SyCipLaw’s managing partner, Hector de Leon, Jr. , was named TrustLaw 2018 Lawyer of the Year in an awarding ceremony held on September 26, 2018 in Thomas Reuters’ offices in New York. Rick Longton of Covington & Burling was a co-winner. It is the first time that a Philippine lawyer has been nominated for this award.
The TrustLaw Awards are given by TrustLaw, Thomson Reuters Foundation’s global pro bono legal programme. The awards recognise an individual lawyer or team of lawyers who have gone above and beyond in providing exceptional pro bono support on a TrustLaw project, as nominated by a NGO or social enterprise. Hector was nominated by “Roots of Health” for a project involving a non-profit working to build self-reliance through reproductive health services; in naming Hector, the client said “[w]e have been blown away by all the help that Hector and his team have given us. Hector has been a dream to work with.”
In his message to SyCipLaw staff on winning the award, the MP said “the award is meaningful as it recognizes exceptional pro bono work. The award also recognizes the world-class service that SyCipLaw renders to its clients… Thank you for your continued support for pro bono work and making a positive difference to the community.”
The following is a link to the video that was shown during the awarding ceremony.