Anthony Gold Solicitors LLP

Responsible Business

The firm has a responsible business committee, currently chaired by Fiona Lyon, but historically led by Sarah Hughes.  The Chair liaises with other RB professionals within the membership of LawWorks, Collaborative Plan and Heart of the City to network and share pro bono opportunities within the firm.

A key responsibility for the RB committee is fundraising, but it also oversees volunteering, pro bono work and environmental issues.  Every two years, a ‘charity of the year’ (currently Hestia) is nominated by staff and a programme of events is devised to fundraise for that charity.  This includes the collection and donation of clothes, toiletries, toys and treats (Easter Eggs/Selection boxes) for the victims and children of domestic abuse.  Other fundraising events include the virtual Lands End to John O’ Groats challenge, the 10k remote relay and the ’donate your coffee money’ initiatives.

The firm is committed to local charities in South London such as South London Cares, St Mungos, Lambeth Age UK, St Christopher’s hospice and South Norwood Community Kitchen.  The firm also supports the Law Centres network, which is a much under-funded public resource.

The firm has a longstanding commitment to the London Legal Bake and London Legal Walk, providing a team each year. The firm also supports Christmas jumper day for Save the Children.

The committee is responsible for promoting volunteer leave within the firm.  A particular success of 2020 was the number of staff who volunteered for the NHS during the pandemic.  An achievement which the firm are very proud of.

Pro Bono

The firm operates a policy of encouraging a level of pro bono work as our pledge to the community.

Fiona leads a team of volunteers from the Family dept who support the National Centre for Domestic Violence on a monthly basis.  The team each see clients and prepare their application for a non-molestation order and/or occupation order, including a witness statement.  This initial assistance is invaluable to victims who can often be overwhelmed at the thought of confronting perpetrators and trying to articulate what has happened to them.  The incidence of domestic violence has soared during the pandemic and pro bono family law expertise is in great demand.

Fiona has also conducted a pro bono surrogacy case, where she obtained a parental order on behalf of a couple for their daughter.  The cost of the is often prohibitive and therefore access to free legal advice is a lifeline to some couples to complete their journey.

Nazia Rashid is also an Honorary Legal Advisor for RCJ Advice and offers free advice on family law matters at the Central Family Court.

Cliff Tibber from the Commercial Dispute Resolution team conducted an application on a pro bono basis which resulted in a costs award in favour of the Access to Justice Foundation.

The IMC department handles some criminal injuries compensation claims on a pro bono basis, this included for the victims of the 2017 London Bridge terror attack.  Jon Nicholson is currently acting pro bono for a young man who suffered a catastrophic brain injury in a racist assault whilst visiting the UK on a school trip in 2019.

Inbar Rabinovitz from the Employment team has advised on potential discrimination cases on the grounds of race and disability.  She has also advised a charity in respect of a Subject Access Request coupled with allegations of age discrimination.

The Court of Protection team offer monthly advice sessions with Carers Hub in Brixton.  Nicola Gunn also sits as a voluntary member of the board for Streatham BID and is in the process of trying to set up advice and training sessions for Hourglass which is a charity offering advice in relation to elder abuse.

Diversity

The EDI committee was launched at the firm in 2020 to progress equality, diversity and inclusion related issues and to promote best practice.  The committee is chaired by Nazia and Ruth Oyelakin.  The objective is to ensure that individuals are treated fairly, diversity is celebrated and that people feel accepted, valued and respected at work.  The firm believes that diversity and inclusion is extremely important, both in the service we offer clients and for the type of firm we want to be.

The first task was to undertake a firmwide diversity survey to gain feedback on experiences within the firm.  There was significant engagement with the survey, which provided an invaluable basis for the firm’s diversity strategy.,.  The committee was then divided into sub-committees to address issues that have been highlighted by the survey and implement the strategy accordingly.  This has been successful in maintaining momentum and follow through on identified actions.  For example, a programme of events and a calendar of faith celebrations was developed, and we commenced acknowledging faith events and historical dates of significant importance, including an Eid Baking event and sharing an article and information about Windrush Day.  The committee reports their activities in the firm’s internal magazine which is an effective way to feedback the importance of diversity to our staff.  The work undertaken so far in such a short period of time has received praise both internally and externally, and particular in a recent Lexcel audit.

Nazia has been instrumental in increasing awareness of issues of diversity and inclusion to practitioners.  This includes writing articles and blogs on issues that impact individuals, and often women in minority faith groups, regarding their lack of legal status of marriage.  Nazia also chaired the plenary session on day 2 of the national Resolution DR conference in 2020. Nazia highlighted issues of race and disability and the need to take efforts to diversify the profession, not only to make the profession reflective of the society it serves, but to also improve business models.  Nazia also hosted a workshop as part of Resolution’s national conference on 19^th May 2021.  Nazia spoke about the Law Commission’s weddings law reform with a focus on diversity.  Ruth appeared as a speaker on the panel raising discussions on Customary Marriage and marriage within Christian denominations, with reference to the Pentecostal church. Nazia will also prepare a booklet for the International law committee on Islamic family law.