Pro bono.

Travers Smith has appointed a senior counsel in its dispute resolution practice as its first dedicated full-time pro bono director.

Sam Cottman has been at Travers Smith since 2006 and will oversee the firm's pro bono projects alongside corporate social responsibility (CSR) partner Donald Lowe.

Cottman recently co-led the team that successfully defeated the high-profile claim brought by property tycoon Robert Tchenguiz against Mr Jóhannes Jóhannsson and Grant Thornton, following the collapse of Kaupthing bank.

Lowe said in a statement: "We are very proud of the depth and variety of our current pro bono offering and the creation of this new role demonstrates a significant investment and commitment by the firm to build on those foundations.

"Having a full-time director of pro bono, working alongside Chris Edwards, our excellent CSR and diversity director, will enable us to professionalise and strengthen our offering to ensure that we are well placed to meet the increasing need to provide free legal services to those who can least afford them."

Travers recently launched an advocacy unit that would act for victims of domestic violence, and also began a partnership with reform and human rights organisation JUSTICE to investigate the overrepresentation of black, Asian and minority ethnic people in the criminal youth justice system.

Last month, Law.com's Legal Week revealed the 10 best firms for pro bono in the U.K., which saw Hogan Lovells top the list.