Linklaters

Linklaters has become the first law firm in the UK to achieve the prestigious Bitc ‘CommunityMark’, a national standard of excellence in community investment, endorsed by Prime Minister Gordon Brown and HRH Prince of Wales.

Linklaters is one of just nine organisations across the UK to have achieved the CommunityMark in 2009. To achieve the standard, Linklaters had to pass a rigorous, independent assessment by Business in the Community (Bitc) of how the firm invests in, and works with, its local communities, including scrutiny by its employees and community partners.

Linklaters has a longstanding and active community programme, working with local community partners to address common challenges. Last year, the firm’s London office invested over £3.5 million in cash and volunteer time in this way. This included more than 12,000 hours of pro bono legal advice to those otherwise unable to afford such support.

A key programme - ‘Linking Learning with Work’ – saw, in its first year, over 400 Linklaters volunteers supporting literacy and employability skills in 51 schools across Hackney. More than 2,400 young people were directly involved. With a commitment of £1 million in time and funding over its three years, independent evaluation - being conducted by the University of Warwick - is already demonstrating the programme’s positive impact on young people; as one primary school pupil commented: “following the debating challenge training, I started watching BBC Parliament, well, I tried to..!”

The standard follows another recent corporate responsibility accolade. Earlier this month, Linklaters’ long term commitment to corporate responsibility globally was recognised in the Bitc’s Corporate Responsibility index. The firm has been awarded a Silver band, for its global CR performance.

David Cheyne, Linklaters senior partner, said:

"Linklaters has a long history of engaging positively with the communities close to our offices around the world. For over ten years our partners have committed to invest 1% of their pre tax profits in cash and volunteering time.

We want to add real value to our communities. I see benefits in staff development, recruitment and retention, in our corporate and client reputation and, of course, in making our neighbourhoods better places to live and work. Achieving this standard will spur us on to do even more.”

Oonagh Harpur, Linklaters Global Head of Corporate Responsibility, said:

“We are delighted to achieve this national standard, We want our contribution to be sustainable and also make the most of our people’s knowledge and skills. We want the best return on our investment for the local community, our people and the firm. Achieving the CommunityMark demonstrates that we are doing the right things.”

Stephen Howard, Chief Executive of Business in the Community, said:

“Investing in communities is integral to commercial success in any economic climate, bringing long-term sustainable benefits to both business and communities - and this commitment has never been as important as it is now. Business in the Community is thrilled to celebrate with our nine CommunityMark achievers for 2009, who have demonstrated their ongoing commitment and excellence in community investment.”

To achieve the CommunityMark, companies are assessed according to five principles of community investment through a rigorous, independent process, validated externally by AD Little and an independent panel made up of the third, public and private sectors.

A total of 29 companies have now achieved the CommunityMark, following the 20 companies that achieved the CommunityMark in 2008.

For further information, please contact: