Ramby de Mello wins the 2025 Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono Award

Advocate attended the 2025 Bar Conference on 7^th June, where the Lady Chief Justice presented the Sydney Elland Goldsmith Award for Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono to this year’s winner, Ramby de Mello.

Advocate were honoured to attend this year’s Bar Conference (#BarConf25) hosted by the Bar Council. The conference is held annually and brings the whole Bar together with a programme of expert speakers debating the big issues at the Bar and providing practical advice for career development. 

The Lady Chief Justice, Baroness Carr of Walton-on-the-Hill, was one of this year’s keynote speakers. She presented the Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono Award to this year’s worthy winner, Ramby de Mello of No5 Barristers’ Chambers.

Our heartfelt congratulations to Ramby for winning this esteemed award. Ramby was not available to attend the conference to receive the award in person, however it was kindly collected by his colleague Susana Ferrin of No5 Barristers’ Chambers.

When presenting the award, the Lady Chief Justice said:

“This barrister has volunteered with Advocate for many years, consistently assisting vulnerable individuals in need of pro bono support. Amid rising demand, he stands out for his willingness to take on urgent or particularly complex public law cases. Alongside handling many matters independently, he has also acted as senior counsel to mentor junior barristers, sharing the workload and fostering a strong culture of pro bono commitment among younger members of the Bar.”

The Lifetime Achievement in Pro Bono Award is part of the annual Bar Pro Bono Awards.

Ramby was called to the Bar in 1983 and has demonstrated a lifelong dedication to pro bono work. Prior to working with Advocate, Ramby volunteered at the Birmingham Citizen’s Advice Bureau, later joining its legal department, and has since continued to support Law Centres across the West Midlands and beyond.

Ramby was heavily involved in Advocate's 2022 Afghan Project, which connected immigration specialists with individuals stranded in Afghanistan. He took on several complex cases through the project, working to help vulnerable people navigate legal pathways to safety and seek refuge in the UK.

Earlier this year, Ramby successfully represented a pro bono client with mental health challenges in an appeal against a Land Valuation Tribunal decision. The client had been issued a council tax bill of £33,000—an amount they had no means of paying. Thanks to Ramby's dedicated advocacy, the appeal was successful, and the person is no longer liable for any of the debt.

One solicitor colleague who has worked alongside this barrister for 15 years has described him as “a powerful voice for those who are too often unheard – standing up for the rights of society’s most vulnerable with compassion and courage.  His pro bono work has not only changed individual lives but has also set precedent, offering assistance to wider groups effected by unlawful acts and injustice.” 

Our thanks to the Bar Council for hosting the presentation of this award at the Bar Conference.

See the full list of winners for the 2025 Bar Pro Bono Awards.