Travers Smith LLP is proud to share that the multi-award-winning Domestic Abuse Response Alliance (DARA) has placed its 300th case.
Driven by the mission to break down barriers to justice, DARA is an alliance of UK law firms that provides bro bono legal advice to survivors of domestic abuse in need of protective injunctions. Across these 300 cases DARA has provided legal representation to survivors aged from 16 – 82 from a diverse array of professional and social backgrounds.
DARA's network continues to grow. When founded by Travers Smith Partner and Head of Pro Bono Sam Cottman in 2022, it started as an alliance of 7 firms. With the recent addition of Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP, it now comprises of 11 firms, and its reach has expanded beyond London into cities across England. As well as providing court advocacy and legal support, DARA has trained over 350 lawyers on how best to represent survivors of domestic abuse in a trauma informed and culturally sensitive manner.
DARA operates as a collaborative project, heavily reliant on the wonderful work of LawWorks, Beck Fitzgerald, the National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV) and Finding Legal Options for Women Survivors (FLOWS).
The DARA law firms are:
· Akin
· Debevoise & Plimpton
· DLA Piper
· Eversheds Sutherland
· Gibson Dunn
· Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
· Hogan Lovells
· Latham & Watkins
· Reed Smith
· Slaughter and May
· Travers Smith
Sam Cottman, Partner and Head of Pro Bono, founder of DARA comments:
"A few years ago, DARA was just an idea. To have reached 300 cases and have 11 amazing law firms representing these clients up and down the country is a very significant milestone on our journey.
We are living through an unprecedented surge in violence and aggression in domestic relationships, particularly against young women. This is fuelled by a toxic online culture and new forms of digital abuse like message monitoring, social media stalking, and non-consensual image sharing. For many of these clients, DARA’s pro bono support, and that of other organisations in this sector, is not just help - it’s their only lifeline. We are proud to be able to support them and determined to continue to stand up against domestic abuse."
Jenny Beck KC says:
"Protection from domestic abuse should be everybody’s right, yet restrictions on legal aid have left huge numbers of victim survivors at real risk. DARA provides a vital service. Clients can secure support and legal representation to apply for protection orders that would otherwise be unaffordable. The DARA team showcases how effective collaboration can make a real difference to people’s lives."
