Pro Bono Promotion Updates
The Vance Center and co-organizers Fundación Pro Bono Colombia and Universidad del Rosario recently convened virtually the annual pro bono conference of the Pro Bono Network of the Americas. The 2021 conference focused on human rights, sustainability, and access to justice, with experts from throughout the region participating in three panels organized in weekly installments. The Network on July 16 will hold its annual meeting for Latin American clearinghouses, including capacity-building workshops, planning for the upcoming year, and adoption of the Network’s strategic work plan.
As part of the conference, Vance Center Director of Pro Bono Partnerships Jorge Escobedo moderated a conversation on the role of gender in corporate sustainability and pro bono practices in Latin America with industry leaders from Brazil, Chile, Colombia and the U.S. Special thanks to Vance Center Committee member and Willkie Farr & Gallagher partner Maria Leticia Ossa Daza for her participation.
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In addition, Escobedo together with Constanza Alvial of Fundación Pro Bono Chile and Roger Yance of Fundación Pro Bono Bolivia presented this month to pro bono coordinators and partners from law firms in Bolivia, including: Ferrere Abogados, Bufete Aguirre, Quintanilla, Soria & Nishizawa (BAQSN), Guevara & Gutiérrez, Indacochea & Asociados & Würth, Bedoya & Costa du Sels (WBC) on the importance of supporting a national pro bono clearinghouse in that country . With nine firms committed in principle and others considering their membership, Fundación Pro Bono Bolivia has made significant progress in institutionalizing pro bono practice there. The Vance Center has long supported its formalization efforts and full membership in the Pro Bono Network of the Americas.
A recording of the presentation can be found here.
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Escobedo, together with Giovanni Carotenuto of Pro Bono Italia and Leire Larracoechea of Fundación Pro Bono España, made a presentation to students of the Instituto de Empresa Law School in Madrid on pro bono infrastructures in Europe and Latin America. Key topics included the critical role that pro bono clearinghouses play in fostering pro bono culture, as well as the importance of digitalizing service delivery models for pro bono practice as a result of the global pandemic.
Taking the Keep Families Together initiative as a model, Escobedo led a discussion on the power of international pro bono networks in bridging the justice gap for vulnerable populations.