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City lawyers often get a bad press and are portrayed as money grabbing fat cats. However, if you look behind the scenes at FSI there are many examples of people across the firm using their skills to give something back. Some advise on legal issues for free, or for a nominal fee, others support their local community. We don’t demand that people perform pro bono activities but the firm’s culture supports and attracts the type of people that do.

 

Some charities/NFPs  individuals from the firm take their own time to support include:

CAA - Pia Sarma is a trustee of this registered charity set up to promote craft and craftsmen in Britain, exhibiting and educating on ceramics, glass and textiles

Hackney Community Law Centre - lawyer Alex Morton did a 10km sponsored walk to raise money. Funding from local councils and legal aid is continuing to be squeezed and the Law Centre staff, many of them leaders in their particular fields, often don't know whether they will get paid at the end of the month.  Hackney is also the most deprived area in the UK and the Law Centre's clients are among its most disadvantaged residents/workers/students.

http://www.justgiving.com/HackneyCommunityLawCentre

The Rainforest Foundation - lawyer Anna Dickie ran the London Marathon in aid of this charity. Last year she ran the New York Marathon and raised £1,000. 

www.rainforestfoundationuk.org

Bianca Jagger Foundation - Partners Robert Craig and Mark Stephens worked with Bianca to set this up and get it registered as a charity. Mark has also advised Bianca in her capacity as a Human Rights ambassador

Horsham Temporary Accommodation Charitable Trust providing temporary accommodation for homeless people. Partner, Anthony Barling was the founder Chairman and has been working with the charity since 1975

Hackney Community Law Centre - lawyer Alex Morton has provided voluntary immigration law advice at the publicly-funded centre since 1999

Quicksilver Children’s Theatre Company is supported by the Arts Council and brings theatre to children in the UK and abroad. Robert Craig, Partner, sits on the board and is a trustee

www.quicksilvertheatre.org

Royal Geographic Society is a London based world centre of geographers and geographical learning dedicated to the development and promotion of knowledge together with its application to the challenges facing society and the environment. Partner Jonathan Sellors is a trustee

www.rgs.org

Solicitors Pro Bono Group is a national charity whose aim is to enable lawyers to provide free legal help to individuals and community groups in need. Mark Stephens, Partner, was a founding trustee and is an active member of the charity

www.probonogroup.org.uk

Rwanda UK Goodwill Organisation assists those in need in Rwanda. Alex Morton, lawyer, has been involved with the charity since 1997 and is now its acting secretary

www.rugo.org

Oxford Policy Institute researches and advises on the best ways to organise and deliver public services in different settings around the world. Robert Craig has been a trustee and legal adviser to this charity since its inception

www.opi.org.uk  

The New Berlioz Edition - a charity established to publish the complete works of the composer Berlioz. Partner Peter Carter is a trustee and advisor

Aspire - a charity for people with spinal injuries is supported by Imogen MacLean who recently swam 22 miles, the equivalent of swimming the Channel, to raise funds

www.aspire.org.uk

Todd Ward at Kings College Hospital - the wife of Philip Mitchell, Practice Director at FSI, had a transplant 15 years ago and the couple now raise funds every year for the ward

The Jewish Museum - Robert Craig became the Chairman of this charity in 2004, having been deputy Chairman for several years. The Museum has a world class collection and an acclaimed programme of special exhibitions, as well as outreach work and Holocaust education

www.jewishmuseum.org.uk

Solicitors Assistance Scheme provides pro bono advice to solicitors with problems ranging from debt to alcoholism. Partner Robert Craig and Consultant Michael Simmons are on the panel

www.solicitorsassistancescheme.org

Open Society Institution promotes the development and maintenance of open societies throughout the world. Mark Stephens has conducted research, advisory and observation work for them

www.soros.org

Mary Ward Legal Centre is one of he largest pro bono advice centres in London and the South East. Partner, Jonathan Sellors is Deputy Chairman

www.marywardlegal.org.uk

Index on Censorship is an international human rights organisation which defends and promotes freedom of expression and freedom of information all over the world. Philip Eder, Partner, advised them, pro bono, on a move to new premises in the City

www.indexoncensorship.org

London Marathon - British Lung Foundation - Veronica Kinniburgh who helps with catering at FSI, ran the marathon last year and also helps homeless people on Christmas Day in Vauxhall

www.lunguk.org  

Contemporary Arts Society, which promotes the collecting of contemporary art through its gifts to public museums and the advice and guidance it offers companies and individuals. Mark Stephens, Partner, is the honorary solicitor involved with the society for over 10 years

www.contempart.org.uk

WSPA - World Society for Protection of Animals. Leonie Woolf, secretary, has organised fundraisers for this charity

www.wspa.org.uk

British Heart Foundation was supported by 11 FSI people who took part in the London to Brighton Bike Ride in 91F heat

www.bhf.org.uk

The Stanhope Centre for Communications Policy Research is a post-graduate programme developed to provide a forum for open dialogue, notably through working very closely with LSE’s Crisis States Programme. Partners Mark Stephens and Robert Craig are involved

www.stanhopecentre.org

Global Witness is an organisation working to expose the link between the exploitation of natural resources and human rights abuses. Partners Fiona Campbell and Mark Stephens advise

www.globalwitness.org

National Society for Epilepsy - Mark Stephens, Partner, has epilepsy and is an advocate for NSE

www.epilepsynse.org.uk

Scope is a UK charity whose focus is people with cerebral palsy. It aims to help disabled people achieve equality and the same human and civil rights as everyone else. Partner Julian Hindmarsh provided lease related advice

www.scope.org.uk

A. S. Neill Summerhill Trust - lawyer Imogen MacLean is a trustee of this organisation which raises funds for assisted places at Summerhill School, world-renowned for its unique approach to education

www.summerhillschool.co.uk

Association of Jewish Sixth Formers is a youth organisation for sixth formers and runs events and education trips to Europe for groups of around 80 students. Robert Craig, Partner, is a trustee and board member and advises on legal issues

www.aj6.org

Britten-Pears Foundation established to promote the musical legacy of Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears, whose creative partnership led to the founding of the Aldeburgh Festival. Partner Peter Carter advises and is a trustee of the Foundation

www.brittenpears.org

Daniel Stewart Charitable Trust - Partner Ashley Reeback has provided pro bono advice to this trust founded by a City broking firm

Internet Watch Foundation - the ambition of the organisation is to eradicate the availability of potentially illegal information on the internet, including images of child abuse. Mark Stephens has advised the foundation

www.iwf.org.uk

NMC Recordings is a charitable body established to record, promote and distribute music of (predominantly) British contemporary composers. They have received advice on corporate matters from Partner Peter Carter

www.nmcrec.org.uk

International Bar Association - trial observation programme. Mark Stephens was selected to observe a criminal libel trial in Thailand to ascertain whether fair trial standards are met

www.ibanet.org