Linklaters

Linklaters launches fourth annual corporate responsibility report.

Linklaters’ fourth annual Corporate Responsibility (CR) report has revealed that the firm has helped social ventures generate £7.5m worth of investment, through the innovative use of structured finance techniques.

This funding has accelerated regeneration efforts in East London, supported socially excluded young people into work or further education and has helped to provide more affordable housing.

In addition, in the last year alone, the firm avoided 1,900 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions through the use of video-conferencing. This is equivalent to 420 return flights from London to Hong Kong.

Earlier this year, Linklaters was recognised for its work managing and reducing its environmental impact. The firm won the Law Society’s Legal Sector Alliance Award for Excellence in Environmental Responsibility 2011 and the firm’s London office was awarded an "Excellent" rating under the BREEAM* In-Use assessment – the first building in the City of London to achieve this standard.

The CR report has also highlighted that, over the last year:

• Linklaters invested £8m in cash, pro bono work and volunteering time** in the communities around its offices - 1.5 per cent of the firm’s pre-tax profits. £2.5m of this investment was in cash.
• 6,832 people were helped by Linklaters people to develop new skills.
• Linklaters people helped 73 not-for-profit organisations to improve their management systems.
• 10,000 young people were directly supported by Linklaters’ community programmes.

Robert Elliott, Linklaters Senior Partner, said: 

“This report shows our commitment to responsible business and I am delighted with what we have achieved this year. Volunteering levels have reached 25 per cent in all but two countries in which we have an office and we are more efficient in our use of energy than ever before.

“Although we have made good progress with diversity and inclusion, we are clear that we still have more to do. Initiatives like our Gender Equality Action plans mean that we are determined to make our CR aspirations a reality.”

To access the report click here.