The concept of pro bono in the United States is ubiquitous. The same can't be said for other parts of the world. "In EMEA, we have all these varying jurisdictions, with different rules about pro bono work," explains Kedian Goode, Cisco principal corporate counsel and EMEA pro bono lead. "So, as we looked to expand our pro bono in the region, the first step was to understand the varying jurisdictions and then find a common approach that would allow us to clear the path for our people." 

That path for Cisco meant teaming up with local law firms. A meeting with one firm in particular—Hogan Lovells—convinced Kedian that she had found a good match for Cisco Legal's EMEA team. "Hogan Lovells already had a well-developed pro bono network across EMEA and was familiar with the challenges we faced as a global organization. In addition, our areas of interest, in terms of supporting minors, were aligned. They were already working with KIND (Kids in Need of Defense), who Cisco Legal already collaborates with in the United States," Kedian says. 

Cisco is also working with Hogan Lovells in several countries across the region through a pilot program launched in 2023.

"Working with a law firm to scale our pro bono efforts has been instrumental," said Annick De Waele, VP, and Executive Sponsor for the EMEA Pro Bono program. Together, with our pro bono ambassadors throughout the region, we've been able to create meaningful impact."

In the United Kingdom, a "super team" of eight attorneys volunteered with KIND U.K. to represent two minors with preparing immigration applications to the U.K. Home Office. KIND screened the children's cases to determine eligibility, and the team of Cisco and Hogan Lovells attorneys provided guidance and counsel to these children, who sometimes faced a hostile immigration environment and a cumbersome application process to obtain passports and citizenship in the United Kingdom.

A team of Cisco attorneys in France is also collaborating with Hogan Lovells and the French-based charitable organization, Alliance des Avocats pour les Droits de l'Homme (Alliance of Lawyers for Human Rights), to submit asylum applications on behalf of three undocumented teenage boys who fled persecution in Afghanistan. Through Hogan Lovells, Cisco attorneys work with the clients to understand their life experiences, establish facts proving persecution in the applications, and prepare the clients for the interview process to seek asylum. Clothilde Fromaget, Cisco Legal corporate counsel, is part of the team working with AADH and Hogan Lovells in France. "I've met passionate people who fight daily to defend the value of justice with humanity and kindness," Clothilde says. "I feel deeply aligned with the value of justice and so privileged to contribute to such important work."

In Germany, Cisco attorneys are providing counsel on immigration and refugee issues through clinics run and sponsored by Hogan Lovells. Germany's EMEA pro bono program ambassador, Claudia Pickering, says, "Since it may be a bit more challenging to engage in pro bono work with those in need in some jurisdictions, like Germany, I am incredibly grateful to have found a partnership with [Hogan Lovells]." 

Similar pro bono initiatives are gaining traction in other countries such as Italy and Spain, and pro bono ambassadors in 11 jurisdictions serve as the eyes and ears for Cisco Legal EMEA, flagging potential projects and serving as local points of contact. "Our teams on the ground are doing fantastic work," Kedian says. "We're expanding access to justice and supporting underrepresented individuals—truly living our purpose, together."