Social impact

We use our skills to address injustice around the world, working to build a fair society with equal opportunities for all. We do this by increasing access to justice, social finance, education and employment, and supporting our local communities through the A&O Shearman Foundation.

Child in white shirt and dark vest seated at desk with one arm raised against dark background.

This work reflects the culture of our firm and our commitment to our people, our clients, and the wider legal sector.

We do this by:

Funding the work of charitable organizations
Supporting community projects
Giving pro bono advice
Helping clients to maximize their positive social impact
Leveraging our global social finance expertise

Our global social impact partner for 2025–2027 is United for Global Mental Health, bringing the firm together to fundraise, provide pro bono and professional advice, and give in-kind support.

OUR GLOBAL SOCIAL IMPACT PARTNER

United for Global Mental Health

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Our colleagues have selected “children and young people” as the priority area of focus for the partnership. As well as working directly with UnitedGMH’s global advocacy and action, we’re also supporting four national partners working locally to make a difference.

The local partners are:

InIm Institute in Romania, which is reimaging education as a space for empathy, connection and emotional growth. It has trained more than 25,000 teachers since 2019, equipping them to help young people to meet the complex challenges they face today.
#Mental HealthPH, Philippines has championed mentally healthier communities across the Philippines since 2016.
SameSame Collective is providing life-saving online mental health support to LGBTQI+ young people across Africa
Vertentes is a growing national network which is bringing together voices from across the country to strengthen mental health policy and practice in Brazil.

Our overall goal is to provide USD1 million in fundraising, as well as substantial pro bono legal and business support.

In our first year, we have raised over USD885,000, with colleagues around the world getting involved in fundraising, and have provided significant pro bono legal support, including on decriminalizing suicide and ending institutionalization of mental health.

If your organization is interested in hearing about future partnerships.

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Awards and recognition

Best pro bono initiative of the year for our work with the Afghan Pro Bono Initiative (APBI) at the LexisNexis UK Awards 2026.
Corporate Partner of the Year at the 2026 Power of Women for our decade‑long partnership with Dress for Success Greater London.
219 of our UK lawyers were named on the 2026 Pro Bono Recognition List for completing at least 25 pro bono hours, reflecting their commitment to expanding access to justice.
Pro bono: outstanding firm award at the Chambers UK Awards—Winter Edition 2025 for equality-focused pro bono work.
Best use of law at the Sheila McKechnie Foundation Awards for our pro bono work with Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), 2025.

Recognized by the Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice (part of the NYC Bar Association) for our work on a number of projects, including one with the Vance Center and Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, as part of the 2026 Celebration of International Pro Bono Excellence.
Blended Finance Deal of the Year at the Global Banking & Markets Awards: Latin America & Caribbean 2026 for the Ecuador Nature Bonds transaction.
Over 40% of our Washington DC lawyers were recognized in the 2025 Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll for completing at least 50 hours of pro bono work, including 24 who exceeded 100 hours.
Justice Umbrella Award for our sustained support to ItsRainingRaincoats (IRR) and our contributions to improving the lives of migrant workers in Singapore.
HCSA Recognition Award for our four consecutive years of partnership in the STEP UP Mentorship Program, supporting female trauma survivors and male ex-offenders in Singapore.