roundtable discussion

ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
PRO BONO DECLARATION FOR THE AMERICAS: IMPLEMENTING THE COMMITMENT
Wednesday, October 15, 8:00-9:30am
Marriott Plaza Hotel
Florida 1005
Buenos Aires
Convened by:
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice of the New York City Bar
In collaboration with:
Comisión de Trabajo Pro Bono e Interés Público del Colegio
de Abogados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de San Andrés de Argentina
Fundación Pro Bono de Chile
Objective: To provide lawyers from across Latin America who have signed the PBDA with
an opportunity to discuss with one another the progress they are making toward
implementing their commitments under the PBDA and to exchange ideas about
implementation strategies.
AGENDA
Event Moderator:
Todd Crider, Vice Chair, Cyrus Vance Center; Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
I.
Welcome (8:00 am)
What are the commitments that signatories of the Pro Bono Declaration have
undertaken? How can we collaborate to help each other achieve these goals?
Speaker: Antonia Stolper, Chair, Cyrus Vance Center; Shearman & Sterling
II.
Opening Remarks (8:05 am)
What does signing the PBDA require a law firm to do?
9 Establish a pro bono program;
9 Develop ways of identifying pro bono opportunities and forming
relationships with pro bono partners;
9 Decide on what projects to undertake?
Speaker: Guillermo Morales, Morales & Besa
III.
Finding Projects (8:15 am)
What are some ways in which law firms can identify pro bono projects?
9 Form partnerships with law school clinics and NGOs
9 Form partnerships with bar associations
9 Other?
Discussion Leaders:
Martín Bohmer, Facultad de Derecho de la Universidad de Palermo; Centro de
Implementación de Políticas Públicas para la Equidad y el Crecimiento (CIPPEC)
Martín Zapiola Guerrico, Zapiola Guerrico Abogados; Comisión de Trabajo Pro
Bono e Interés Público del Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
Claus von Wobeser, Barra Mexicana; Von Wobeser & Sierra
IV.
Types of Projects (8:40 am)
What are the various types of projects that are suitable for law firms to undertake
on a pro bono basis?
9 Direct assistance to individuals
9 Transactional
9 Legal research
9 Public interest
Discussion Leader: Pablo Guerrero, Fundación Pro Bono – Chile; Barros &
Errazuriz Abogados
V.
Project Examples (9:00 am)
What are some examples of pro bono projects that Latin American law firms are
currently working on?
Discussion Leaders:
Juan Cambiaso, Marval, O’Farrell & Mairal
Antonio Meyer, Machado, Meyer, Sendacz e Opice LLC
***
Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice
of the New York City Bar Association
The Cyrus R. Vance Center for International Justice collaborates with and forms coalitions
among lawyers around the world who are seeking to expand access to justice, protect and
promote human right, and transform the legal profession to make it more responsive to the
legal needs of the poor and of marginalized communities (www.vancecenter.org). The Pro
Bono Declaration for the Americas (PBDA) is the first collaborative effort in the Americas to
articulate the professional responsibility of lawyers to promote access to justice and provide
pro bono legal assistance to poor. Facilitated by the Cyrus R. Vance Center for
International Justice of the New York City Bar, the Declaration is the culmination of
initiatives that have been developing in Latin America since 2001
(www.nycbar.org/vc/pbda.pdf).
Comisión Pro Bono
del Colegio de Abogados de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires
The Comisión Pro Bono is a network of leading law firms and lawyers in Buenos Aires that
are committed to taking on public interest cases on a pro bono basis. It builds relationships
with many NGOs that have public interest objectives, and offers them free legal assistance.
The Comisión’s main objective is to help build a strong pro bono culture among Argentine
lawyers through the concrete practice of legal work and trial representation in public
interest matters (www.probono.org.ar).
Facultad de Derecho
de la Universidad de San Andrés
Universidad de San Andrés is one of the leading private universities in Argentina. It was
founded in 1988 by the Scottish Educational Association. San Andrés was designed to
provide an innovative educational experience in Argentina through several unique features
including the model of a Liberal Arts College, faculty with graduate degrees from abroad,
with full-time dedication and significant research activity, and a strong commitment to
attracting youngsters from across the country and all social backgrounds, through
significant offers of financial aid (www.undesa.edu.ar).
Fundación Pro Bono de Chile
Fundación Pro Bono was founded in 2000 by a group of young Chilean lawyers who,
inspired by the practice of pro bono in countries outside of Chile, sought to introduce the
concept of professional responsibility into the Chilean legal community. To this end,
Fundación forged alliances with partners with experience in promoting and institutionalizing
pro bono. Currently, more than 50 law firms and 250 volunteer lawyers are members of
Fundación Pro Bono. These lawyers and institutions are committed to providing free legal
services to poor individuals, as well as vulnerable sectors or groups. They also provide pro
bono legal assistance to social organizations working on behalf of the poor and to microentrepreneurs. Lastly, the Fundación has collaborated with other members of the Chilean
legal community – such as the Chilean Bar Association, law schools, the Chilean Ministry
of Justice and Judiciary, among others – to promote pro bono (www.probono.cl).