DLA Piper has won two awards at the first annual TrustLaw Awards: the prestigious Most Active Member Award, international law firm category, which recognized the firm for its continued commitment to TrustLaw member's needs throughout the first year of the organization's existence, and the Impact Award for the firm's work alongside 17 other law firms working with Adie (the Association for the Right to Economic Initiative) to promote microentrepreneurship in Europe.

Two particular projects with which the firm is heavily involved were highlighted by TrustLaw as being of significant impact, thereby contributing to the firm's Most Active Member Award.

Firstly Adie, the largest microfinance institution in Western Europe, which in 2011 extended its research to the 27 European Union Member States. The firm's Bucharest office supported Adie by preparing the overview for the European Commission of the regulation on microcredit and self-employment in Romania.

Secondly a project for MADRE, an international women’s rights organization, which saw a team of lawyers from DLA Piper US, DLA Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr and DLA Nordic, and firm client Verizon, working together on a comparative research project aimed at strengthening rape laws and improving their enforcement in Haiti.

The TrustLaw Awards, hosted by Tom Glocer, Thomson Reuters CEO, and Monique Villa, Thomson Reuters Foundation CEO, recognize the best TrustLaw pro bono projects undertaken jointly by the legal profession and NGOs or social entrepreneurs.

Janet Legrand, Senior Partner at DLA Piper, commented: "DLA Piper is immensely proud to have won two such prestigious awards. The firm places significant emphasis on pro bono activities and encourages all its lawyers to participate in local initiatives and engage with the international legal community."

DLA Piper is a global law firm with 4,200 lawyers across 76 offices and 30 countries. From its offices across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and the United States, legal and business advisers provide a comprehensive range of services to local, regional and international businesses.

For further information about our organisation and services, please visit our website: www.dlapiper.com.

TrustLaw is a hub of news and information on anti-corruption issues and women's legal rights. At its heart is an ambitious electronic platform called TrustLaw Connect, which offers lawyers an easy way to connect with social entrepreneurs, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and governments in need of free legal services. TrustLaw Connect is dedicated to spreading the culture and practice of free legal work around the world. It works on a free membership basis and all members are carefully vetted. The Foundation helps beneficiaries describe their legal needs and share their requests with our international community of pro bono lawyers and finally connects beneficiaries with the lawyers with whom they choose to work.