Legal Technology Journal

17 October 2008 - SJ Berwin won the Responsible Business Award at The Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards on 17 October 2008 at the Royal Courts of Justice, London, for launching and promoting the groundbreaking International Lawyers for Africa initiative (ILFA).

Accepting the award on behalf of SJ Berwin, Tim Taylor, the partner who devised and promoted ILFA, praised the very large number of City law firms who had backed the initiative and who had made it such as success.

“This award is a tribute to all those law firms that worked together to help African lawyers acquire vital skills and experience. Above all, it attests to the energy and calibre of the African lawyers who have made the programme such a success. ILFA will continue to develop effective international lawyers committed to the rule of law, the administration of justice and the development of Africa.”

This is the second major award granted to ILFA this year. On 24 June 2008, SJ Berwin won the Pro Bono Team of the Year award at the annual Lawyer Awards for initiating and supporting ILFA.

The ILFA programme brings young talented lawyers from Africa to London for secondment opportunities and training with top commercial law firms, and is supported by many of the largest City and international firms (see list attached).  This has already made and will continue to make a positive difference in helping gifted lawyers from Africa acquire the specialist skills required to become international lawyers.
  
Tim Taylor added: “Developing a community of experienced international lawyers will directly assist African countries in addressing some of the most pressing issues they face, from debt relief and trade rules to corruption, human rights, peace and sustainable development.  ILFA will continue to help African countries acquire effective representatives as they engage with international legal, financial and commercial institutions.”