Reed Smith LLP

Domestic Abuse Response Alliance places 200th case

Page d'accueil Actualités Domestic Abuse Response Alliance places 200th case
Reed Smith is delighted to announce that the multi-award-winning Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA) has placed its 200th case. DARA provides advocacy services to survivors of domestic abuse who are not eligible for legal aid but who cannot afford to pay for private representation, providing them with legal help and court representation to the conclusion of their case.

Avocats associés à cet article: Sally-Ann Underhill Alia Khalil Becca Naylor

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Initially launched in 2022 by seven leading law firms, DARA now comprises ten firms and has an extended reach across the UK. DARA is a collaborative project, working with LawWorks, the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV), Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS) and Beck Fitzgerald, providing end-to-end representation and advocacy support for domestic abuse survivors seeking protective orders against their abusers in the Family Courts.

The DARA firms include:

  • Akin Gump
  • Debevoise & Plimpton
  • DLA Piper
  • Eversheds
  • Gibson Dunn & Crutcher
  • Hogan Lovells
  • Latham & Watkins
  • Reed Smith
  • Slaughter and May
  • Travers Smith

At Reed Smith, DARA is led by partner Sally-Ann Underhill and associates Alia Khalil and Louisa Martac, with support from counsel Becca Naylor from the EMEA Pro Bono team.

In the period between July 2023 to June 2024, Reed Smith’s DARA volunteers dedicated over 630 hours supporting clients to seek legal protection against their abusers. In all of the cases, Reed Smith achieved positive outcomes for DARA clients.

Underhill commented: “Working on DARA cases demonstrates Reed Smith’s commitment to supporting those within our communities who are suffering from both physical and controlling domestic abuse. DARA clients come to us when they do not feel safe in their own homes and, by going to court and obtaining non-molestation orders for them, we are able to give them peace of mind so that they do not live in constant fear.

“We are pleased that this alliance goes from strength to strength and that, by being part of it, we can help people within our own society when they need it most.”