City firm DLA Piper has stepped in to run an advice service for Ukrainians seeking refuge in the UK that was quickly set up by immigration lawyers following Russia’s invasion.

The website Ukraine Advice Project UK has registered over 430 volunteer lawyers and given pro bono advice in nearly 700 requests since it was set up on 28 February by lawyers Jennifer Blair, Miranda Butler, Simon Cox, Alex Piletska and John Vassiliou, supported by CJ McKinney of Free Movement.

The organisation announced last Friday that the project had grown to an ‘unmanageable’ scale for the six friends, who set up the project in their spare time. ‘We are therefore delighted to confirm that DLA Piper has agreed to provide us with desperately needed help administering volunteers and requests for advice,’ the organisation said.

‘DLA Piper’s pro bono team will draw on their experience running a similar initiative for Afghan refugees to triage and manage requests for advice and offers of assistance from volunteer lawyers.’

The website states that no information or personal data will be shared or made available to anyone in or associated with DLA Piper’s Moscow office.

Meanwhile, Hogan Lovells has told the Gazette that it has set up a joint pro bono scheme with other law firms to allow volunteer lawyers to provide basic legal information to individuals about the UK Ukrainian refugee scheme. 

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