CSR Programme of the Year
In recognition of either a single law firm, in-house team or chambers onshore or offshore in the UK, or a wider association, this award will be given to those in the industry that have made the strongest overall contribution to corporate social responsibility. Reference can be made to a range of areas, including pro bono and community activities, environmental and workplace initiatives and responsible client selection.
2019 Winner
Hogan Lovells
Yasmin Waljee
In partnership with social enterprise Barefoot, this CSR programme teaches illiterate women to become solar engineers – it aims to bring clean, renewable light to 200,000 people in 35 countries through ‘solar mamas’. Involving 99 lawyers, plus 125 volunteers participating in workshops, this is a targeted and quantifiable project with £320,000 raised in financial support.
Shortlisted
Royal Mail - HIGHLY COMMENDED
Daniel Quy
A busy CSR programme run by the legal team combats social exclusion through a wide range of charities, organisations and causes across the UK. These include a range of initiatives for young people, the homeless and other vulnerable groups, involving almost all members of the legal team based in London, Sheffield and Wolverhampton.
Eversheds Sutherland
Lee Ranson
The firm’s commitment to its LGBT+ network, Perspective, means it has more than 500 members and 200 followers of its @ES_Perspective Twitter account. A Transitioning at Work policy and toolkit was launched in August 2018 to create a safe and productive workplace for all employees, including trans and intersex people and those identifying as non-binary.
Herbert Smith Freehills
Andrew Lidbetter
A suite of important pro bono work led by the administrative law team in the last 12 months includes high-profile strategic interventions in the courts for charity clients – specifically the Child Poverty Action Group in the Supreme Court and
The Centre for Advice on Individual Rights in Europe in the Supreme Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Ramsdens
Paul Joyce
Not a Big Law brand but a Yorkshire firm that makes a real contribution to its local community: each member of staff is entitled to one day volunteering every financial year. In 2017/18, 70% of staff took part in a diverse range of charity and community activities, volunteering over 500 hours, sponsoring specific causes that staff are personally connected with and raised over £18,000 for 25 charities.
Travers Smith
Daniel Gerring, Donald Lowe
Refugees at Home connects those with a spare room in their home with asylum seekers and refugees in need of accommodation. Travers Smith has supported Refugees at Home from the outset with a team of lawyers advising, on a pro bono basis, setting up its charitable structure, drafting forms, policies and other documents, assisting with web pages and communications, and hosting and attending board meetings.