This is our second Responsible Business Report and my second year as Managing Partner.

This time last year, relatively new in my role and only six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, I said I thought that our determination to be a responsible Firm, ensuring we are there, come what may, to support our clients, our people and our communities, strengthens us as a business and makes us more commercially successful. Looking back over the past year and seeing how the Firm has grown and developed, I am now quite sure of it. I recognise, however, that while it is important to look back, assess and reflect on successes – being a responsible business means constantly challenging ourselves to be better. We must set challenging targets to improve our environmental and social impact and hold ourselves accountable for meeting them, by regularly measuring our progress and being honest and transparent about what has worked and where we must change course to improve. It was with this in mind that, earlier this year, I set targets to put the Firm on a trajectory to Net Zero carbon emissions by 2030 and to increase diversity in our partnership. These targets are not standalone commitments. They are mainstreamed into the commercial strategy of the Firm and I, together with our Operational Committee and the Firm’s Advisory Council are accountable for delivering them. In May this year the Firm was also proud to announce the promotion of Kerry Stares to our partnership, to lead our Responsible Business programme and Pro Bono Practice and to work closely with me, the management of the Firm and all our Partners to lead on this agenda from the top. In this Report you will read more about our investments in our people and the strategic work we are doing to drive gender balance, racial and ethnic equality and diversity of all kinds. We recognise that a more diverse and inclusive firm is not only a better, fairer place to work, but that diversity reflects our clients and helps to drive the innovation and creativity that our clients demand. You will also read more about how we are developing the action plan that will deliver on our Net Zero by 2030 target, including transitioning to green energy suppliers for all UK offices and – as we head into a new ‘hybrid’ phase in which our people will combine remote and office working – collecting the data we need to ensure we have an accurate picture of our carbon emissions. We also report on our new, more strategic approach to social impact work – channelling pro bono support, skilled volunteering, mentoring and other valuable in-kind support to the incredible charities selected and funded by the new and independent Charles Russell Speechlys Foundation. The Foundation’s partner charities are all in some way on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response and we are proud to put our skills at their service. As an advisory business, our Responsible Business Report simply would not be complete without looking at some of the innovative work our clients are doing to tackle complex and pressing social and environmental challenges. The stories featured illustrate some of the breadth and depth of our expertise across practice area, sector and geography and I am incredibly proud that the Firm has played a small part in their achievements. I am excited about the future of the Firm and commit to reporting again on our progress next year.

Simon Ridpath

Managing Partner