Shearman & Sterling, acting in collaboration with Anglo American, advised 30 Birds Foundation on the registration of 30 Birds Foundation UK as a charitable incorporated organization in England and Wales.
30 Birds, a US charity, was founded in 2021 following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan. The organization has supported the safe evacuation of over 450 people – predominantly at-risk female students and their immediate families – from Afghanistan to Canada, where it has further supported their education and resettlement. 30 Birds focuses on alternative education programs in Afghanistan, assisting students in these programs with applications to universities and scholarship opportunities abroad, and long-term support to those currently living in Canada.
The registration of 30 Birds Foundation UK will facilitate fundraising in the UK and the accepting of donations from UK-based donors, which will further assist the advancement of its beneficiaries' education and the provision of comprehensive support to them, with a focus on preserving their mental health and wellbeing.
The Shearman team advising 30 Birds included Mergers & Acquisitions partner Nick Withers, Mergers & Acquisitions counsel Michael Scargill, Mergers & Acquisitions associates Daniel Senior and Natasha Rarity, and Pro Bono trainee Zoe Levy. The Anglo American team included Kate Southwell, Todd Carpunky and Smriti Bahety.
Bella Pollen, co-founder of 30 Birds and one of the trustees of 30 Birds Foundation UK, said: "I can’t begin to thank everyone involved for the sheer effort, time, patience and expertise put into this project. Shearman and Anglo American have played a big part in giving hope of a better future back to thousands of Afghan girls."
Nina Garnham, Senior Pro Bono Lawyer at Shearman, commented: "It has been a pleasure and an honor to support the work of 30 Birds and help them establish their UK charity. This a great milestone for the work of 30 Birds and we look forward to continuing to help them with their plans to come."
Richard Price, Legal & Corporate Affairs Director at Anglo American commented: “I’d like to congratulate 30 Birds for having reached this key milestone in their journey to helping young women and girls access safe education. Seeing the 30 Birds, Shearman & Sterling and Anglo American teams collaborating to deliver such an important outcome with our values central to what we do, highlights how much positive impact Legal teams can have in the delivery of real world benefits to the most vulnerable. I wish 30 Birds all the best in their next chapter.”
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