Marika Somero is responsible for leading the Pro Bono Practice for Debevoise & Plimpton’s London office.
Ms. Somero is a practicing solicitor with a background in pro bono practice management. She develops high impact domestic and international pro bono initiatives and works with a wide range of pro bono clients, helping to identify and address their legal needs, bringing together teams of lawyers from across Debevoise’s London office to work on these matters. She is passionate about access to justice, gender equality and the protection of fundamental rights.
Ms. Somero has deep experience in public international law and human rights. Her pro bono practice is geared towards advising on issues relating to reproductive healthcare rights, violence against women, gender-based violence in conflict, women’s economic empowerment and related UN Treaty Mechanisms and international human rights courts.
Ms. Somero is an active member of the Lawyer’s Division of the charity “The Circle.” She advised the charity on its campaign to secure a legal framework on the fundamental right to the living wage for garment workers in the global fast fashion and garment producing industries.
In 2016, Ms. Somero helped establish UKademy, the annual professional development conference for law firm pro bono professionals.
Ms. Somero graduated from the University of Essex with LLB in Law and Human Rights and University of Helsinki with a LL.M in Public International Law.
Ms. Somero is a Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England & Wales. She is fluent in English and Finnish.