Paul Yates
Paul Yates is a solicitor-advocate and Head of Freshfields' pro bono practice. He is closely involved in developing the firm’s third-party intervention practice.  In his own casework he acts for individual victims of human trafficking enforcing civil claims against their traffickers.  He also has many years' experience as an advocate in appeals for asylum seekers and failed asylum seekers seeking to enforce their (limited) legal rights to food and shelter.
Separately, Paul is also part of Freshfields’ Global Business & Human Rights group. In this role he regularly advises corporate clients on their obligations under the Modern Slavery Act.
Paul is also a member of the steering group and chair of the pro bono panel of the Administrative Justice Council and has been a trustee and vice chair of the Asylum Support Appeals Project.
Recent publications include:
'CourtNav and Pro Bono in an Age of Austerity', chapter in "Access to Justice: beyond the policies and politics of austerity" ed. Palmer et al (Hart, 2016)
Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015’, Freshfields briefing, 29 October 2015
'Disabling the trap: pro bono and exceptional case funding’, Legal Voice, 29 October 2015
'Third party interventions - new cost rules', Freshfields briefing, 6 May 2015
'Pro bono and moral hazard: first, do no harm', Legal Voice, 29 October 2014