Social Impact & Sustainability

Responsible Business

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

With the aid of a highly regarded outside consultant, we will establish and achieve science-based goals consistent with the latest environmental sustainability principles, including through improved use of energy and resources.
These goals will include a commitment to “Net Zero” emissions by a date to be established in consultation with our consultant.
We will 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.
We will evaluate our supply chain and prioritize relationships with organizations within our supply chain that have adopted a similar commitment to ESG principles.
We will 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.

Diverse, Supportive and Inclusive

At Mayer Brown, we firmly believe that diversity and inclusion at all levels of our organization are critical to, and a natural result of, building a cohesive, successful law firm. Our goal is to create and maintain a diverse, supportive and inclusive work environment in which every member of the Mayer Brown team has an equal opportunity to succeed.

Pro Bono

Mayer Brown is a leader in developing innovative approaches to pro bono work. We were the first major law firm to develop and implement a pro bono strategic plan, and we strive to pioneer projects that will have a substantial impact, both locally and globally. We believe that pro bono work is a critical component of our profession and an important factor in establishing our true excellence as a law firm.