterling lawyers devoted approximately 53,000 hours to pro bono matters.

In the London office, all staff can participate in a weekly reading scheme at a local primary school. A strong relationship has been built up with the school over recent years, and the scheme has proved a very worthwhile commitment for those involved.

Other examples of our pro bono work in the London office include a team (including partners, of counsel, associates and trainees) assisting islanders from the Isle of Bute, off the west coast of Scotland, to acquire a forest on the island from the film director Richard Attenborough pursuant to Scottish community right to buy legislation.