Allen & Overy (A&O) has sent out letters to 35 City firms calling on them to follow its lead by donating interest from consolidated client funds to help provide legal services to the needy.

The letters follow up on a meeting of law firms hosted by A&O on 7 April in which it set out the technical basis of a scheme that the magic circle firm estimates will see it donate £200,000 over a three-year period.