Leading for Impact: Herbert Smith Freehills publishes sixth annual responsible business report

Herbert Smith Freehills has today published its sixth annual Responsible Business Report. Highlighting the actions taken by our firm to engage with, and address, the challenges and opportunities faced by our clients and the communities in which we operate, the report demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the UN Global Compact.

Our latest report outlines four core areas which underpin the firm's strategic approach to sustainable business. It includes a focus on our pro bono legal advice which prioritises assisting people experiencing underrepresentation or disadvantage, our approach to creating a diverse and inclusive working environment, how the firm creates social impact through the support provided to local communities, and the steps taken to reach Net Zero by 2030.

The report reveals progress made across a range of environmental, social and governance issues through  partnerships, collaborations and initiatives. Highlights include:

• providing over 70,000 pro bono hours legal assistance supporting organisations such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), assisting the launch of the Black Equity Organisation in the UK, and operating the Shopfront Youth Legal Centre in Australia with our partners
• continuing to drive ethnic diversity in our firm through our 10 Actions for Change, including the provision of over 50 anti-racism workshops across our network, delivering webinars on anti-racism and inclusive leadership, joining the Minority Supplier Development UK programme, and launching a new mentoring programme for African undergraduates with our partners
• providing opportunities to over 450 interns and scholars to gain work experience and develop workplace skills as part of our social mobility and inclusion efforts
• offering finalists of The Earthshot Prize pro bono legal support to scale eco-solutions that repair and regenerate the planet, as the only law firm to be part of the Prize's Global Alliance.

"Our commitment to responsible business drives us to leverage our impact for positive change and to do better. It's a reflection of our values and our people can be proud of the way they give life to our approach, whether through our efforts to reduce our carbon footprint, the progress we've made on our 10 Actions for Change or the many local community projects we have supported," says Charles Joly, Director of Responsible Business.

The report can be accessed here