Pro bono
We encourage our people to use their legal knowledge on a pro bono basis to help people in the communities where we live and work, who otherwise lack access to the services we offer.
Sustainable practice
We aim to minimize our impact on the environment – to protect the planet, ensure that resources are available for future generations and create a better quality of life for all living beings. We integrate sustainability best practice into all our decision-making and business activities.
Our global charitable initiative for 2019-2020 is: Building Sustainable Communities
Key objectives:
- We are working in alliance with charity ONF International (a subsidiary of French National Forest Office) to plant trees in a forest near Paris in July 2020.
- Our teams worldwide are free to interpret the environmental sustainability theme in a way that resonates with their local environmental sustainability focus, and to work with local charities.
We recognize our responsibility to address environmental issues that jeopardize the earth’s ecosystems and the future of our communities.
As a firm we work on reducing our environmental footprint and are active on many pro bono projects in the area of sustainability.
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We reduce, reuse and recycle waste wherever possible |
We use travel options that minimize our environmental impact |
We install water efficient measures in our buildings where possible |
We comply with environmental regulations |
We review and revise our environmental policy |
We share sustainability policy and objectives with clients |
We communicate our sustainability policy internally/externally |
We consider suppliers’ environmental credentials |
We encourage and promote environmental awareness |
Our Executive Committee decides our sustainability policy |
Local sustainability initiatives
UK
In London, we are members of the Green Square Mile, an Ibex Earth initiative that engages businesses in and around the City of London, to protect biodiversity hotspots around the world. The Green Square Mile works directly with some of the world’s leading conservation charities, including Tusk and Flora and Fauna International.
France
In Paris we advise the Terrawatt Initiative, which aims to promote solar energy and accelerate the energy revolution.
Netherlands
In Amsterdam we provide legal assistance to Stichting Green City Buzz, which improves built-up areas and makes them more sustainable.
Kenya
We help to fund the Lewa Wildlife Conservation project in Kenya, alongside four other City of London clients. Despite the project’s success as a model of wildlife protection, poaching remains a constant threat.
The project will provide ranger patrols, wildlife monitoring, community outreach and education to ensure that the zero poaching rate of elephant and rhino is maintained, and that local communities continue to benefit.
South Africa
In South Africa, we provide pro bono advice to RHINO 911, a not-for-profit organization that rescues wounded rhinos. We also assist SANParks, the organization which manages South Africa’s national parks.
Australia
In Australia, we have for many years donated our surplus food to OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organization and Australia’s 2018/19 Global Charitable Initiative partner. Set up 14 years ago, OzHarvest has reclaimed food to produce more than 14 million meals for people in need.
US
In Austin, we partner with Imperfect Produce, a company that buys off-grade produce (short shelf life, different size/shape/color) directly from farmers and sells it on a subscription based service. By selling the imperfect produce, the company diverts food waste from landfills. The farmer is rewarded for a full harvest, the resources used to grow the produce are not wasted, and we have access to delicious, healthy, affordable fruits in the office.
