City and US firms were the main winners in the second Solicitors Pro Bono Group (SPBG) annual awards ceremony, held last week.

City giant Linklaters scooped the prize for firms with more than 100 fee-earners, for its work for Hackney Legal Connections and LawWorks Web.

US/UK firm Faegre Benson Hobson Audley won the smaller firms category for its nationwide involvement in LawWorks for Community Groups.

Birmingham firm Wragge & Co's involvement with the Birmingham Employment Rights Advice Helpline saw it pick up the prize for firms outside London, while the in-house award went to Lloyd's of London.

Recognising contribution to the SPBG itself, the chief executive's award was presented to Martin Hyde, Angus Kirk, Louise Hill and Dan O'Gorman at City firm Travers Smith Braithwaite, and Julia Robinson in the City office of US firm Covington & Burling.

Travers Smith Braithwaite was rewarded for its fundraising, while Covington & Burling was recognised for legal advice given to SPBG.

The lifetime contribution award went to Jeffrey Forrest, partner at JA Forrest & Co in London, for work with Pimlico Citizens Advice Bureau.

He said: 'I accepted on behalf of the many solicitors who do pro bono work without expecting recognition.'

Rachel Rothwell