Sustainability

At Herbert Smith we recognise that we all have a part to play in ensuring that we balance our growth as a business with doing what we can to reduce our impact on the environment. We have taken a number of steps to manage and reduce our impact on the environment.

We also play our part in informing the wider debate on the importance of environmental sustainability. As such we are pleased to play an active role in the many business and civil society networks that are seeking to address the challenges of climate change and sustainable development. Herbert Smith is a founder member of the Legal Sector Alliance (LSA). Founded in 2008, the LSA is an inclusive movement of law firms and organisations committed to working collaboratively to take action on climate change by reducing their carbon footprint and adopting environmentally sustainable practices.

As members of the Legal Sector Alliance, we have committed to:
 
1. Measure, manage and reduce the impact of our operations
2. Work with external stakeholders to reduce our indirect impact
3. Integrate awareness of climate change across our business
4. Advise clients on the opportunities and obligations arising from and under climate change law
5. Work collaboratively to engage in the public debate on climate change and to develop, apply and promote best practice across the sector
6. Report on our progress and be accountable
7. Adopt and pursue a challenging emissions reduction target appropriate for our own organisation and needs, achievement of which will deliver over stated time periods a meaningful and progressive reduction in our emissions 
A firm wide Sustainability Group of partners and heads of relevant business services departments oversees our approach to environmental sustainability.  Day to day management is primarily shared by the corporate responsibility and the facilities management teams.