Founding signatories include DLA Piper, Holland Beckett, Russell McVeagh, Simpson Grierson
The founding signatories of the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa have expressed pride in their participation in the initiative, with the inaugural performance report revealing that the firms have collectively exceeded the framework’s aspirational target.
The six firms – DLA Piper, Gilbert Walker, Holland Beckett, Luke Cunningham Clere, Russell McVeagh, and Simpson Grierson – recorded an average of 27.58 hours of pro bono work per full-time equivalent, surpassing the 25-hour target.
In the first episode of #whyweprobono, DLA Piper Country Managing Partner Laura Scampion highlighted the first anniversary of the framework, described as a profession-led initiative aimed at making pro bono more coordinated, sustainable, and impactful across the nation.
“It is a milestone worth reflecting on,” Scampion said. “The framework has already begun to reshape the way law firms work together, how matters are placed, and how people who cannot afford a lawyer access meaningful legal support.”
In a LinkedIn post, Gilbert Walker said the performance report shows the legal profession’s collective dedication to advising individuals, charities, and community and not-for-profit organisations that would otherwise have difficulty availing of legal assistance.
“We are proud to support an initiative that promotes collaboration, accountability and shared responsibility across the legal profession to help broaden access to legal support throughout Aotearoa,” stated the firm’s LinkedIn post.
Holland Beckett, which took pride in being one of the framework’s six founding signatories, said the performance report demonstrates “impressive results” and “a strong commitment to access to justice.”
Tim Conder, Holland Beckett partner and a member of its litigation and dispute resolution team, noted that pro bono work aligns with the firm’s goals of championing communities, including through community days, payroll giving, and governance roles.
“But ultimately, we are lawyers, and one of the most effective ways we can give back is by providing pro bono legal services to those who need them most, helping to improve access to justice in our communities,” Conder said in the firm’s news release.
In a LinkedIn post, Luke Cunningham Clere shared that it was proud to participate in a collaborative approach that has meaningfully delivered more than 17,500 hours of pro bono legal assistance in its first year.
“Together, we can achieve even greater impact - ngā mihi to all involved!” stated the firm’s LinkedIn post.
“We are proud to be a founding participant in the Framework for Collaborative Pro Bono in Aotearoa,” Russell McVeagh said in a news release sharing its pro bono overview for 2026. “This national network aims to enhance access to justice for all New Zealanders by fostering collaboration and supporting pro bono culture across the motu.”
“We recognise that some give back of our legal skills on a pro bono basis should be part of being in a profession,” said Shan Wilson, Simpson Grierson pro bono partner, in a news release celebrating the exceeded aspirational target, as revealed in the inaugural performance report.
The firm explained that the framework offers a structured approach for the pro bono commitments of multiple firms and enables them to respond to the country’s unmet legal need at a scale beyond the capability of any one firm.
“The Framework is about building something collectively that is bigger and more enduring than what any of us could achieve alone,” Wilson said. “I hope to see it increasingly adopted across New Zealand's legal profession.”
