New leadership for Herbert Smith Freehills' pro bono team

Herbert Smith Freehills today announces the new leadership driving its Pro Bono practice.

London-based Lara Nassif becomes pro bono counsel, responsible for leading the team across the UK, US and EMEA. Working closely with senior associate Matteo Yoon and associate Georgia Nickson, Lara will lead the team in the design and supervision of pro bono projects. With a particular focus on promoting equal access to justice and human rights, she will also work on social impact investment and charity advisory work.

She brings considerable experience to the role, having advised clients on a range of high profile commercial disputes, judicial reviews, statutory inquiries and procurement cases. Most notably Lara acted as the lead associate representing John Major KG CH in his intervention in Gina Miller's judicial review of the Prime Minister's decision to advise the Queen to prorogue parliament.

Lara has also contributed widely to the firm's pro bono initiatives. She has represented asylum seekers before the Asylum Support Appeals Project; set up an advice clinic for the AIRE Centre; advised homeless young people as part of a joint project with a key client and homelessness charity; and acted for NGOs on a range of interventions in the Supreme Court.

Brooke Massender, partner and global head of pro bono, says: "Over more than a decade Lara has constantly and consistently made a difference to the clients she has supported and advised, winning plaudits within the industry for her pro bono work. She brings an energy and passion to the role which is infectious and will undoubtedly ensure the team builds on the strong foundations laid by her predecessor in the role."

Lara assumes her role with immediate effect, taking over from Rebecca Perlman who has recently been promoted to the partnership and now heads Herbert Smith Freehills' ESG practice for the UK, US & EMEA.

Commenting on her appointment, Lara says: "I'm delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead our team across the UK, US and EMEA. I look forward to building on the impressive work of Rebecca and the team to create a practice which is driven first and foremost by the impact it creates and the value we add for our pro bono clients who are on the front line grappling with some of society's most complex issues."