We do not presume to be an out-and-out leader when it comes to CR. However, we do get involved as much as we can in the debates that CR creates, especially those around inclusiveness, client responsibilities, and a law firm’s role in the marketplace.
As a result, we are an active member of several professional fora, and many of our senior people enjoy the opportunity to join in the debate and lead projects on behalf of the firm.
In practice
CR memberships
We are active members of a number of corporate responsibility organisations around the world, including Business in the Community (BITC), Grupo de Reflexão e Apoio à Cidadania Empresarial (GRACE) and the Legal Sector Alliance. These organisations help us shape our views and enable smaller organisations to get involved.
Senior advocacy
Our senior partner, David Cheyne, sits on the Business in the Community Marketplace Leadership Team. He is also a member of the leadership committee of the Legal Sector Alliance on the environment – a collaboration of law firms who want to take action on climate change.
In the last year, both David Cheyne and Simon Davies (firmwide managing partner) have been involved in “Seeing is Believing” visits on behalf of the Prince of Wales, going into schools in London with other business leaders to look at how schools and businesses can support one another.
We have an active role in several key CR-related organisations. For example Jill King, our HR director, is our representative for the Employers Forum on Age, the Employers Forum on Disability, Opportunity Now, Race for Opportunity and Stonewall.
ENGAGE
Many of our offices – particularly those in continental Europe – are heavily involved with the international employee engagement campaign, ENGAGE. We are also part of its leadership group. This initiative aims to get employees to use their skills to help develop healthy and sustainable communities.