/ Chile’s Fundación Pro Bono celebrated its 12th year of widening access to justice with its seventh annual dinner and a prize-giving ceremony.

Fundación Pro Bono Chile rings in 12 years

Latin Lawyer, Tuesday, 16th October 2012 by Rachel Hall

Chile’s Fundación Pro Bono has celebrated its 12th year of widening access to justice with its seventh annual dinner and a prize-giving ceremony in recognition of the support given by the country’s law firms to the cause.

The dinner was held on 9 October, with more than 300 guests in attendance representing the national and international legal communities, social organisations and the government.

In a speech at the event, Fundación Pro Bono president and managing partner at Barros & Errázuriz Abogados, Pablo Guerrero, highlighted the level of maturity that pro bono has reached in Chile, and thanked lawyers, law firms and other institutions for their support and engagement in advancing the development of the practice, and their help in promoting access to justice in the country.

The Fundación’s executive director, Marcela Fajardo, notes that “the pro bono dinner has become like a tradition, as well as the only instance in which law firms, lawyers, government representatives and social organisations are able to get together and discuss this important practice.”

A number of prizes seeking to recognise individuals and organisations which have made a significant contribution to the practice of pro bono in 2012 were awarded at the dinner.

The award for best law firm of 2012 in pro bono was given to Silva & Cía. Founding partner Juan Pablo Silva says, “all our attorneys are committed to helping the community, and we are regularly in contact with the Fundación Pro Bono to collaborate with them drawing on our expertise in intellectual property and new technologies.”

In recognition of his long-standing contribution to pro bono, Philippi, Yrarrázaval, Pulido & Brunner partner Jaime Irarrázabal was given the pro bono career award, while best pro bono coordinator was shared between Franco Acchiardo, an associate at B&E and associate José Tomás Hurley from Carey. Guerrero & Cía associate Felipe Barruel was recognised for his pro bono efforts in criminal law, while Alejandra Mercado, a partner at Mercado & Fuenzalida Abogados, was congratulated for her family law work. Mario Rojas of Álvarez, Caro, Rojas & Torres Asociados was also lauded for his work in promoting pro bono in the city of Concepción, the city most affected by the 2010 earthquake.

The leading pro bono case of 2012 was given in honour of the work establishing regulations for a new copyright law in the country by a number of lawyers from different firms. These were Claro y Cía associate Paulina Bardón; Morales & Besa associate Cecilia Belmar; FerradaNehme associate María Paz Canales; Carey associate Fernando García; Silva & Cía partner Rodrigo León; García Magliona & Cía. associate Claudio Magliona; Cariola, Díez, Pérez-Cotapos & Cía Ltda partner Alfredo Montaner and Alessandri & Compañía associate Felipe Schuster.