Minter Ellison and Clayton Utz were the most generous law firms that participated in the inaugural ALB Christmas Initiative, which raised almost A$3,000 for the World Vision Smiles program. Minter Ellison had 241 lawyers register their details enabling ALB to donate two donkeys and 10 chickens to an impoverished community in Southeast Asia. Clayton Utz came second in the standings with 170 lawyers registering their details and ensuring ALB donated a donkey and 17 chickens to the World Vision program on its behalf.

Minter Ellison national director pro bono & community investment Anton Hermann said: "Minter Ellison has a strong connection with World Vision through the firm's matched workplace contribution program. We hope that the donations made by our staff to the ALB Christmas Giving Initiative will provide assistance where it is most needed."

HopgoodGanim and Minter Ellison Rudd Watts also put in a strong showing with a very high ratio of responses to lawyers. HopgoodGanim had 88 lawyers participate in the initiative, which equates to 22 chickens bought for an impoverished community. Minter Ellison Rudd Watts ranked number one out of the New Zealand firms after 76 lawyers participated – allowing ALB to donate 19 chickens to the World Vision Smiles program.

World Vision Australia national donor relations manager Grahame Ryan said that the money would be used to help World Vision’s broader agriculture and environment work, most likely in Myanmar. He said that, while more money could have been raised (several top-tier firms had less than 10 lawyers participate), the ALB Christmas Initiative helped the organisation reach an important audience.

“The more important aspect from my point of view is getting the message out there and particularly to a community that traditionally World Vision has found difficult to break into,” Ryan said. “Because World Vision is focusing on law and government in developing nations as being critical to good sustainable development practice, it’s really important to us to communicate with the legal community.”

Lawyers looking to find out how they can become more involved in the work of World Vision can click here.