Responsible business report 2022 Responsible Business report 202R

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LEADING FOR IMPACT

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Our team of experts are ready to share further insights based on deep understanding of the pressure points across industries and regions. Get in touch to continue the conversation.

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We are so proud of our colleagues, whose work on these and other initiatives helps to build a high-performing, sustainable business with a positive social impact. However, our work is very much ongoing. There is a lot more to do, both internally and externally, and we are frequently reminded of the inequities still prevalent in society. Our 10 Actions for Change initiative continues to remain top and centre of the agenda, and we will continue to embed the principles of the UNGC and SDGs in our day-to-day activities to support positive change in sustainable business practices - something which benefits us all. We hope you enjoy reading this report, and welcome your feedback on our progress.

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Herbert Smith Freehills is committed to being a responsible international law firm. That means conducting our daily business with integrity and leading by example. It also means empowering our people to maximise our force for good. About working in partnership with our clients for change. And listening to and engaging with the communities around us. Whether responding to external circumstances or the ideas of our people, we are shifting our mindset to anticipate how the world is changing. This is how we rise to the challenges we face and lead in serving our people, our clients and our communities.

REBECCA MASLEN-STANNAGE CHAIR AND SENIOR PARTNER

Pro Bono Legal

Diversity & Inclusion

Social Impact

Sustainability

Driving positive change through empowerment, collaboration and engagement. Our Leading for Impact framework underpins what we deliver and how we deliver it. Our initiatives focus on four key areas of impact: Pro Bono Legal, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Impact and Sustainability.

LEADING FOR IMPACT

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PRO BONO LEGAL

Our pro bono practice is part of the firm's core business. Our work is driven first and foremost by the impact it creates and the value we add for our clients. Our practice prioritises assisting people experiencing or at increased risk of marginalisation, underrepresentation or systemic disadvantage.

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JUSTIN D'AGOSTINO, MH CEO AND PARTNER

Welcome to our sixth Responsible Business Report

As one of the world's leading international law firms, we engage with the most important challenges and opportunities facing our clients. We also work with our people, our clients and wider society to respond to the needs that exist in the communities in which we do business, and lead by example to make a positive impact through our Pro Bono Legal, Diversity & Inclusion, Social Impact and Sustainability initiatives. As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact, we publish our annual Responsible Business Report as a summary of our progress in our goal to lead for impact as a law firm.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We are a people business. Leading for Inclusion is our commitment to be the world's leading law firm for D&I. Our diverse and inclusive workforce drives the innovative and successful solutions we deliver for our clients and helps us continue to attract and retain the best talent worldwide.

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SOCIAL IMPACT

We are an international law firm, but our strength is in the local communities in which we live and work. Access to justice, redressing historic wrongs and increasing social mobility in the legal profession is a key ethos of our firm.

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Justin is the firm's CEO, overseeing people, practices, clients and growth strategies. A thought leader and skilled practitioner in arbitration and dispute resolution, he has appeared before tribunals around the world and has sat regularly as arbitrator. The founder of the firm's first LGBT+ network in 2007, Justin is a strong advocate and active supporter of the firm's diversity and inclusion strategy and many responsible business initiatives.

JUSTIN D'AGOSTINO, MH CEO AND PARTNER

Rebecca was elected to the role of Chair and Senior Partner on 1 May 2021. She is one of Australia’s most highly rated corporate lawyers and continues to maintain her mergers & acquisitions and broader corporate practice in conjunction with performing the role of Chair and Senior Partner. Rebecca is the firm's first female Senior Partner, and the first Senior Partner of the firm based in Australia.

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REBECCA MASLEN-STANNAGE CHAIR AND SENIOR PARTNER

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Our Global ESG

The Report

51.502651141662525 -0.01955961644802696

51.51770821029 -0.1107795855426944

40.748986170712755 -73.96787946814676

40.75350580891221 -73.97422194358083

48.87104594125198 2.297903230574155

22.280753469083077 114.15788154081059

-37.81416616679954, 144.9700266275322

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2014

131

2021

18%

28%

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OUR GLOBAL ESG

At Herbert Smith Freehills we take a holistic approach to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) client-facing advisory. As an area of constant legal, scientific and regulatory change, our client-facing expertise is built on our in-depth knowledge of global political trends and the myriad of international and national laws, with wide-ranging sector expertise.

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About

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS REPORT 2022

SUSTAINABILITY

As part of our response to climate change, we have made a commitment to become Net Zero Carbon in line with Science-Based Targets, which means reducing and mitigating our emissions across our operations and supply chain.

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We work with a large number of listed and private companies to provide in-depth advice on matters regarding governance risk. The advice we provide forms the backbone of our clients' ESG risk management strategies, policies, protocols and processes.

Client advisory

Tackling climate change is the challenge of our time, and every organisation has an important part to play. As a law firm we take leadership by reducing our own emissions and importantly working in partnerships with others to leverage our impact to protect and restore our planet.

Charles Joly, Director of Responsible Business

ESG matters are at the heart of our client's businesses – we are here to help them navigate the ESG transition.

Silke Goldberg, Partner

Continued progress against our gender target of 35% women partners and partner leadership roles by May 2023. Number of women partners per region:

ROLE MODELS

TARGETS

WORKING PARENTS

SPONSORSHIP

ACCOUNTABILITY

CLIENTS

AGILE WORKING

INCLUSION AND RESPECT

DIVERSITY & INCLUSION

Pro bono legal

Social impact

Sustainability