The rankings list AmLaw 200 firms in order by their score for pro bono work performed by lawyers based outside the U.S. Half of the score is based on the average number of pro bono hours performed by lawyers outside the U.S., in 2021. The other half considers lawyers outside the U.S., who did more than 20 hours of pro bono work.
Reed Smith’s non-U.S. lawyers are based in the Europe, Middle East and Asia (EMEA) region and delivered astounding pro bono results in 2021. Across the EMEA region, Reed Smith provided over 35,500 hours of pro bono support to charities, nonprofits, and low-income individuals, representing a 23-percent year-on-year increase of the firm’s pro bono hours. The firm averaged 54.9 pro bono hours per lawyer and more than half of them provided more than 20 hours of pro bono assistance during 2021.
Michael Skrein, Reed Smith’s responsible business partner EMEA, comments: “In what was a very busy year for our lawyers generally, it was very pleasing to see our pro bono hours not only hold their own but rise. I am delighted at the variety of causes and projects – local and international – our lawyers have been able to support. We are grateful to the people and organizations who have worked with us in this endeavour.”
Reed Smith also ranked sixth in last year’s AmLaw scorecard for international pro bono.
Earlier this year, Reed Smith published its 8th annual EMEA Responsible Business Report, detailing pro bono, volunteering, environmental, and diversity, equity and inclusion projects supported by the firm in 2021. A copy of the report can be found at reedsmith.com/responsible-business.