Hogan Lovells partners with London’s Air Ambulance Charity for pro bono project

Global law firm Hogan Lovells has once again partnered with the charity London’s Air Ambulance to offer pro bono legal advice as it seeks to replace its two helicopters by 2023.

London’s Air Ambulance Charity remains a crucial part of London life and medics perform life-saving treatment at the scene for patients who are critically injured. Thanks to its supporters and volunteers, the charity can change the odds of survival, by providing that necessary time to deliver its vital service right by the roadside 24 hours a day, 356 days a year. Only London’s Air Ambulance’s medics can carry out open chest surgery, give blood transfusions and put patients into an induced coma at the scene, in London.

To support this mission, Hogan Lovells has led the work on the contract negotiations for the new helicopters, as well as supporting London’s Air Ambulance’s project board with legal advice through the project.

London’s Air Ambulance Charity has launched its fundraising campaign, Up Against Time, to raise £15 million by 2024. As part of this year’s appeal, the charity also produced a moving film demonstrating its vital work in saving lives across the capital.

Yasmin Waljee OBE, International Pro Bono Partner, said: “As a long-standing pro bono client we are pleased to be able to support London’s Air Ambulance Charity in its ambition to secure two new helicopters. We know how critical the service has been to many of our individual pro bono clients for whom we have acted, in relation to the mass casualty terrorist incidents of July 7, 2005 and the 2018 Westminster attacks. We want to take this opportunity to highlight the invaluable work of the medics and pilots of the service.

Hogan Lovells has provided a significant level of support to the London’s Air Ambulance Charity over the years in terms of both fundraising and legal advice, and in 2015, assisted in the purchase and financing of the charity’s second helicopter.

Richard Goss, a partner at Hogan Lovells who provided London’s Air Ambulance Charity with pro bono legal advice on this project said: “Despite the vital role it plays saving lives in the capital, many people are unaware that London’s Air Ambulance is a charity – and relies heavily on public donations, particularly now, at a time of such economic hardship. It meant so much to be able to contribute to London’s Air Ambulance’s appeal through our pro bono legal support in the negotiation of the contracts relating to the acquisition and maintenance of the new helicopters and to be involved with the project board that is overseeing the appeal.”

Lucy Brooks, London’s Air Ambulance Charity, Head of Partnership, said: “We can only do what we do thanks to the generosity of others. That’s why the whole team are so thankful for the continued support from Hogan Lovells, its championing of our cause, and the generous pro bono service from which we have benefited immensely.”