SBIA PARTNER PROFILE ARTHUR COX
Arthur Cox’s Sustainable Business Journey An evolving approach to corporate responsibility builds on the rich heritage of giving back to the community that dates back to the founder of law firm Arthur Cox
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espite the pandemic, over the past year, Arthur Cox has managed to achieve a great deal in the sustainable business area across all of its core pillars – charities, pro bono work, volunteering, workplace and the environment. The firm is pleased to be shortlisted in three categories for this year’s Chambers Ireland Sustainable Business Impact Awards. Geoff Moore, Managing Partner at Arthur Cox, says: “As conceptual frameworks for corporate responsibility and sustainability have evolved in business, so too has our approach. We want to build on the solid foundation of our rich heritage of giving back to the community. In 2020 we took the decision to evolve our CSR programme into something more. We strive to continue to take responsibility for our impact on society and to integrate sustainable and responsible business practices into all of our decision making as a firm.” VIRTUAL VOLUNTEERING Since April 2020, Arthur Cox has continued to work with its longterm volunteering partner, the Early Learning Initiative (ELI), on an innovative virtual engagement programme. By pivoting online, Arthur Cox volunteers have continued to help many young people in disadvantaged communities to progress on their educational journeys. “Too many children and young adults today lack the supports and
direction to enable them to stay in school and remain focused,” says Jean Maxwell, Sustainable Business Manager, at Arthur Cox. “The past year has been particularly difficult due to school closures, but we were delighted to continue working with ELI to make a real impact. Our volunteers have engaged in activities that have helped young people with the language, social, literacy and numeracy skills they need to succeed in education.” LEGAL EDUCATION The Arthur Cox Virtual Legal Education Programme partnered with DEIS schools in disadvantaged communities to deliver interactive legal education training. To date, four DEIS schools and 120 students have benefitted from this online interactive project, delivered by a team from the firm’s pro bono practice. The programme provides students with awareness, knowledge and understanding of rights and legal issues, together with the confidence and skills they need to deal with disputes and gain access to justice. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The firm recognises the importance of equality, diversity, skills and employee
engagement to ensure its success as a business. Arthur Cox was one of the first Irish law firms to introduce a formal initiative for gender diversity almost 12 years ago. The ‘Women in the Firm’ initiative proactively supports the career paths and progression of women within Arthur Cox, by delivering initiatives to support women’s career development and build their management expertise. The firm also seeks to develop an understanding of the factors contributing to current imbalance, thus building commitment to action for change and implement measures to accelerate progress towards gender balance. On the firm’s future sustainability plans Moore says: “Our focus continues to be on building a long-term sustainable business for our employees, customers and communities for the future. We are proud of the progress we have made to date and the actions we are taking to further progress sustainability, both inside and outside our firm. We acknowledge that there is more to be done as we progress on this journey and we commit to playing our part in building a more sustainable future for all.” Arthur Cox has published its first Sustainable Business Impact Report 2020/21. Some of the milestones achieved in the last year include: 10,000 hours dedicated to Pro Bono work, €650,000 raised for the Zambia Project, and a firm commitment to being carbon negative by 2025. Learn more about Arthur Cox’s Sustainable Business activities here: www.arthurcox.com/about-us/discoverour-culture/sustainable-business/.
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