We engage with our clients on responsible business issues both by advising them and by partnering on responsible business initiatives.
Helping our clients achieve their own responsible business ambitions
Many of our clients are managing sustainability challenges on a daily basis, while others are reaping the benefits of a proactive approach to sustainability.
As our advisory board member Sir Ian Cheshire puts it, ‘In a more transparent and hyper-connected world, businesses need to be both authentic and visibly a force for good if they want to attract clients, colleagues and stakeholders [and] ensure their future success.’
Increasingly this requires in-house counsel and external advisers to play a different, more proactive role. Sir Ian continues, ‘The best law firms will see this role as an extension of their core purpose of helping clients succeed through expert advice and support. Their knowledge of the client should allow them to be a critical friend to help the client go further.’
To achieve this we are helping our clients respond to a variety of challenges, including climate change and human rights.
At the same time we are ensuring that we meet and exceed our clients’ own responsible procurement requirements, for instance around diversity and community impact.
Partnering with our clients on responsible business projects
We are not alone in seeking to use our skills and influence to deliver value to society. Many of our clients have similar ambitions and we value opportunities to work with them to achieve their goals. For instance our partnerships with Goldman Sachs and the Bank of England have helped increase the range and impact of the Freshfields Stephen Lawrence Scholarship Scheme.
