Slaughter and May Publishes Latest Responsible Business Report

Slaughter and May launches its 2022 responsible business report. The report provides an outline of the firm’s commitment to its six priority UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), its ambitious sustainability and diversity and inclusion targets and how it is working with clients, employees, communities and collaborators to address wider societal and environmental challenges.

Highlights from the past year include:

• Progressing near and long-term net zero targets, as the first law firm to receive validation from SBTi. Targets include reducing absolute emissions by 50% by 2030 and 90% by 2040
• Launching three new community partnerships in Islington focused on supporting the most vulnerable groups in society effected by the pandemic and cost of living crisis
• Rolling out training to all business services employees to embed the SDGs into the firm’s core
• Supporting the launch of the Black Equity Network (BEO), the UK’s national and independent Black British civil rights organisation, created to advance justice and equity for Black people in Britain, with funding and pro bono advice
• Working with The Law Society of England and Wales on an international research project providing insight on the rights of lawyers
• Providing a second cohort of 10 high potential students with funding to help mitigate the financial stress through the Slaughter and May Scholarship Scheme
• Reviewing our advice and precedents across all practice areas to ensure our lawyers are best able to support our clients’ journeys to net zero

Deborah Finkler, Slaughter and May Managing Partner said, “For me, the biggest change for our firm has been the way we have recognised sustainability and responsible business as a strategic priority. This has been through actions like creating a Responsible Business stand-alone function and strengthening governance to reinforce commitments to the Ten Principles of the Global Compact. As a business we want to see our goals translated into tangible and measureable action in this Decade of Delivery.” 

Uzma Hamid-Dizier, Director of Responsible Business added, “To be a sustainable business we must accept our share of responsibility to make a positive contribution to the problems and challenges of people and planet. This seems obvious and yet it remains a live and contentious debate in our professional services world. And so we must, and will, continue to advocate both with our stakeholders and within our sector for all of is to play our part.”

Jeff Twentyman, Partner and Head of Sustainability said, “We recognise we need to walk the talk in order to advise clients credibly on ESG matters. Transparent target setting helps us integrate sustainability so that it becomes part of our everyday culture and how we do business.”

The full report is available here.