Hogan Lovells supports Refugee Paralympic team with Pro Bono work for 2024 Paris Paralympic Games

For the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, the largest-ever Refugee Paralympic team, comprising eight athletes and one guide runner, will compete in six sports: Para athletics, Para powerlifting, Para table tennis, Para taekwondo, Para triathlon, and wheelchair fencing. Representing more than 120 million forcibly displaced people worldwide, these athletes will compete under the IPC flag and be the first to enter the Opening Ceremony on 28 August 2024.

Nyasha Mharakurwa, Chef de Mission for the Refugee Paralympic team, said, “The Refugee Paralympic team offers a model for all of us. No matter how difficult their circumstances, these athletes have found a way to compete at the highest level of Paralympic sport. They are not just representing the forcibly displaced people worldwide but the world’s 1.2 billion persons with disabilities.”

The Hogan Lovells team advising the Refugee Paralympic team includes Susan Whitehead, Tom Walsh, Robert Fett, Matt Aleksix, Sarah Tayara, Millie Loyd-Williams, Anna Buch, Christine Gateau, Maxime Villeneuve, and Yasmin Waljee OBE.

Christine Gateau, partner at Hogan Lovells, commented, “Working with the Refugee Paralympic team and these incredible athletes is a privilege. Their stories are a testament to the power of sport in transforming lives and bringing hope to millions of refugees around the world.” 

Susan Whitehead, senior consultant at Hogan Lovells, added, “We are honored to support the Refugee Paralympic team. These athletes' determination and resilience inspire us all, and we are committed to providing the legal support needed to help them succeed in Paris. We look forward to supporting these remarkable athletes and celebrating their achievements at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games.”

Read more about the Refugee Paralympic team here.