A collaboration between Asylum Aid and various law firms, including Morrison & Foerster, was recognized with the "Excellence in Pro Bono" Award by the Law Society of England and Wales. The pro bono project was created to address the issue of statelessness within the United Kingdom.
It is estimated that over 12 million individuals are stateless, including many living in the UK. These individuals are among the world's most vulnerable and invisible. Lawyers participating in the project have been fully trained and are supervised by Asylum Aid to help individuals apply for recognition as "stateless" within the meaning of the UK's Immigration Rules, which provides them with various protections, including the right to remain in the UK.
Members of Morrison & Foerster's London office who are spearheading the project for the firm include Chiraag Shah, Dan Alam, Stephanie Craw, and Shawna Pasquale. As part of the collaborative initiative, participating firms meet regularly in roundtables organized by Asylum Aid to share best practices on their cases.
According to Law Society, this year's winning collaborative team was selected because it achieved lasting and dramatic change in an area of significant public importance. The award was presented to Asylum Aid and the collaborating firms during the organization's virtual ceremony on October 7, 2021. Visit Law Society's website for additional information about the award.