2025 Global Forum

Ibrahim Abou Senna is an Egyptian lawyer specializing in mandate refugee status determination, resettlement, and protection legal aid. After receiving his bachelor of laws from Cairo University and the Sorbonne University, Ibrahim worked briefly at Africa and Middle East Refugee Assistance (AMERA) before spending a year coordinating the IOM’s emergency assistance work in immigration detention in Egypt. Ibrahim has been at StARS for more than five years and has led the Refugee Legal Aid Department for four years. In that time, he has developed and expanded the range of StARS legal aid services, adding specialized programs for unaccompanied children and youth and services helping refugees to find safety in third countries using ‘complementary pathways’ to UNHCR-led resettlement.

Speaking at Correcting the Power Imbalance: Equitable Partnerships in Pro Bono and Beyond, Tuesday, October 18

Amer is Irish Palestinian lawyer currently based in the United Kingdom, as well as a legal consultant, human rights activist and public speaker. Amer is the current chairperson of the Global Refugee Led Network GRN. He focuses on the Middle East, specifically on the Syrian conflict, and got involved and implemented many projects related to Syrian refugees living in host countries and IDPs inside Syria.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Susan Alupo is an advocate of the High court and courts subordinate there under. She is a registered member of Uganda Law Society and East African Law Society. She is currently working at the Refugee Law Project as the Program manager under the Access to Justice Program where she is involved in the provision of legal aid to forced migrants, advocating for reform in law, policy and practice, strengthening state and non-state actors to deliver Justice, empowering forced migrants to realize their rights. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, Uganda and a Master’s degree in Public International Law from the University of Oslo, Norway. She comes with vast experience in Refugee Law and forced migration.

Speaking at Legal Aid and Access to Justice for Refugees and Hosts in Uganda, Tuesday, October 18

Delfina is a lawyer, Executive Director of Pro Bono Argentina and specialist in social and sustainability matters.

Speaker at Every Stakeholder at the Table: Pro Bono Impact in Latin America, Tuesday, October 18

Mweshi is the Founding and Managing Partner of the Firm. She holds a Bachelor of Law Degree from The University of Zambia and was admitted to the Bar in February 2008.

Following the establishment of her Firm, Mweshi has continued to succeed in civil and commercial litigation and continues to provide advisory services in various areas of law including but not limited to contract law, employment law, family law, competition and consumer protection law, insurance law, regulatory and compliance advice. Mweshi has represented clients in merger applications, cartel investigations, restrictive business-practice matters, and general competition law compliance matters.

Speaking at The Global Digital Rights and Data Protection Landscape, Wednesday, October 19

Pavlo Bogachenko is a Senior Associate in the Kyiv office of Kinstellar, focusing on international arbitrations, investment disputes, cross-border litigations, sanctions and sensitive investigation matters. Within Kinstellar’s extensive pro bono initiative, Pavlo has been working on a wide array of matters for renowned civil society organizations and ad hoc humanitarian requests. Pavlo is also actively contributing to the war-damages initiative and related working groups.

Speaking at the Morning Plenary, Wednesday, October 19

Linde Bryk is the director of the Amsterdam Law Clinics of the University of Amsterdam. She is also a strategic legal advisor for women’s rights organization Bureau Clara Wichmann that engages in strategic litigation to advance women’s rights in the Netherlands. Prior to joining the University of Amsterdam and Bureau Clara Wichmann, she worked as a lawyer in the Netherlands, as a human rights officer for the European Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo and for Berlin based NGO the European Center for Constitutional Rights (ECCHR). At ECCHR she was involved in strategic litigation regarding business and human rights. Linde is a graduate of NYU School of Law (LL.M) and University of Groningen (LL.M.).

Speaking at Inspiring the Next Generation: Collaboration Between Law Schools and NGOs, Tuesday October 18

Jennifer manages Allen & Overy’s U.S. pro bono practice and is part of the firm’s global pro bono group. She has handled many immigration-related cases, in particular relating to Afghanistan, and leads the firm’s work on Afghan pathways to the U.S. following the 2021 Taliban takeover. She supports firmwide pro bono work on human rights, racial justice and related areas of law. She is on A&O’s human rights and social finance and impact investment groups’ excom, and is a member of the National Women’s Law Center’s Leadership Advisory Council, the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance’s voting rights group and AILA. Jennifer was a trustee of MSF and of REDRESS. Jennifer was in A&O’s derivatives group in London for many years, and worked on social finance and microfinance transactions.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Katie manages Reprieve’s death penalty litigation and advocacy in Sub Saharan Africa. Before joining Reprieve, Katie worked for Cornell Law School’s Center on the Death Penalty Worldwide and for the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Over the past decade, Katie lived and worked in Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Tanzania. She is a qualified lawyer and a member of the New York Bar.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Giovanni Carotenuto is the President of Pro Bono Italia. Since 2014, he has been organising the periodic Italian Pro Bono Roundtables and has promoted the creation of the association in May 2017, as well as of the clearinghouse in January 2022. He represents them at national and international events on pro bono, human rights and civil liberties related matters. Qualified before the Court of Cassation, he has been practising the law for over twenty-five years, mainly in the areas of corporate/M&A, banking & financial regulation, (and Fintech), and finance litigation. He holds an LL.M. (with merit) from Queen Mary College, University of London, and is a member of the International Bar Association, Milan Fintech District, as well as of the Alumni Association of Simpson Thacher, New York

Speaking at Harnessing Tech to Support and Enhance Pro Bono, Wednesday, October 19

Stephanie manages the Integrity at Work (IAW) programme at Transparency International Ireland. She is responsible for the development and delivery of IAW member support including training, policy guidance and events as well as communicating the aims and vision of the initiative to a wide range of audiences and stakeholders. Stephanie has worked in the non-profit sector for over eighteen years, previously holding senior managerial roles in Oxfam Ireland, the Irish Cancer Society and Arthritis Ireland. Stephanie holds a first-class MA in Ethics from Dublin City University.

Speaking at How Whistleblowers Can Be Protected to Effectively Raise Concerns in the Public Interest, Wednesday, October 19

Bachelor’s in Law. Master’s in Law, specialization in International Law and European Union Law from the Faculty of Law of Porto of the Portuguese Catholic University. After carrying out volunteer missions in Mozambique and on the island of Lesvos, Greece, Manuel gained a special interest in the area of ​​social action within the law, as well as all issues related to Human Rights. Currently Project Manager at the PRO BONO Portugal Association, which, in partnership with Law Firms and Social Solidarity Institutions, supports people without access to justice.

Speaking at Inspiring the Next Generation: Collaboration Between Law Schools and NGOs, Tuesday October 18

Jen is the Head of Digital Platforms and Projects at LawWorks, a charity working in England and Wales to connect volunteer lawyers with people in need of legal advice, who are not eligible for legal aid and cannot afford to pay and with the not-for-profit organisations that support them. Throughout her career, Jen has worked to develop digital services across the UK charity sector and National Health Service.

Speaking at Harnessing Tech to Support and Enhance Pro Bono, Wednesday, October 19

Chikondi Chijozi is the Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) Criminal Justice Lead. She is also a Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission. She holds a Master of Laws (International Human Rights Law) from the University of Sussex and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Malawi. She has over 18 years of experience in human rights work and has engaged in a number of important strategic litigation cases in Malawi, in relation to prisoners’ rights, LGBTIQ+, child rights, and women’s rights.

Speaking at Lessons in Litigating to Decriminalize Poverty and Status in Africa, Wednesday, October 19

Olivia heads up the UK pro bono practice for DLA Piper. Her practice has a particular focus on supporting displaced people in the UK and Europe. Over the last 12 months, DLA Piper set up two collaborative projects to provide Afghans and Ukrainians with legal information and advice. These projects provided advice to over 5000 Afghans and 4500 Ukrainians.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Alexandra Columban is a human rights practitioner with over 8 years’ experience in public policy, legislation, and advocacy in the fields of gender equality and gender-based violence, non-discrimination, LGBTQIA rights, and victims’ rights. She is currently the Executive Director of Equality and Human Rights Action Centre (ACTEDO), a human rights NGO based in Cluj-Napoca, Romania. Alexandra has been with ACTEDO since 2014, when the organisation launched The Pro Bono Network for Human Rights, a pro bono clearinghouse which won PILnet’s European Award for Local Pro Bono Impact in 2016. ACTEDO’s clearinghouse is now the largest such initiative in Romania working with individuals whose rights have been violated.

Speaking at Child Justice: Best Practices for Pro Bono Lawyering, Tuesday, October 18

John Dautzenberg is the president of JPD Global Advisors, an international consulting and advisory firm specializing in philanthropy, social impact, and international relations. John served in the White House during the Obama Administration, acting as one of the President’s liaisons to Congress. Later, he served as the Senior Advocacy Manager at the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) Foundation, overseeing all advocacy activities globally and negotiating complex immigration agreements with governments around the world. John has spoken at events at the US Department of State and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He received a BA in Politics from The Catholic University of America and an MSc in International Migration and Public Policy from The London School of Economics.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Brenna DeVaney directs Skadden’s global pro bono practice and is responsible for the firm’s relationships with legal services organizations and nonprofits. Her own practice focuses on representing low-income individuals, including women in family law matters who have been the victims of domestic violence. She enjoys helping in-house legal departments and companies with developing their pro bono and professional skills based volunteering programs. Brenna serves with Kiisha Morrow as founding Co-President of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance. She also works as an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan Law School and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. She is a frequent lecturer and presenter at both national and international convenings focused on access to justice. Brenna lives in Chicagoland with her husband, David, and their four children.

James Douglas is the Acting Executive Director for Irish Rule of Law, a post he recently took up after serving IRLI for two years as their Director of Programmes where he oversaw their various access to justice programmes in Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa, as well as a programme aimed at resettling Afghan women judges who fled the Taliban in 2021 in Ireland. He also works part-time for Victim Advocates International, a membership organisation which provides victims of international crimes with legal and advocacy support. Prior to joining IRLI, he served as a lawyer and investigator before the United Nations Khmer Rouge Tribunal, and assisted the United Nations OHCHR Seoul’s office on their accountability project on international crimes in the DPRK.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Deirdre Duffy was Campaign Manager for Together for YES during the 2018 referendum on the Eighth Amendment. Deirdre Duffy was Campaign Manager for Together for YES during the 2018 referendum on the Eighth Amendment.

Speaker at The Road to Reproductive Freedom: Lessons from Ireland for the World, Wednesday, October 19

Jorge is the Director of Pro Bono Partnerships at the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice at the New York City Bar Association. In his role, he is responsible for managing the Vance Center’s partnerships with law firms, pro bono clearinghouses, and other legal institutions worldwide. Jorge also co-manages the Pro Bono Network of the Americas, which aims to foster collaboration among clearinghouses in Latin America in order to institutionalize pro bono practice and bridge the access to justice gap in the region. Jorge co-founded and leads the Vance Center’s Keep Families Together initiative, supports the legal representation of children and migrants separated in the U.S. by introducing local pro bono counsel in the children’s countries of origin to pro bono counsel in the U.S.A.

Speaker at Every Stakeholder at the Table: Pro Bono Impact in Latin America, Tuesday, October 18

Kate is a globally recognised thought leader in digital innovation with a deep interest in the potential of technology to better serve communities and deliver social impact. In her role as Head of Innovation and Engagement at the Australian legal services charity Justice Connect, Kate leads a multi-disciplinary team that develops award-winning digital products to increase access to justice – now used around the world by many clearinghouses and 588 law firms. Kate led Justice Connect’s digital transformation and supports sector-wide digital transformation initiatives around the world. Through her experience as a corporate and community lawyer, board director, technologist, journalist and post-graduate studies in social impact, Kate brings a deeply intersectional lens to her work.

Speaking at Harnessing Tech to Support and Enhance Pro Bono, Wednesday, October 19

Andrés leads the firms’ Technology, Communications & Data Protection practice group. He has 15 years of professional experience, mainly in the area of telecommunications and personal data protection and technology. As part of his professional practice, Andrés has also amassed experience as a litigator for and advisor to state entities and private companies in the real and the services sector in project structuring, contract negotiation, compliance with regulatory obligations, among others. In addition to his specific experience as an advisor in the technology and communications sector, Andrés has extensive experience as an in-house lawyer and external advisor in the financial sector.

Speaking at The Global Digital Rights and Data Protection Landscape, Wednesday, October 19

With a background in international development, law and human rights, Claire is a Counsel at Ashurst LLP, overseeing pro bono charity legal practice in the UK and Europe. Claire has extensive experience in advising charities, INGOs, and marginalised individuals on human rights and development. Claire specialises in Women & Girls, Citizenship & Displacement and Climate Crisis & Resilience issues.

Claire holds an MSc in International Development Management from the London School of Economics, a Masters 1 in European law from the University of Rennes I, an LLB in comparative English & French law from Exeter University and an LPC from BPP University of London. Claire has also held positions as a seconded part time maternity cover for Safe Passage’s Head of Legal and Casework.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Fabi is COO and Legal Expert at CILD, a coalition that works to protect rights and liberties. A lawyer with extensive experience in human rights law and NFP leadership, Fabi has undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in law, marketing and management and has worked in the NFP space for 15 years, across 3 continents. At CILD Fabi leads strategy and development, and CILD’s work across its pro-bono legal projects including the Rule 39 Initiative, CIPBRA, SUNI, UCRI and the Family Reunification project. As part of her work Fabi has delivered training on behalf of the UNHCR and the EU Justice Programme. Outside of CILD, Fabi teaches human rights, business law, and strategy to undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts at Sydney University, Western Sydney University, and Roma Tre University.

Amy Grunske is the Head of International Pro Bono, Sustainability & Community Responsibility at law firm Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, leading the pro bono practice in the firm’s 12 international offices across the UK, Continental Europe and Asia. Over the last five years, she has developed 14 collaborative access to justice pro bono projects in the region, working with 33 other law firms and 8 NGOs to undertake high impact work for vulnerable individuals in areas of great legal need. Amy is an Australian-qualified lawyer, holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the areas of law, human rights, and psychology, and has worked in the pro bono sector since 2010.

Szilvia Gyurkó is a freelance child rights adviser and researcher. She graduated from ELTE Budapest with Msc. in Law in 2002 and studied children’s rights at Columbia University New York in 2007, Geneva University in 2018 and Harvard University in 2020.
After graduation, she worked at National Institute of Criminology (2005-2012) as criminologist and then she was the advocacy director of UNICEF Hungarian NatCom (2012-2014). In 2015, she wrote a best-selling book about child rights and divorce. She publishes child rights related articles in online and print media; furthermore, she develops and conducts training and research projects in several European countries. Currently she runs the Hintalovon Foundation that develops child rights, child participation and child safeguarding programs.

Speaking at Child Justice: Best Practices for Pro Bono Lawyering, Tuesday, October 18

Zahra Haidari worked as a Judge for four years in crimes against public security and corruption crimes division.  She graduated from Sharia law faculty of Kabul University and had years judicial training centre.

Speaking at the Morning Plenary, Wednesday, October 19

Colin Harvey is Professor of Human Rights Law and Director of the Human Rights Centre at Queen’s University Belfast. He is a Fellow of the Senator George J. Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice and an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies.

Speaking at The Role of Lawyers in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Tuesday, October 18

Lorraine is Assistant Managing Solicitor at Transparency Legal Advice Centre (TLAC). She qualified as a Solicitor in 1994 (Law Society of Ireland, 1994);  holds a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree (University College Dublin, 1990) and Diploma in Employment Law (Law Society of Ireland, Prize-winner). Her work at Transparency Legal Advice Centre focuses across a broad range of legal arenas, encompassing legislative requirements, legal obligations, policies and procedures in the area of making protected disclosures. Lorraine is delighted to be able to advise on this dynamic and important area of law.

Speaking at How Whistleblowers Can Be Protected to Effectively Raise Concerns in the Public Interest, Wednesday, October 19

Dr. Adrian Jjuuko is a Ugandan human rights lawyer, researcher and activist. He is the Executive Director of the Human Rights Awareness and Promotion Forum (HRAPF), an organisation that operates a specialised legal aid clinic for LGBTIQ+ persons in Uganda. He advocates for legal change in favour of LGBTIQ+ persons and other criminalised minorities. HRAPF currently coordinates the Coalition to Decriminalise and Declassify Petty Offences in Uganda (CODPO) and is leading strategic litigation efforts challenging the laws criminalising vagrancy offences in Uganda.

Speaking at Lessons in Litigating to Decriminalize Poverty and Status in Africa, Wednesday, October 19

Jebra Kambole is an Advocate of the High Court of Tanzania. He is the founder and partner of Law Guards Advocates in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania. Jebra is a former member of the Governing Council of the Tanganyika Law Society. He is a seasoned criminal, constitutional and human rights lawyer with extensive experience in strategic litigation involving criminal law, freedom of expression, decriminalisation of poverty and status offences, death penalty, and child rights. He has represented clients at the High Court of Tanzania and the Court of Appeal, the East Africa Court of Justice and the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

Speaking at Lessons in Litigating to Decriminalize Poverty and Status in Africa, Wednesday, October 19

Rene Kathawala serves as Orrick’s firmwide pro bono counsel, responsible for managing and initiating the firm’s pro bono activities, including all administrative and legal aspects. Rene works with other pro bono counsel and legal services nonprofits to increase the quantity and quality of pro bono representation that is being provided to indigent clients in each of the cities worldwide where Orrick has a presence. In addition, he supervises and directly works on cases in such diverse areas as immigration law, family and matrimonial law, housing law, public benefits law, employment law counseling, impact litigation, and nonprofit advice and counseling. Rene has worked on many substantial matters in the federal and state systems over his career that is reported as precedent.

Speaking at Financial Risks Confronting Civil Society: How Corporate Legal Expertise Can Catalyze Change, Wednesday, October 19

Joanna Khatib is the Europe Pro Bono Coordinator at Dentons Europe LLP. Joanna manages and coordinates the pro bono practice of the firm’s 23 offices across Europe, and works closely with Dentons colleagues on multi-jurisdictional pro bono projects at a global level. She has been involved in the (internal) coordination of several collaborative access to justice projects in Europe. Prior to joining Dentons, Joanna was a member of the legal team at the Dutch Council for Refugees where she provided legal guidance to asylum seekers and refugees in the Hague, Netherlands. Joanna holds undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the areas international and European law, human rights law and corporate social responsibility.

Suzanna helps co-ordinate the Speak Up Helpline. Suzanna has worked extensively in human rights and advocacy-based settings for over twenty years, supporting ethical organisational development in a variety of sectors including domestic violence, family support and ethnic minority groups. Suzanna also served as a police officer in the UK, specialising child protection, sexual assault and racially motivated crime. She holds a BA (Hons) in Sociology and a first class MSc Psychology from Northumbria University.

Speaking at How Whistleblowers Can Be Protected to Effectively Raise Concerns in the Public Interest, Wednesday, October 19

Rhian is a senior Pro Bono solicitor at Hogan Lovells, specialising in international human rights law related to human trafficking and modern slavery. Rhian plays a key role in the global team acting for Pacific Links Foundation, who are representing several families of those involved in the “Essex 39” tragedy. She also co-manages the Hogan Lovells Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority initiative, acting for victims of modern slavery, human trafficking and domestic abuse. Rhian was a finalist for the UK in this year’s United Nations Global Compact SDG Pioneer Awards, and she has just started studying for a Masters in International Human Rights Law at the University of Oxford in her free time.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Olivia is a lawyer in Linklaters LLP’s global pro bono team, where she has spent the last five years growing their access to justice pro bono and funding programmes in the UK. In addition to managing a large number of the firm’s pro bono partnerships in this space, Olivia collaborates with charity partners, law firms, international entities and technology providers to deliver innovative and impactful pro bono legal services.

Alongside project leadership, Olivia maintains a legal practice focusing on access to justice and human rights issues, and she is experienced in managing asylum and family reunification claims for LGBTQI+ people seeking asylum in the UK.

Prior to joining Linklaters, Olivia practised as a lawyer in Australia, where she specialised in the mining and energy sectors and worked with clients at all stages of the project lifecycle. She also spent a year working for the government of Timor-Leste as part of the negotiating team to delimit Timor-Leste’s maritime boundary with Australia. Olivia is admitted to practise in both Western Australia and the State of New York.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Eithne is Head of Pro Bono at A&L Goodbody. Alongside leading the firm’s pro bono practice Eithne maintains an administrative law practice in the area of housing and immigration. Prior to joining A&L Goodbody Eithne worked with the Public Interest Law Alliance; managing its pro bono referral scheme and creating new human rights impact projects. Eithne is a Director of Irish Rule of Law International; an organisation dedicated to promoting the rule of law as a means of tackling global injustice and empowering all people to live in a society free from inequality; corruption and conflict. Eithne is a guest lecturer at the Law Society of Ireland on their professional practice course.

Speaking at Morning Plenary, Tuesday, October 18

Doug is an American lawyer and Founder of Justice Without Borders. An expert on international human trafficking, Doug’s research and publications focus on migration and human exploitation throughout East and Southeast Asia. Leading a professional team with offices across Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines; Douglas has coordinated legal teams that have secured landmark victories in Hong Kong’s high court, and led his team to run training programs for a growing cohort of pro bono lawyers and frontline community organizations in JWB’s target jurisdictions. Douglas is a native of the United States, and has lived in Asia for over 10 years. He is a graduate of Georgetown University Law Centre and a former Fulbright Scholar at the University of Tokyo.

Speaking at Workshop: Pro Bono Lawyering at the Intersection of Culture and Crisis, Wednesday, October 19

LL.B and LL.M (Portuguese Catholic University). Francisco began its volunteer work at PRO BONO Portugal in 2012 has carried several roles inside the organisation over the past 10 years. His vast experience in the social sector began at a very young age and he has held relevant positions at PRO BONO Portugal and on two other Portuguese NGOs. He currently works at the Lisbon office of Cuatrecasas, Gonçalves Pereira and to this day continues to act as one of the two directors of PRO BONO Portugal.

Speaking at Inspiring the Next Generation: Collaborations Between Law Schools and NGOs, Tuesday, October 18

Thalia Malmberg is a Program Manager at Human Security Collective, working on issues related to de-risking and the effects of countering terrorism financing measures on civil society and human rights. As part of her work, she conducts research and capacity building, and engages in multi-stakeholder processes such as the Global NPO Coalition on the FATF and the Dutch Roundtable on Financial Access for NPO’s.

Speaking at Financial Risks Confronting Civil Society: How Corporate Legal Expertise Can Catalyze Change, Wednesday, October 19

Adriano joined the Thomson Reuters Foundation in June 2019. As Senior Programme Manager, EMENA, he leads the EMENA team’s work to provide NGOs and social enterprises with access to high-quality, free legal assistance, while spreading the practice of pro bono among legal firms in over 60 countries in Europe, Middle East and North Africa. Prior to joining the Foundation, Adriano co-founded KindLink, a tech startup helping companies showcase and manage their Corporate Social Responsibility activities; at TrustLaw, he is leading work on digital rights and the impact of technology on society and human rights.

Speaking at The Global Digital Rights and Data Protection Landscape, Wednesday, October 19

Maria McCloskey is the Director of The Public Interest Litigation Support Project (PILS). A solicitor advocate, Maria has over 15 years’ experience in legal practice. Further to a volunteer placement with Young Africa in Mozambique in 2013, Maria graduated from Queen’s University, Belfast with an LLM in Human Rights Law. She acted as Legal Consultant to Barnardo’s Independent Guardian Service, was Project Coordinator at Northern Ireland Community of Refugees and Asylum Seekers (NICRAS), and practiced as an Immigration Solicitor at Children’s Law Centre, representing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children and child victims of trafficking. Maria joined PILS in March 2022 and is currently Chair of the Law Society of Northern Ireland’s Human Rights and Equality Working Group.

Speaking at The Role of Lawyers in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Tuesday, October 18

Dr Esther McGuinness is the current Head of the School of Law at Ulster University and the Co-Director of the Ulster University Law Clinic. She has 25+ years’ experience in the employment law field. As Co-Director of the multi-award winning Ulster University Law Clinic, she supervises LLM Access to Justice students in providing pro-bono services to claimants who might otherwise be unrepresented in the areas of social security and employment law and family law. The Clinic has offices in Belfast and at Magee

Speaking at The Role of Lawyers in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Tuesday, October 18

Gemma McKeown is a solicitor with the Committee on the Administration of Justice (CAJ), an independent human rights NGO, based in Belfast, committed to promoting justice and protecting rights. Her policy and strategic litigation work at CAJ includes addressing the investigative obligations arising out of the conflict in Northern Ireland. Gemma has an LLB from Trinity College Dublin and an LLM in Human Rights from Queen’s University Belfast and after qualifying worked in private practice and at the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Speaking at The Role of Lawyers in Post-Conflict Peacebuilding, Tuesday, October 18

Kerry McLean is an international human rights lawyer and social justice activist. Kerry has lived in Africa, Europe & Asia, working with NGOs on human rights and international development. She has engaged in significant UN advocacy, including litigation with treaty-monitoring bodies, writing shadow reports & collaborating with UN Special Procedures mandate holders. Kerry has worked on litigation at the ECHR and has done advocacy at the IACHR. She has provided trainings and delivered lectures on human rights in the US and abroad. Kerry has served as an election observer in multiple countries, and as a trial observer in Turkey for cases involving persecuted human rights defenders. She is a member of the Geneva Support Group for the Protection and Promotion of Human Rights in Western Sahara, an international advocacy coalition that supports the fight of the Saharawi people for independence and self-determination. Kerry is a co-chair of the ABA’s International Human Rights Committee & a co-chair of the National Lawyers Guild International Committee. She is the recipient of the Guild’s 2021 Debra Evenson Venceremos International Award for her work “extending justice beyond borders.”

Speaking at Inspiring the Next Generation: Collaboration Between Law Schools and NGOs, Tuesday October 18

Anneke Meerkotter is the Executive Director of the Southern Africa Litigation Centre. She has 24 years’ experience in human rights litigation, training, advocacy, policy development, research and programming. SALC specialises in strategic litigation on criminal justice, international justice, equality rights, socio-economic rights and civic rights. SALC is a founding member of the Global Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty and Status.

Speaking at Lessons in Litigating to Decriminalize Poverty and Status in Africa, Wednesday, October 19

Rommy Mom is President of Lawyers Alert, a legal and human rights NGO working with vulnerable groups in Nigeria and is the Commissioner, Human Rights, Police Service Commission (PSC), a body that oversees the police in Nigeria.

As a human rights lawyer, Rommy uses strategic impact litigation and free legal representation to advance the rights of vulnerable groups. Lawyers Alert campaigns for the decriminalisation of poverty and status in Nigeria.

Speaking at Lessons in Litigating to Decriminalize Poverty and Status in Africa, Wednesday, October 19

Ivette Montero is the Founder and General Director of Centro Mexicano Pro Bono. Having obtained her law degree from Universidad La Salle, in Mexico City, she continued her education to graduate with a degree in International Business Law at Universidad Iberoamericana (UIA). She also holds a Certification in Negotiation from Harvard Law School. Before dedicating her life to legal pro bono, Ivette worked for 20 years as a General Counsel for international and national companies. She was the General Counsel for the Northern Region of Latin America at Becton Dickinson, Co., a global company that enables medical research. In 2007 she began her work as General Counsel of Sports World, the only public company in the Wellness industry in LATAM.

Speaker at Every Stakeholder at the Table: Pro Bono Impact in Latin America, Tuesday, October 18

Sana Ali Mustafa is a movement leader in the forced displacement sector and a feminist human rights activist fighting against systems of oppression in Syria and around the world. Sana’s work has been informed by her experiences as a brown, queer, Arab, and forcibly displaced woman. After being forcibly displaced by the Assad regime, Sana led the establishment of global efforts for the representation and inclusion of forcibly displaced persons, such as the Global Refugee-led Network. Sana is currently Chief Executive Officer of Asylum Access, where she leads the organization’s work to dismantle decades of colonialism, fight for self-representation, and build intersectional coalitions to demand human rights for all forcibly displaced people.

Speaking at Correcting the Power Imbalance: Equitable Partnerships in Pro Bono and Beyond, Tuesday, October 18

As Director of Partnerships, Deepa is responsible for supporting equitable partnerships with local civil society organizations through inclusive advocacy, campaigns and capacity strengthening initiatives – with the goal of transforming the refugee response sector into one that is accountable, equitable and that ultimately leads to greater refugee human rights. Deepa was the founding Director of Asylum Access Malaysia, and has worked and consulted with the International Detention Coalition (IDC), UNHCR, and Statelessness Network Asia Pacific (SNAP). Deepa has an LL.B from the University of London, and a LL.M from Columbia Law School, which she received as a Fulbright Scholar. She has been admitted to the Bar of England and Wales, and previously practiced as a corporate litigator.

Speaking at Correcting the Power Imbalance: Equitable Partnerships in Pro Bono and Beyond, Tuesday, October 18

Yvonne Kezia D. Nafi is a lecturer in the Department of Law, Society, and Development, Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Law, University of Indonesia, and continued her master’s studies in the Public International Law program, Universiteit van Amsterdam. When she joined the faculty in 2015, she was involved as a mentor for the Women and Children Legal Clinic and also actively involved in the association of the Indonesian Network for Clinical Legal Education (INCLE). Yvonne is now teaching the courses on Law & Society, Sociology of Law, and Gender and Law. Her research interests, among others, are socio-legal studies, gender, migrant worker studies, and also sociological approach to international law.

Speaking at Workshop: Pro Bono Lawyering at the Intersection of Culture and Crisis, Wednesday, October 19

Karen Oliquino-Navera is the Head of Protective Care Unit. She is a Registered Social Worker specializing in trauma informed care, trauma tapping technique, movement and art therapy. She has wide experience in casework and group work settings, with strong background in counseling and direct practice with children victims of abuse. Skilled in needs assessment, referrals, monitoring and evaluation of child abuse cases and family in need of protection.

She has a seat in an inter-government councils – Regional Inter-agency Council Against Trafficking – Violence Against Women (RIACAT-VAWC) headed by Department of Justice. She is also a resource person of DSWD in Area Based Standard Network of NGO’s. She graduated BS Social Work from Bicol University and has been with VF for 16 years.

Speaker at Workshop: Pro Bono Lawyering at the Intersection of Culture and Crisis, Wednesday, October 19

Negina Nayab basiq, a former Afghan judge, was born in Mazar-I-Sharif city, Balkh province of Afghanistan and is married to Ahmad Tawab Basiq, a former prosecutor. She went to primary school in Peshawar Pakistan and high school in Mazar-I-Sharif city, she has a degree in Law form Balkh University. She had completed several workshops in order to further her education in human trafficking, human rights and women rights, criminal defense, violence against women, and a National legal course for lawyers and prosecutors. In 2017, she qualified as judge and during her judicial practice she presided over internal and external terrorism offenses in special court and family cases in a family court. During her professional career she got the memberships of IAWJ,AWJA and AJA(Afghan Judges Assembly).

Speaker at Morning Plenary, Wednesday, October 19

Becca is Head of Pro Bono for Reed Smith’s EMEA offices, leading a team supporting low-income individuals, charities and non-profits on a wide range of legal matters. Becca’s own legal practice focuses on refugee and immigration work, especially working with vulnerable and traumatised clients. Becca has worked in Greece and Jordan as part of Reed Smith’s Refugee Protection Project Lamp, Lifeboat, Ladder and was seconded part time as Joint Head of Casework & Programmes to Safe Passage.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Devota Nuwe is a lawyer based in Kampala, Uganda. She has worked with refugees and in the humanitarian sector for the past 15 years. Devota currently works as the Acting Co-director and Head of Programmes at Refugee Law Project. Devota is also a member of the World Refugee Council. The World Refugee Council is an independent global body that is developing innovative solutions to deal with refugee crises around the world. Devota previously worked with Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society and International Organisation for Migration, UNHCR on forced migration issues. She holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Makerere University, Uganda and a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Kent, England.

Speaking at Legal Aid and Access to Justice for Refugees and Hosts in Uganda, Tuesday, October 18

Orla O’Connor is Director of National Women’s Council of Ireland (NWCI), the leading national women’s membership organisation in Ireland, with over 190-member groups. She was Co-Director of Together For Yes, the national Civil Society Campaign to remove the 8th Amendment in the referendum. For her role in Together for Yes, Orla was recognised as one of the 100 Most Influential People by TIME magazine in 2019. Orla holds an MA in European Social Policy, and after starting out in local community-based projects, has worked in senior management in non-governmental organisations for over 25 years. Orla represents NWCI in a wide range of national and international fora. Orla is a feminist, and an expert in the policies needed to progress women’s equality in Ireland.

Speaker at The Road to Reproductive Freedom: Lessons from Ireland for the World, Wednesday, October 19

Donncha coordinates the Speak Up Helpline. A media and communications professional by training, Donncha graduated with a B.A in Journalism from Dublin City University and has a Professional Certificate in Whistleblowing Law and Policy from NUI Maynooth. He joined the TI movement as a helpline volunteer in August 2014 and has previously worked as a researcher for Newstalk Radio and as a presenter for Radio na Life, Dublin’s Irish language radio station.

Speaking at How Whistleblowers Can Be Protected to Effectively Raise Concerns in the Public Interest, Wednesday, October 19

Vivi Octavia is the Legal Officer at Justice Without Borders’ Indonesia national office. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the Faculty of Law, Pelita Harapan University, and continued her master’s studies in the Social Work program at Zhejiang Normal University in China. Prior to joining JWB in 2020, she had several years of work on women’s and children’s issues, notably socio-legal research on child marriage and sexual abuse, as well as experiences in providing skills building for vulnerable young women. At JWB, Vivi has been working directly with migrant workers and stakeholders to manage cross-border litigation and research in Indonesia.

Speaking at Workshop: Pro Bono Lawyering at the Intersection of Culture and Crisis, Wednesday, October 19

Flavia is fully dedicated to non-profit and exempt organizations and corporate social responsibility, advising ONG’s, businesses and cultural institutions. She is an expert in structuring social businesses, human rights, corporate restructurings, preparation of a wide range of agreements, tax, corporate, and regulatory matters. Her clients include domestic and foreign organizations from various sectors, such as education, health, environmental and microfinance. She pioneered pro bono work at Mattos Filho and is actively engaged in the growth and development of the pro bono culture in the region.

Speaker at Every Stakeholder at the Table: Pro Bono Impact in Latin America, Tuesday, October 18

Sophie Orr is the Senior Manager of Pro Bono and Global Citizenship at White & Case LLP. She is a member of the firm’s Responsible Business Subcommittee, which leads on ESG and sustainability efforts across our operations. She is the chair of White & Case’s client-facing Business & Human Rights Interest Group and a member of its ESG and Sustainability Group. Sophie is a qualified solicitor in England and Wales.

Shem Otanga is a Partner in our Technology, Media & Telecommunications practice. Shem specialises in Intellectual Property and data protection. Shem started his legal career as Trainee Lawyer at Hamilton Harrison & Mathews (now Dentons HH&M) and was appointed as an Associate in 2010. He then joined Anjarwalla & Khanna LLP as Principal Associate in 2016 and was appointed as a Senior Associate in 2017. Shem also worked as a seconded lawyer at Mayer Brown International LLP(UK) and Brick Court Chambers in 2018 (as part of the International Lawyers for Africa (ILFA) Flagship Program). In 2020 Shem joined Kieti Advocates LLP as a Partner.

Speaking at The Global Digital Rights and Data Protection Landscape, Wednesday, October 19

Giulia Patane’ is a Senior Legal Officer at PILnet since 2018. She holds a Juris Doctor, a Specialization Degree in Law (Universita’ degli Studi di Perugia) and a Master of Art in Human Rights (Mahidol University, Bangkok). After working for a civil and criminal law firm and assisting the Public Prosecutor Office in Italy, Giulia moved to Asia in 2012 to design and implement NGOs and academic projects predominantly on Access to Justice for victims of trafficking in the South East Asian territory.

Giulia was based in PILnet’s Hong Kong office leading the Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Project across Southeast Asia. In 2021, Giulia relocated back to Europe where she currently manages the implementation of PILnet’s Online Regional Course on Public Interest Lawyering and coordinates the children’s rights programme, particularly the CLEAR-Rights Project. Since moving back to Italy, Giulia also helps develop pro bono collaborations in the space of children’s rights and unaccompanied minors.

Speaking at Child Justice: Best Practices for Pro Bono Lawyering, Tuesday, October 18

Nicolas Patrick is a Partner at DLA Piper, where he leads the Responsible Business team. In this role Nicolas supports the business to monitor, meet and exceed evolving stakeholder expectations; effectively manage ESG risks and opportunities; maintain a leading ESG advisory capability; and deliver an innovative global pro bono practice.

Speaking at ESG II: How Will ESG Change the Way Law Firms Engage with Society? and ESG III: Discussion of Practical Opportunities and Challenges of ESG Impact on Pro Bono Practice, Tuesday, October 18.

Patrick Radzimierski is a partner in Dentons’ Warsaw office and a former judge. He is a member of the Civil Litigation team responsible for pro bono projects.
He specializes in litigation and has unique experience in court procedure. His team represents clients from various industry sectors in state courts, arbitration proceedings, at the Supreme Court and Constitutional Tribunal. Patrick handles precedential pro bono litigations, with a focus on anti-discrimination projects. He regularly acts as defense attorney for Polish judges in disciplinary proceedings and has been involved in many projects regarding the judicial system in Poland. He has also initiated and actively takes part in a range of projects aiming to help refugees seeking asylum, including representation before ECHR.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Ivana is a Pro Bono Consultant at the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law and LL.M. student at Temple University in Philadelphia. At ECNL, Ivana worked on a wide range of issues affecting civic space, including access to funding and philanthropy, public participation, and climate justice. She has a law degree from Palacky University in Olomouc, Czech Republic, and since 2020, she is a member of the Czech Bar Association. Ivana likes to work at the intersection of nonprofits law and technology and is proud to have contributed to the launch of the Global Nonprofits Guide.

Speaking at Project Spotlight, Wednesday October 19

Jasmine Simperingham is currently the Global Project Coordinator (Forced Displacement) based in Geneva. She is working with the global legal community to advance refugee rights pro bono and to facilitate partnerships with refugees and others affected by displacement that use the power of law to increase access to rights, justice and solutions. Jasmine joined the team in September 2020, coming to PILnet with over 15 years of international experience in the refugee response, human rights and justice sectors. This includes more than 8 years experience with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) as well as experience in the legal and justice sectors working for government authorities in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Jasmine holds a Master of Laws (Hons), a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws, specializing in international human rights and international criminal law.

Speaking at Correcting the Power Imbalance: Equitable Partnerships in Pro Bono and Beyond, Tuesday, October 18

Ailbhe Smyth was the founding head of Women’s Studies at UCD (University College Dublin) where she lectured for many years. A long-time feminist, LGBTIQ+ and socialist activist, she played a leading role in the Marriage Equality campaign in 2015. She co-founded and chaired the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment and was co-director of Together for Yes, the national campaign for the legislation of abortion in 2018. Her role in that campaign, along with co-Directors Orla O’Connor and Grainne Griffin, was recognised by their inclusion on the Time Magazine list of the world’s 100 most influential people in 2019. Currently, she is Chair of Women’s Aid and also of Ballyfermot STAR Addiction services. She is a board member of Age Action and of Women’s Global Health Ireland.

Speaker at The Road to Reproductive Freedom: Lessons from Ireland for the World, Wednesday, October 19

Kerry is a senior commercial litigator and solicitor advocate. She has extensive knowledge of the non-profit sector and social justice work, having held senior legal and management roles at leading international charities. Kerry leads the firm’s responsible business and Pro Bono practice. Before joining Charles Russell Speechlys, Kerry was the Global Head of Legal at TrustLaw (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – the world’s largest Pro Bono innovation and connection platform.

Speaking at ESG II: How Will ESG Change the Way Law Firms Engage with Society? and ESG III: Discussion of Practical Opportunities and Challenges of ESG Impact on Pro Bono Practice, Tuesday, October 18

Jeanne Sulzer is a lawyer at the Paris bar. Specialist in issues of international criminal justice, human rights and the fight against terrorism, she has worked for more than 20 years alongside victims of international crimes by advising, assisting or representing them in their quest for truth and justice before the courts in national, regional and international jurisdictions including the International Criminal Court.

She is the head of the International Justice Commission at Amnesty International France.

She worked in the office of the International Co-Investigating Judge for the Extraordinary Chambers of the Cambodian Courts (CETC) in Phnom Penh.

She has also worked in human rights organizations (FIDH, Amnesty International France). Recently, she has used her expertise  to support the efforts of the United Nations in favour of the development of a normative legal framework on the rights of victims of terrorism.

Speaking at Inspiring the Next Generation: Collaboration Between Law Schools and NGOs, Tuesday, October 18

Laura Tuell is the Global Partner-in-Charge of Pro Bono at Jones Day. Laura has long been one of the Firm’s most active pro bono practitioners. She has represented numerous immigrants seeking asylum, particularly women seeking protection against gender persecution. Laura also has experience in housing discrimination, landlord-tenant law, death penalty issues, police reform, human trafficking, hate crimes, and general poverty law issues. Laura has served on the board of directors of numerous nonprofit organizations and is currently on the board of PILnet and Bread for the City. Among many awards for her efforts, she was named D.C. Bar Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Diep is a seasoned senior executive with multi-sector experience (nonprofit, high-tech, international) in grantmaking, strategic partnerships, evaluation, financial analysis, and organizational development. She co-founded and serves as president of Pacific Links Foundation, an international nonprofit with large-scale empowerment programs in schools, communities, and factories. Diep has fostered CSR partnerships with multinational corporations and designed comprehensive solutions and innovative tools to combat trafficking and forced labor in the supply chain. Diep is a graduate of Harvard University and San Jose State University and also pursued her Economics PhD at the University of California, Berkeley. Diep came to the United States as a refugee from Vietnam.

Speaking at Showcasing Cross Border Collaborations & Sustainable Partnerships, Tuesday, October 18

Bianca has solid experience in human rights matters and in advising civil society organizations. She is a member of the Association of Pro bono Counsel (APBCo) and of the São Paulo State Bar Association Non-profit Law Commission. She holds a masters degree in Human Rights and Development from Universidad Pablo de Olavide de Sevilla (Spain) and was a former researcher at FGV São Paulo Law School. Bianca worked for some relevant Brazilian and international NGOs and served as a consultant through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) advising the General-Secretariat of the Presidency of Brazil on a new regulatory framework for partnerships between non-profits and public authorities.

Speaker at Every Stakeholder at the Table: Pro Bono Impact in Latin America, Tuesday, October 18

As Pro Bono Partner, Ben Weinberg helps manage Dentons’ substantial global pro bono program. Prior to joining Dentons, Ben served as Chief of the Illinois Attorney General’s Public Interest Division. Before that, Ben was a partner at Jenner and Block, where he maintained an active pro bono practice. Ben began his legal practice at Legal Aid Chicago. Ben also served as law clerk to the Honorable William J. Bauer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. Ben is one of the founders of the Law Firm Antiracism Alliance (LFAA), and serves as Board Secretary. Ben was President of the Association of Pro Bono Counsel (APBCo) in 2016. He also serves as adjunct faculty at Northwestern University School of Law, where he co-teaches a seminar on pro bono in large law firms.

Speaking at Law Firm Anti-Racism Alliance: A New Model to Address a Substantial Social Justice Issue, Wednesday, October 19

Phil Worthington is the Managing Director of European Lawyers in Lesvos (ELIL). Phil worked as a lawyer in London for six years, before coming to Lesvos in 2016. He helped establish ELIL in June 2016 and oversees both its work in Greece (four locations) and its new project in Warsaw. ELIL’s collaboration with numerous law firms on pro bono refugee projects is integral to its work in Greece and Poland.

Speaking at Refugee Rights Pro Bono: Lessons Learnt and Looking Ahead, Wednesday, October 19

Charmaine Yap is a Senior Associate with Drew & Napier LLC in Singapore. In addition to her practice in commercial litigation and arbitration, she works with NGOs such as Justice Without Borders and Project X to represent foreign domestic workers, sex workers, and foreign spouses in both civil and criminal proceedings. In her pro bono work, Charmaine draws on her experience working with local and regional NGOs in Singapore on policy and legal research, and case work involving low wage migrant workers, including Transient Workers Count Too (TWC2), Healthserve, and the COVID-19 Migrant Support Coalition.

Speaking at Workshop: Pro Bono Lawyering at the Intersection of Culture and Crisis, Wednesday, October 19