Law Beats Cancer on behalf of Cancer Research UK officially launched in June with a special event at the world‑renowned Francis Crick Institute; a fitting venue for an initiative dedicated to accelerating life‑saving cancer research. The launch marks a significant moment for the legal profession, signalling a collective commitment to stand together, harness its influence, and channel its networks toward a cause that touches nearly every family in the UK. The initiative has already captured the imagination of the legal community. Law firms, chambers, in‑house teams, and legal service providers have stepped forward in impressive numbers, demonstrating that when the profession unites behind a shared purpose, extraordinary things can happen. Early momentum has been remarkable. Thanks to the generosity of Law Beats Cancer’s founding firms, more than £250,000 has already been raised for Cancer Research UK - a powerful start that sets the tone for what this movement can achieve.
Law Beats Cancer is not a traditional fundraising campaign. It is a sector‑wide movement designed to mobilise solicitors, barristers, in‑house counsel, legal operations teams, and law students around a shared mission: to accelerate Cancer Research UK’s work and help ensure more people live longer, better lives free from the fear of cancer. The initiative focuses on thought leadership, networking, challenges, and high‑profile events that bring lawyers and clients together. These activities are designed not only to raise funds, but also to build a long‑term sense of community, purpose, and collaboration across the sector. Supporter firms already include many of the UK’s leading names, from Freshfields and Linklaters to CMS, Dentons, RPC, Norton Rose Fulbright, Simmons & Simmons, Cleary Gottlieb and Quinn Emanuel. A host of regional firms have also signed up as supporters, including Thomson Snell & Passmore, Taylor Emmet, Geldards, Higgs, Gately, Thackray Williams and others, with more joining all the time. This breadth of support reflects the initiative’s core philosophy: Law Beats Cancer belongs to the entire profession. It is intentionally designed to be inclusive, welcoming organisations of all sizes, from global firms to regional practices, chambers, and in‑house teams. As Duncan Batchelor, Chair of Law Beats Cancer, emphasised at the launch, “Law Beats Cancer does not belong to any one firm; it belongs to the entire profession, giving us an opportunity to come together as a community and do something special, as a force for good.”
The legal profession has extraordinary reach. Its networks span corporate clients, government bodies, academic institutions, and community organisations. By bringing these networks together, Law Beats Cancer aims to create a multiplier effect amplifying awareness, accelerating fundraising, and strengthening the connection between the legal sector and the scientific community working tirelessly to beat cancer. Cancer Research UK’s progress depends on sustained investment in research, and the legal sector is uniquely positioned to help drive that investment.
Law firms and legal teams can support Law Beats Cancer in a variety of ways, making it easy for organisations of all sizes to get involved:
Fundraising campaigns from team challenges to client‑facing events.
Charity of the Year partnerships aligning firm‑wide activity with Law Beats Cancer’s mission.
Event participation: joining sector‑wide networking events, thought leadership sessions, and fundraising challenges.
Donate: If you simply want to donate, please follow the link https://lawbeatscancer.org
These pathways ensure that every firm, whether a global practice or a regional specialist, can contribute in a way that suits its culture, capacity, and community.
Law Beats Cancer is already planning a calendar of events designed to bring the sector together, celebrate progress, and create new opportunities for collaboration. These will include networking receptions, panel discussions, fundraising challenges, and flagship gatherings that unite lawyers, clients, and supporters behind the cause. To explore upcoming events or register your interest, please visit the Law Beats Cancer website.
The launch at the Francis Crick Institute was more than a ceremonial moment; it was a statement of intent. It demonstrated that the legal profession is ready to step forward, take collective action, and use its influence to help accelerate breakthroughs in cancer research. With more than £200,000 already raised, dozens of firms signed up, and a growing calendar of events, Law Beats Cancer is quickly becoming one of the most ambitious and collaborative sector‑wide charity initiatives in the UK. And as Duncan Batchelor reminded attendees, "This is just the beginning." Huge congratulations to the board and to everyone involved in the launch. What an inspiring start for Law Beats Cancer!
If your organisation would like to get involved, please contact info@lawbeatscancer.org to learn more about partnership opportunities, fundraising ideas, and upcoming events.
