Pro Bono Coalition Recognized by PILnet

In February 2022, Latham & Watkins helped found the Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA), along with several other law firms, in the United Kingdom. This multi-firm advocacy alliance is the largest pro bono project ever assembled in the UK to provide end-to-end representation and advocacy support for domestic abuse survivors seeking protective orders against their abusers. DARA was recently honored with the 2023 PILnet Local Impact Award.

Voted for by participants of the PILnet Global Forum, the PILnet Local Impact Award “recognizes the best, innovative pro bono legal project with an impact felt at the local or national level.” PILnet is an international NGO that serves as a global network for public interest law.

DARA represents individuals in England and Wales who cannot afford to pay for private representation, offering support and counsel from the outset to the conclusion of the case. In addition, DARA seeks to inform policy to promote justice in domestic violence cases.

In partnership with LawWorks, a leading UK charity committed to enabling access to justice through free legal advice, and Beck Fitzgerald, specialists in family law, our lawyers compassionately guide clients through a traumatic process — confronting their abusers in court — with empathy and skill. Collectively, DARA’s board has more than 50 years of experience acting for survivors of domestic abuse and delivering pro bono projects at scale. Participating lawyers offer end-to-end representation.

To date, DARA includes more than 300 volunteer lawyers from participating firms who have collectively acted for dozens of domestic abuse survivors, ages 18 to 86, who have experienced sexual abuse, physical violence, control, coercion, economic abuse, stalking, and harassment.

Along with Latham, the DARA firms include Travers Smith, Reed Smith, Hogan Lovells, Slaughter and May, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, Debevoise & Plimpton, DLA Piper, Eversheds Sutherland, and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld.