When conflict in Ukraine forced thousands to leave their homes and professions behind, members of the Interlaw network mobilized to provide meaningful support. In January 2023, a coordinated initiative brought together several partner firms to help Ukrainian lawyers relocate to the United Kingdom through the UK government’s Homes for Ukraine scheme.

Interlaw’s partner firm in England and Wales, Trowers & Hamlins, played a key role in welcoming displaced legal professionals and helping them rebuild their careers. The initiative, led largely by Interlaw’s Irish partner firm AMOSS, who worked closely with Ukrainian partner firm Arzinger to identify lawyers seeking relocation and match them with partner firms willing to sponsor, host, and support them.

The effort required extensive coordination and a strong sense of community across the Interlaw network. Several colleagues volunteered to host Ukrainian lawyers in their own homes for up to six months, helping ease the transition to life in a new country. At the same time, firms navigated complex practical challenges, including post-Brexit visa requirements.

Despite these obstacles, Trowers & Hamlins focused on creating long-term professional pathways for the lawyers they welcomed. Because Ukrainian legal qualifications are not automatically recognized in England, many participants began working as paralegals. The firm supported the process through language training, and foundation courses designed to bridge the differences between civil and common law systems. 

Today, the initiative continues to have a lasting impact. Olena Sobchenko, a restructuring lawyer qualified in Ukraine, is now based in the banking team at Trowers & Hamlins’ Birmingham office. Another Ukrainian lawyer, Oksana Maslianko, began her journey with Trowers & Hamlins, before being seconded to a client, Kuwait Finance House, as part of her ongoing professional development. She has subsequently joined the in-house legal team at the bank where she is pursuing requalification as an English solicitor through the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE).  

Katharine Lewis, partner at Trowers & Hamlins, said the program reflects the values shared across the Interlaw network. 

“From the outset, this was about much more than providing a desk or a role. We wanted to offer genuine professional opportunities and a sense of stability at a time of enormous uncertainty. The collaboration across Interlaw firms showed how a legal network can come together quickly and compassionately to support colleagues in need.” 

For Olena, the experience has been both professionally and personally transformative.

“Arriving in the UK during such a difficult period was daunting, but the welcome from everyone at Trowers & Hamlins made an enormous difference,” she says. “The firm and the wider Interlaw community helped me rebuild my career step by step. Their support has given me the confidence to continue my professional journey while staying connected to the legal community in Ukraine.”

Oksana also reflected on the opportunities created through the program.

“The support from Trowers & Hamlins went far beyond professional training,” she said. “They helped me adapt to a new legal system, new culture and new environment. Through the encouragement of colleagues at both Trowers and Interlaw, I have been able to continue developing my career and gain international experience that would not have been possible without this initiative.”

The initiative stands as a powerful example of how the network’s global connections can translate into tangible support for members of the Interlaw community facing extraordinary circumstances. By combining practical assistance, mentorship and genuine community, Trowers & Hamlins and its Interlaw partners have helped ensure that displaced lawyers can continue to develop their careers while contributing their expertise to the profession.