European law firm Fieldfisher has joined forces with Social Shifters, a global charity and long-standing strategic partner, to launch the legal sector’s first joint commitment to investing in young people’s solutions to social and environmental issues globally.
Founded by Fieldfisher and Social Shifters, the alliance brings together leading law firms Freshfields, Linklaters, Mishcon de Reya, and Winston Taylor as programme partners, together with support from Shoosmiths, Kingsley Napley and more to follow.
The international collaboration will mobilise collective legal and business expertise, funding, coaching and networks to help young entrepreneurs scale practical solutions to pressing systemic challenges they have identified around the world.
The 2026 Case for Change Challenge will be the alliance’s first initiative. This global, legal-backed innovation challenge will focus on Advancing Social Justice and Reducing Inequalities through inviting young change-makers to submit scalable, youth-led ideas that tackle root causes of exclusion in society.
Applicants will compete for grant funding, pro bono legal support, mentoring and practical resources from the alliance. Awards include a €10,000 Fieldfisher prize and $3,000 grants for high-impact projects, with finalists also gaining global coaching and networking opportunities and access to additional pro bono legal and business support.
By combining the reach of leading law firms with the ambition of young innovators, the alliance aims to create a powerful platform to support scalable solutions and the legal sector’s contribution towards more inclusive and just societies.
Millie Hawes, Head of Just Purpose at Fieldfisher, said:
“Young people are already designing bold solutions to global challenges. Fieldfisher is proud to launch this first-of-its-kind alliance, centred around collaboration and innovation, to offer expertise and resources young change-makers need to go further, faster.
“By bringing together firms across jurisdictions, we can use the collective strength of the legal sector to help youth-led ideas scale and accelerate impact for fairer, more inclusive communities.”
David Haddow, Co-Founder of Social Shifters, added:
“We are delighted to partner with Fieldfisher and this alliance of leading law firms to create the Case for Change Challenge, a bespoke expansion of our Global Innovation Challenge. Young innovators have the ideas and drive to tackle exclusion at its roots. This collaboration gives them the backing to turn that potential into real-world change.”
