The global specialists in citizenship and residency planning, often dealing with wealthy people, has formed a partnership with the UNHCR to help the plight of some of the world's poorest.

Henley & Partners, which focuses on residence and citizenship planning for groups such as high net worth individuals, is lending its expertise to the fight to protect people often at the opposite end of the wealth spectrum.

The firm, which has a presence in regions such as Asia, the Americas, Europe and elsewhere, with over 20 offices, has formed a partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and donated more than $1 million to the organisation.

"We work at the forefront of this sector and are in a unique position to advocate and facilitate global citizenship," Christian Kalin, the chairman of Henley & Partners, said. "It is only natural for us to acknowledge the plight of millions of uprooted families who flee each day the horror of war and conflict to look for international protection in other countries, and to join our forces with UNHCR,” Kalin said.

Conflicts in the Middle East, parts of Africa and Eastern Europe, among other regions, mean the issue of refugees seeking safety from war-torn regions is severe, Henley & Partners said in statement. It noted that, when UNHCR was created in 1951, it was designed to help the estimated 1 million people uprooted by the Second World War to return home. At the start of 2014, more than 51.2 million people were uprooted by violence and persecution – the highest level registered at any point since 1945.

Henley & Partners' support will be primarily focused on funding refugee registration and identification documents, it said. UNHCR's registration programme is the “starting point” for all humanitarian assistance, its statement said.

“Proper registration and documentation are key to allowing a refugee to access services, aid or protection under the law. Registration is also fundamental to identify those refugees who are most in need, such as female headed households, separated children and people with disabilities, and provide them with appropriate protection,” it continued.

Beyond substantial financial support, Henley & Partners said it will also integrate advocacy actions for refugees in its corporate social responsibility programme by running fundraising events and engaging its co-workers, partners and clients to help uprooted people around the world. The UNHCR deputy high commissioner, Alexander Aleinikoff, is expected to attend the Henley & Partners Forum in Zurich, Switzerland in May 2015, which will be the first of a long calendar of joint global activities.