who - Fundación Fernando Pombo

Who we are

The Fernando Pombo Foundation is a legal foundation, which was created in 2010 jointly by Fernando Pombo and the law firm Gómez-Acebo & Pombo, of which he was a founding partner along with Ignacio Gómez-Acebo and chair for many years. We work locally and globally in search of legal excellence and social impact

Fernando Pombo

Fernando Pombo was a warm person, full of energy and a natural entrepreneur. He founded and headed the law firm Gómez-Acebo & Pombo from 1970 to 2011, and developed trusting relationships both with his clients as well as with other professionals at his firm.

Fernando was the first person from a non-English speaking country to chair the IBA (International Bar Association), which was a milestone for Spanish law. He was loved and respected by the profession in which he made great friends.

A tireless worker until his death, he always took a keen interest in the underprivileged and wished to make his profession an avenue of help to society. From this, the motive of the Foundation was born: to use law to make a better world.

Fernando was a warm, honest and innovative lawyer, with great charisma and leadership. He was a role model in law the world over with absolute dedication to his job.

We want a leading legal profession that fights for human rights and fights against injustices in the world.

Gómez-Acebo & Pombo

The commitment with the rule of law and human rights of Gómez-Acebo & Pombo is a faithful reflection of the principles and values that have always been considered to define the essence of the Firm’s culture.

The Firm is firmly and permanently committed to following and putting into practice their principles and values, which are in line with the ethical principles of the legal profession and the legacy of the example passed on by the Firm’s founders, Ignacio Gómez-Acebo and Fernando Pombo.

Through the Fernando Pombo Foundation the Firm direct their main social responsibility actions.

Recognitions

Since its creation in 2010, the Foundation has received national and international recognitions in social and legal innovation.

2022

Finalists in the PILnet Local Impact Award of the Global Pro Bono Awards of PILnet, with the project Rights for Change.

Finalists in the Expansion Jurídico Awards for the best pro bono initiative with the project Gender violence by digital media in adolescents.

2021

Winners of the PILnet Local Impact Award of the Global Pro Bono Awards of PILnet, with the project Gender violence by digital media in adolescents.

Finalists also in the PILnet Local Impact Award of the Global Pro Bono Awards of PILnet, with the project Primero H Socimi.

2020

Finalists in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Europe 2020 in the category “innovation in social responsibility” with the Tokens Pombo project.

Finalists in the PILnet Global Awards in the “Local Pro Bono Impact” category, with the Tokens Pombo project.

Nominated in the Expansion Jurídico Awards for the best pro bono initiative with the Tokens Pombo project.

2019

Selected as Best Human Rights Legal Services Provider 2019 by Acquisition International, an international online business magazine.

Premio Buenas Prácticas (Good practice) prize from the Talento Solidario programme from the Fundación Botín for our push for this legal practice in recent years in Spain.

The Challenge Based Learning Award prize from the School of Law of the Universidad Europea de Madrid for our collaboration with its Legal Clinic.

2018

Finalists in the Global Pro Bono Awards awarded by PILnet– the Public Interest Law Network –with the EXQUO III Project: Legal assistance in Alien Internment Centres (AIC) to strengthen access to rights for forced migrants before, during and after AIC.

Project website

Special mention in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report – Europe in the Innovation in the rule of law and access to justice category, with the Second Chance Project for vulnerable women.

Project website

2017

Finalists in the award for best Pro Bono lawyer 2017 in the world awarded by the International Bar Association (IBA).

Finalists in the Global Pro Bono Awards awarded by PILnet with the 2 SICK Project: doubly vulnerable patients.

2016

Finalists in the award for best Pro Bono lawyer 2016 in the world awarded by the International Bar Association (IBA).

Memorial Degà i Ventura award from the Association of Notaries of Barcelona for the best legal monograph of the year for our book, El papel del abogado en la implantación de los principios Ruggie: 8 buenas prácticas para abogados de negocio (Lawyers’ role in implementing the Ruggie principles: 8 good practices for business lawyers).

Finalists in the European Pro Bono Awards awarded by PILnet with the MULTIPLICATE Project.

2015

Finalists in the European Pro Bono Awards awarded by PILnet with the EXQUO II Project: Victims of gender-based violence.

Finalists in the VI Co-responsible Awards for the EXEQUO I Project: Homeless Persons.

Special mention in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report – Europe, for the Businesses and Human Rights Project: The role of law.

2014

Special mention in the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Report – Europe, for the EXEQUO I Project: Homeless Persons.

Chosen in the Talento Solidario programme of the Fundación Botín for our Pro Bono Channel Project.

Award from the Food Bank of Madrid for the significant contribution to the food bank via pro bono work.

2013

Award for the Promotion and Defence of Rights from the Spanish Federation of Rare Diseases (FEDER).

Board of trustees

The patronage of the Foundation is composed of lawyers and other professionals of renowned prestige in Spain and the rest of the world.

Team

A team of committed individuals with an excellent career in the legal profession and the social sector, with a comprehensive vision of how to practice Responsible Law.