Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations are a critical priority for global businesses, which increasingly recognize that adopting and integrating ESG policies and best practices are not only moral imperatives but also commercial necessities.
At Mayer Brown, we provide our clients with market-leading advice that enables them to navigate complex, broad-ranging and rapidly evolving ESG issues in an increasingly connected, global business environment. At the same time, we are equally committed to conducting our own business in a manner that aligns with the ESG principles described below. It is the right thing to do.
How We Do Business Responsibly
In the operation of our business, we aim to:
- Support and respect the protection of internationally proclaimed human rights;
- Adopt a precautionary approach to environmental challenges;
- Support initiatives promoting greater environmental responsibility; and
- Work against corruption in all forms, including extortion and bribery.
We will advance an array of goals through the conduct of our business directly or by providing legal support in relation to third-party initiatives, including:
- Poverty alleviation;
- Inclusive and equitable quality education for all;
- Affordable clean energy;
- Gender equality and the reduction of inequality, more generally;
- Promoting equal access to, justice and strong institutions;
- Climate action; and
- Responsible consumption and production.
People
- We will continue to emphasize the importance of diversity and inclusion in our workforce, including in the appointment of diverse individuals to leadership positions and in the promotion of diverse individuals to the Firm’s partnership.
- We will continue to emphasize the importance of well-being for our lawyers and business services staff.
- We will continue to provide ESG-related learning and development opportunities for our lawyers and business services staff.
Community and Pro Bono
- We will use our resources as one of the world’s largest global law firms to tackle systemic issues and challenges, including by donating tens of thousands of hours of legal services to the poor and disadvantaged and to the organizations that serve them.
- Our lawyers and business services staff will continue to support pro bono and community service activities around the world, including through Project Equity, our commitment to addressing issues of racial and social justice, and other causes consistent with our stated goals.
- We will continue to contribute to a wide variety of charitable organizations directly and through the fund-raising efforts of our lawyers and business services staff.
Environmental
Consistent with our Environmental Policy, we will:
- Reduce adverse effects of our operations on the environment and minimize pollution from our activities.
- Implement a strategy to reduce our carbon footprint and press our suppliers and service providers to do likewise.
- Continue emphasizing the use of buildings that, through their design, construction, or operation, reduce or eliminate the negative impacts on our climate and natural environment. These include, for example, LEED-certified buildings in the US.
- Evaluate our supply chain and prioritize relationships with organizations within our supply chain that have adopted a similar commitment to ESG principles.
- Ensure that we are mindful of all the resources we consume in our business and will prioritize the use of sustainable products and remain fully committed to participating in recycling programs in the cities in which we operate.
