Mayer Brown and Matthew Parfitt win 2025 LawWorks Pro Bono Connect Award

8th December 2025

Mayer Brown and Matthew Parfitt won the 2025 LawWorks Pro Bono Connect Award, presented at a ceremony at the Law Society on 3 December 2025 by Jamie Goldsmith KC, the founder of Pro Bono Connect.

The award recognised the pro bono work they carried out together on the case of Re Mitt Wearables Ltd, Lakey v Macabuag & Ors [2023] EWHC 1800 (Ch) in which they successfully defended claims relating to a company which had developed a new form of prosthetic upper limb.

A measure of their commitment is shown by the pro bono costs order which they obtained at the conclusion of the proceedings, which is believed to be the largest ever obtained.

Pro Bono Connect is a scheme which links barristers and solicitors and enables the two parts of the profession to work together on pro bono cases. The scheme recognises and supports the added value a solicitor-barrister team can bring for clients in need of assistance but unable to afford professional representation and advice.

The Mitt Wearables case was selected for the award because it was a great example of how working together can deliver successful outcomes, with a ripple effect extending far beyond the legal work. Mayer Brown and Matthew helped each other; in doing so, they helped the client win the case. In turn, the client’s business can transform the lives of people all over the world with innovative prosthetics. Separately, the pro bono costs order will help support the provision of free legal advice to those in need.

Matthew has recorded a webinar about pro bono work at the commercial bar, drawing on what he learned in this case. Please click here to view the recording.

For more information about Pro Bono Connect, please follow this link.