CSR Programme of the Year

Introduced for the first time in 2007, this award reflects the growing number of commercial law firms that are attempting to balance the pursuit of profits with principles. The Legal Business CSR award for 2009, will recognise the programme that has best achieved this.

Either at a single law firm or as part of a wider association of law firms, the award will celebrate the law firm or organisation that has made the strongest overall contribution to CSR with reference to a range of areas, including pro-bono and community activities, environmental and workplace initiatives (such as diversity), as well as responsible client selection.

 

Previous Winners


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When assessing Hogan’s CSR programme, the numbers speak for themselves. A total of 683 lawyers participated in pro bono work during 2009, racking up almost 70,000 hours. Even more impressively, given the market conditions, the London office’s contributions increased by over 250% to 1,800 hours in the first ten months of 2009. It’s no bandwagon-jumper, either. In 1970, the Washington DC firm became the first major law firm to establish a dedicated CSR practice group.

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Its community services department has since gone on to develop relationships with a number of charitable organisations and non-governmental organisations, including Cancer Research UK, Human Rights First and the Meningitis Trust to name but a few. The firm was also recently appointed as a founding member of environmental charity ibex earth and, following a successful pilot in its Colorado office, rolled out its EarthWell green programme worldwide.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

ALLEN & OVERY
Susan Hazledine

The first Magic Circle firm to introduce a billable hours policy for pro bono work, 2009 saw A&O bring over 100 year 12 students from schools in the most disadvantaged London boroughs to its City office for the launch of its ‘Smart Start Experience’. The firm also established a dedicated microfinance working group, and switched energy providers so that 100% of the London office’s energy is from entirely renewable sources.

GARRIGUES
Elena Garrigues

Spanish giant Garrigues continued its dedication to CSR and pro bono with a number of initiatives in Latin America. The firm collaborated with the Distance Learning Center for Economic and Technological Progress to both establish a free online accountancy training course for local magistrates dealing with insolvency and restructuring matters, and launch a new legal think tank to foster economic development throughout the region.

GILBERT + TOBIN
Michelle Hannon

Gilbert + Tobin’s commitment to pro bono is remarkable. In the past financial year, the firm provided over 13,000 hours of free advice – an average of over 60 hours per lawyer, with a total value approaching $5m. Much of its work focuses on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians, with 2009 marking the launch of its Indigenous Youth Program, which will see up to 15 indigenous high school students participate each year.

PINSENT MASONS
Kate Fergusson

Pinsents’ dedication to diversity was recognised when the firm became the first to be listed on Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index. Pinsents has also continued to develop its ‘Starfish’ programme, with over 40% of staff now spending more than 25 hours per year on CSR activities.

THAKKER & THAKKER
Bijesh Thakker

India’s Thakker & Thakker wins plaudits for its development, through the Sushma Medicinal & Ayurvedic Research Trust, of an 18-acre environmental park – the first of its kind to be built in Mumbai. Catering for children aged six to 16 years, the park is designed to foster a greater appreciation, awareness and knowledge of the natural environment, and act as a tranquil haven from inner-city life.

TRAVERS SMITH
Steven McNab

Travers Smith is recognised for its work as founder of Leapfrog – a not-for-profit organisation that channels pro bono services from top businesses into carbon-reducing activities. With its charity status approved and initial seed funding agreed, Leapfrog is already finalising agreements with the Energy Saving Trust, Oxfam, Business in the Community, Friends of the Earth and others.