What Justice Without Borders does

Justice Without Borders (JWB) is a non-profit legal services organization founded in 2013 and headquartered in Hong Kong, with a regional office in Depok, Indonesia. The organization addresses a specific gap in cross-border access to justice: migrant domestic workers — primarily Indonesian and Filipino women — who suffer labor exploitation, abuse, or trafficking and lose access to legal remedy once they return to their home countries. JWB's core service is the Cross-Border Legal Assistance Program, which provides case screening, legal strategy, evidence collection, and representation coordinated across multiple jurisdictions, including pioneering the use of remote video-conferencing in Hong Kong courts beginning in 2017.

JWB's product surface consists of direct legal services plus a substantial publishing and training portfolio. The organization produces Practitioner's Manuals for Singapore and Hong Kong courts, the "Just Compensation" Toolkit (co-developed with Herbert Smith Freehills and translated into Bahasa Indonesia), Strategic Legal Research publications covering comparative law topics like agency-fee overcharging and false imprisonment, and the structured Program AKSES mentorship curriculum. Education and training programs served 1,200+ participants in 2024, while 2025 impact figures include 34 complex cross-border claims supported across 9 countries. JWB does not develop proprietary technology products; its "technology" is its cross-border case management methodology, legal research library, and training curricula.

JWB operates a hybrid revenue model reliant on individual donations (one-time and recurring), foundation and corporate grants (including UN/ILO funding), corporate matching programs, and significant pro bono legal services contributed by partner firms. In-kind pro bono legal value was US$2.3 million in 2025 (6,800 hours). All services are free to migrant workers. JWB is registered as a Hong Kong charity under Section 88 of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (Registered Charity 91/15108) and as a US 501(c)(3) non-profit, and is funded by a diversified network including individuals, foundations, and law firms such as Akin, Herbert Smith Freehills, Morrison Foerster, Skadden, Baker McKenzie, King & Spalding, Drew & Napier, and others. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors and operates with 11 paid field staff plus 24 volunteers spanning eight nationalities.

Name

Justice Without Borders

Legal name

Justice Without Borders, Limited

Website

https://forjusticewithoutborders.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Justice Without Borders is a non-profit legal services organization that helps Indonesian and Filipino migrant domestic workers pursue cross-border labor claims from their home countries, coordinating pro bono legal representation across Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Aid Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (54111), Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Migrant & Refugee Legal Aid and Documentation Services (BPADAHAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Employment & Labor Law (BPAHAAAD), Litigation Support & Civil Investigations (Witness/Asset/Skip Tracing) (BPAKAEAE), Safeguarding, Harassment & Title IX-Equivalent Support Abroad (EDAIAMAL)

Keywords

• Cross-border legal aid
• Migrant worker rights
• Nonprofit legal services
• Pro bono advocacy
• Labour exploitation claims

Headquarters

HQ city

Singapore, Singapore

HQ country

Singapore

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: JWB relies on donations from individuals, accepting both one-time and monthly recurring contributions. Monthly donors provide sustained support enabling immediate legal intervention when needed.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding received from major foundations, law firms, and the United Nations. Corporate matching programs allow employees to double their impact through employer-matched donations.
3. Pro Bono Legal Services: Law firms provide pro bono legal assistance which represents significant in-kind value. In 2020, JWB brought in over US$3 million in pro bono assistance. In 2024, 4,000 hours of pro bono services valued at US$3 million equivalent.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Justice Without Borders (JWB) is a nonprofit legal services organization that provides free cross-border legal assistance to low-wage migrant domestic workers (primarily from Indonesia and the Philippines) who have suffered labour exploitation, abuse, or trafficking. It enables these workers to pursue compensation claims in Hong Kong, Singapore, and other destination-country courts even after they have returned to their home countries. Beyond direct legal representation, JWB delivers education and training to frontline NGOs and caseworkers, and publishes practitioner's manuals, toolkits, and strategic legal research to build systemic capacity for cross-border access to justice.

Product overview

Justice Without Borders (JWB) is a non-profit legal services organization, not a software product company. Its offerings consist of direct legal assistance services, educational programs, and published resources. The core service is the Cross-Border Legal Assistance Program, which provides screening, strategy, evidence collection, and legal representation to help migrant workers pursue claims across borders. JWB also produces practitioner manuals and toolkits (including Singapore and Hong Kong editions, plus Bahasa Indonesia translations) that guide legal and non-legal service providers through cross-border litigation processes. The Education and Training Programs deliver workshops to various stakeholder groups including paralegals, union members, and returning migrant workers. Program AKSES is a structured mentorship initiative building local capacity through partnerships with legal experts and community leaders. All offerings work together to create pathways to justice for migrant workers across Indonesia, Hong Kong, Singapore, and the Philippines.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Cross-Border Legal Assistance Program
• Practitioner's Manual for Singapore
• Practitioner's Manual for Hong Kong
• Just Compensation Toolkit for Hong Kong
• Kompensasi yang Adil Toolkit (Bahasa Indonesia)
• Strategic Legal Research Series
• Education and Training Programs
• Program AKSES Mentorship

Quantifiable outcome

• 1000+ migrant workers assisted with cross-border legal claims
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

22 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• RPC (Hong Kong)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Hong Kong law firm where Jonathan Crompton, JWB Board member, serves as Partner. Focus on complex cross-border disputes and investigations in finance and technology industries. Leads RPC's Asia 'ReSecure' cyber incident response service and Asian pro bono initiative.
• Morrison FoerstercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Jointly developed comparative law report on false imprisonment laws in Singapore and the Commonwealth with JWB. Co-organized CPD seminar with 40 Singapore-based lawyers in attendance. Provided critical insights into UK false imprisonment laws.
• King & Spalding LLP (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Collaborated with JWB and TKQP on strategic legal research on excessive agency fees affecting migrant domestic workers in Singapore and Indonesia.
• Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (Hong Kong)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Partnered with C&G Law (Philippines) and JWB to produce 'Strategy Guide against Overcharging' covering regulatory structure around agency fees in Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, and Singapore.
• Ginting & Reksodiputro (in association with Allen & Overy)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Indonesia-based law firm that co-produced evidence collection guidelines for Indonesian Migrant Workers cases and 'Safe Migration Procedure' research. Key partner in building local legal capacity.
• C&G Law (Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Philippines-based law firm partner in producing 'Strategy Guide against Overcharging' covering Philippines-Hong Kong and Philippines-Singapore migration corridors.
• Drew & Napier LLC (Singapore)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Singapore law firm providing input and assistance on strategic legal research regarding overcharging of migrant domestic workers.
• Herbert Smith FreehillscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Produced the 'Just Compensation: Toolkit for Cross-Border Access to Justice for Migrant Domestic Workers in Hong Kong' in partnership with JWB. Contributed legal expertise and countless hours of work through pro bono lawyers, law students, and volunteers.
• Tan Kok Quan Partnership (TKQP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Singapore-based law firm partner collaborating on strategic legal research including 'Migrant Domestic Workers & Excessive Agency Fees: Cross-Border Perspectives from Singapore and Indonesia'. Active in capacity building and practitioner training.
• Akin (Gump Strauss Mauer & Hays LLP)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Major pro bono legal partner providing litigation, capacity building, and strategic development support since 2017. Akin lawyers have contributed over 1,542 pro bono hours to JWB's work. Partners include Charis Ma (International Disputes Counsel) who has received multiple Law Society of Hong Kong Pro Bono and Community Work awards for her work supporting migrant domestic workers.
• International Pro Bono AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Key partner in supporting migrant domestic workers through cross-border legal processes, working alongside JWB on case coordination and support.
• Voice of the Free (Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Philippines-based frontline organization supporting migrant workers through case coordination and advocacy, collaborating with JWB on cross-border cases.
• Yayasan Banati (Philippines)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Philippines NGO partner providing frontline support for migrant workers involved in cross-border legal cases with JWB.
• Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia (SBMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Indonesian Migrant Workers Union, one of the country's largest migrant worker organizations. JWB developed partnerships with six branches of SBMI. Work includes case identification, paralegal training, and referral services.
• Indonesian Ministry of Foreign AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Signed Memorandum of Understanding to provide case support services to Indonesian diplomatic missions abroad. First major agreement with a national government, enabling government-level coordination for migrant worker protection.
• International Labour Organization (ILO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017UN agency partner providing funding and program support. Funded joint training workshops on 'Case Management and Identification of Compensation Claims for Indonesian Migrant Workers'. Active in Philippines capacity building through Training and Mentorship Programme.
• Federation of Asian Domestic Workers Union (FADWU)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Regional union for domestic workers. JWB conducted mentorship programme with FADWU to raise capacity level and train union caseworkers in Hong Kong.
• Legal Clinic of Faculty of Law Universitas IndonesiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Academic partner for joint training workshops on case management and identification of compensation claims for Indonesian migrant workers in West Java.
• Baker McKenzieminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Angela Ang, JWB Legal Manager, has over two decades of experience at Baker McKenzie in Australia, UK and Hong Kong, including as Senior Knowledge Lawyer for Baker McKenzie's AsiaPac Contentious Group.
• SEBUMI-KSBSI (Serikat Buruh Migran Indonesia - Konfederasi Serikat Buruh Sejahtera Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Longstanding partner organization representing Indonesian migrant workers. Yatini Sulistyowati serves as General Chair and Head of Migrant Workers Department. Partners on Program AKSES mentorship initiative, providing mentors and mentees for capacity building.
• PERTAKINA (Perkumpulan Tenaga Kerja Purna dan Keluarga Indonesia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Association of Former Migrant Workers and Family Association. Partner in Program AKSES, with Mang Iding (Chechep) serving as mentee and community advocate for migrant worker protection at village level in Ngawi Regency.
• KPI (Komite Perempuan Indonesia - Indonesian Women's Committee)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partners on Program AKSES in East Java, with Riris D. Nugrahini (Bu Riris) serving as mentee and conducting Village Discussions in Jombang district to educate communities about migrant worker rights.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• HELP for Domestic Workers: HELP is a Hong Kong-based NGO offering legal aid, counseling, and crisis intervention to domestic workers facing exploitation and abuse. It overlaps with JWB on Hong Kong migrant domestic worker cases and serves as a frontline referral partner in the same ecosystem.
• Liberty Shared: Liberty Shared works to end human trafficking and modern slavery through legal action, capacity building, and survivor support across Asia Pacific. It pursues strategic litigation and trains frontline lawyers, paralleling JWB's approach to migrant worker cross-border claims and its pro bono legal network model.
• Lawyers Without Borders: Lawyers Without Borders is a non-profit providing pro bono legal services globally, with a similar name and operating structure to JWB. Both leverage volunteer lawyers to provide cross-border legal aid to underserved populations, although Lawyers Without Borders focuses on rule-of-law capacity building and JWB on migrant worker cross-border claims.
• International Legal Foundation: The International Legal Foundation builds sustainable public defender systems in developing and post-conflict countries. While its focus is on criminal defense rather than civil migrant worker claims, it shares JWB's model of in-country legal capacity building supported by international pro bono networks.
• Mission for Migrant Workers: Mission for Migrant Workers is a Hong Kong-based NGO providing services, advocacy, and legal support to foreign domestic workers. It shares JWB's primary beneficiary base (migrant domestic workers in Hong Kong) and complementary focus on welfare, rights education, and case referrals.

Broad incumbents

• International Justice Mission: IJM is a large, established anti-trafficking and modern slavery NGO operating across multiple countries with offices in Southeast Asia. While IJM operates more broadly on human trafficking and forced labor and runs its own investigative teams, JWB's cross-border legal aid for migrant workers intersects with IJM's mission and beneficiary base.
• Anti-Slavery International: Anti-Slavery International is the world's oldest human rights organization focused on eradicating modern slavery and forced labor globally. It engages in strategic legal cases, advocacy, and capacity building for migrant domestic workers, paralleling JWB's approach but with broader geographic and thematic scope.

Regional players

• Tenaganita: Tenaganita is a Malaysian NGO advocating for migrant workers, refugees, and trafficked persons through legal aid, casework, and policy advocacy. It serves a similar beneficiary base to JWB but operates primarily in Malaysia, making it a regional comparable for migrant worker legal services in Southeast Asia.

Others

• Indonesian Migrant Workers Union (SBMI): SBMI is one of Indonesia's largest migrant worker unions and a core JWB partner for case identification, paralegal training, and community-level advocacy. While SBMI is a membership-based union rather than a legal services NGO, it sits at the same intersection of migrant worker protection and serves as a frontline referral source.

Emerging players

• Fortify Rights: Fortify Rights is a human rights organization that investigates abuses, builds local capacity, and pursues strategic legal advocacy in Southeast Asia. Its work on migrant worker protections, refugee rights, and cross-border accountability overlaps with JWB's regional focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/forjwb
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRU5D8jVFxeIYwHsZBwqfYw
• Facebookfacebook.com/forJWB
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forjwb
• Instagraminstagram.com/forjusticewithoutborders

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Justice Without Borders