Chapman Tripp is celebrating 15 years of providing pro bono work as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
The leading legal firm supports over 250 organisations with free legal advice and guidance, and in 2019, carried out more than $1.5m of pro bono work. The causes it has helped cover a broad spectrum from homeless charities and welfare groups to art organisations, sports trusts and fledgling charities.
Its CSR programme is focused on supporting youth and education, the arts, and a stronger and more innovative NZ Inc. Its four main CSR partners are First Foundation, BLAKE, NZ Opera and Creative HQ which are supported through pro bono work, financial help, and volunteering.
Chapman Tripp is releasing a series of videos featuring its work with those organisations.
Chapman Tripp partner and CSR Committee Chair Edward Scorgie says, “We aim to work in a sustainable way and to reduce our footprint on the environment. We set up the “Footprint” project in 2007 and have successfully begun to reduce our waste and energy use across our three offices nationwide and are working towards a sustainable supply chain. This year, the firm joined the Sustainable Business Council and we are undertaking an independent audit of our carbon footprint.
“We encourage all of our people to get involved in our CSR programme. Once a month, on Casual Friday, our people dress in mufti and donate a gold coin for a good cause. Those donations are matched by donations from the firm. This year, more than $16,000 has been raised to help organisations including the SPCA, Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, Youthline, and the Cancer Society.”
Scorgie added, “We also offer an extra day’s paid leave to volunteer for an organisation. This year, our people gave more than 200 hours of volunteering work. We’ve helped out in schools, planted trees, worked in food banks, supported arts and business initiatives, mentored young people and pitched in wherever the need took us.
It’s important to the firm to put something back into the community that supports us. Being a responsible organisation is about sharing our ideas, resources and insights to create value, not just revenue. Ultimately, it is about working for a better Aotearoa.Edward Scorgie, partner and CSR Committee Chair
