Hong Kong - Allen & Overy

PRO BONO
“We strongly encourage our
graduate trainees to get involved
across the full range of our
different pro bono and corporate
social responsibility activities.”
www.allenovery.com/careers
Our extensive global pro bono and community affairs programme
is an important part of who we are and an expression of the values
on which we build our business. This is no less true in Hong Kong,
where we dedicate significant resources and time to pro bono
work and community-based projects.
In 2010 and also in 2011, the firm was named
Asian Pro Bono Law Firm of the Year by the leading
independent publisher, International Financial Law
Review. This pan-Asian award reflects the personal
time, commitment and dedication of our staff
throughout Asia to pro bono and volunteering work.
The judges’ commented that Allen & Overy stood out
above all other law firms for the comprehensive nature
of our giving. In particular we were praised for our
volunteering work where in the past 12 months we
have actively supported over 20 charitable groups in
their work for the disadvantaged, elderly and children.
And in Hong Kong, we have received the Caring
Company Award, which recognises and promotes
good corporate citizenship, for nine consecutive
years. We strongly encourage our graduate trainees
to get involved across the full range of our different
pro bono and corporate social responsibility activities
for a number of reasons. The first is that, typically, they
are the kind of people who are motivated to lend their
talents and energy to such projects and we want to
support them in this. We also recognise that some of
the experiences and perspectives they gain through
such work have an ancillary benefit to our firm, not
least in the teamwork and sense of shared purpose
that they foster. And, ultimately, as a firm of high
achieving individuals we have a strong sense of both
our capacity and our responsibility to effect positive
change where we can.
In addition to substantial donations to a variety
of charities and other bodies, our pro bono
legal projects include supporting:
• Helpers for Domestic Helpers (HDH) – provides
paralegal advice, counselling and guidance for
foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong facing
issues relating to employment, immigration and
human rights. Allen & Overy staff volunteers help
with the HDH Sunday rota – the day when most
domestic staff are released from work – and the
Litigation department delivers valuable support
through a formal referral system.
• International Centre for Missing and
Exploited Children – Allen & Overy staff are
helping to coordinate the establishment of an
Asia Pacific Financial Coalition to fight commercial
sexual exploitation of children over the internet.
• Enlighten – works to improve the quality of life
for people with epilepsy and their family members.
Allen & Overy advised Enlighten on registering the
charity in Hong Kong and provides ongoing legal
support.
• ADM – Allen & Overy has been advising this
agricultural processing conglomerate on its
charitable work promoting environmentally
sustainable growth in South East Asia in a manner
that is sensitive to local cultures, and alleviating
child poverty.
• The World Bank – Allen & Overy is one of
the largest contributors to the Doing Business
Project, which aims to identify through research
the business regulations that best encourage
economic growth.
• Hong Kong Red Cross – we provide ad hoc
assistance on legal aspects of its work, such as
the recent development, sale and distribution of
an updated first aid manual.
We are also active in local volunteering projects that
benefit the people in our immediate communities,
including St Mary’s Home for the Aged, the Hans
Andersen Club and Crossroads.