Responsible Business Report 2023
Responsible business is at the heart of our mission: we want to make a positive impact for our clients, people and the community at large. We want to make a notable difference by giving back resources available to us as a business, including time, money and expertise.
Looking back on 2023 and before we can see that we are on the right track. At the same time we realise that we can and need to do more. We need to further embrace and accelerate change: in realising our sustainability commitments, creating a diverse and inclusive workplace, in ensuring the wellbeing of our people and expanding our community support.
In this report, we share with you where we stand and where we want to go. The report focuses on work we have done for and with our clients to reach their ESG goals, on the initiatives and policies we have introduced for our people and society at large and our approach to the environment and reduction of our carbon footprint.
One of last year's most important initiatives is our commitment to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). SBTi is a corporate climate NGO that works in partnership with CDP, the United Nations Global Compact, World Resources Institute, the World Wide Fund for Nature and We Mean Business Coalition. We have submitted two commitments to the SBTi - a near-term commitment to reduce our carbon emissions by 50% across all scopes by 2030, as well as a long-term commitment of reaching at least a 90% reduction by 2040, against a 2021 baseline year.
Jeroen Bedaux & Johannes de Jong
Co-Managing Partners
Supporting Our Clients
We know that who we work with and what we help our clients to do can have a big social and environmental impact.
Some key numbers:
- €270m Investment in solar
We have supported our clients to make financing commitments of €270m in 2023 for solar projects. - 51% Increase in protected or restored biodiversity
Achieved by the fund we helped establish: ASN Biodiversity Fund N.V.
Energy and Utilities | Financial Services | Mobility |
The energy and utilities sector is pivotal in global decarbonisation efforts. We are at the forefront of supporting innovative projects that accelerate the transition to renewable energy sources. In 2023 alone, our team facilitated approximately €270 million in financing commitments for the development of solar parks across rooftops and land. | ESG considerations are becoming core to regulatory and How we've helped:
| We are leading the charge in transforming Europe's transport sector, aligning with the EU’s ambition to reduce carbon emissions through significant electrification initiatives. Our expertise supports a broad spectrum of clients, from traditional transport sectors to innovative eMobility services, driving the transition towards sustainable mobility. How we've helped:
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Looking Ahead
With over 2,400 ESG regulations worldwide, it is clear that ESG is becoming a vital part of corporate compliance.
For companies looking to stay ahead in 2024, understanding and complying with these regulations is not just about adhering to the law, it is about leading in sustainability, setting the standard for corporate responsibility, and aligning with investor and consumer expectations. So we are here to help them with this important task.
Valuing People & Society
At the heart of our firm is a strong commitment to uplift and value people and society.
Charity & Pro Bono Work | Championing Diversity & Equality | Supporting Our People |
We aim to give back to our local community. We have setup a charity foundation, we donate and raise money for medical research, we volunteer, we provide pro bono support to refugees, and more. Osborne Clarke Charity Foundation: Proud longtime partner to Metakids: Rule 39 Pro Bono Initiative: | We know not only the importance of diversity and equality as values but also the strength they provide. We aim to champion these values in our firm and society. We have an active D&I committee and we are proud to support multiple initiatives aimed at increasing diversity and equality in the workspace and beyond. European Network for Women in Leadership: Bridges Network: Equals Amsterdam: | The wellbeing of our people is of the utmost importance for our firm. We have a five pillar approach to providing the support they need to be happy, healthy and perform at their best. We aim to help our employees in all aspects of mental health, financial wellbeing, physical health, social and culture, and training and development. International Training and Development Programs: Sabbatical Leave: Bike Leasing Scheme: Mental Health Support With Koa Health: |
Looking Ahead
People are at the heart of what we do and we know the value of our team and society. Moving forward we will further invest in our peoples wellbeing and give back as much as we can.
On top of the monthly contributions to selected charities every month we donate €25 for each employee birthday to the Jarige Job Foundation.
Looking ahead we aim to further develop our five pillar approach. We intend to further improve our training and development program by introducing business development trainings for the team and introducing a learning platform specifically tailored to the needs of the lawyers and the business support team.
Caring For The Environment
We are deeply committed to environmental stewardship as a core aspect of our responsibility.
Our key targets in numbers:
- 50% CO2e reduction by 2030 scopes 1, 2, 3
- Net Zero by 2040 scopes 1, 2, 3
Net Zero | Carbon Footprint | Employee Mobility |
SBTi Commitments - Net Zero Target Osborne Clarke in the Netherlands has committed to a near-term target to the SBTi to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% across all scopes by 2030. In addition, we have committed to setting a long-term target to reach net zero carbon by 2040 at the latest in line with SBTi Net Zero Standard which is a 90% reduction across all scopes. | We measure our carbon footprint to define our carbon reduction goals and take action. The measurements were done by Climate Neutral Group and the CO2 footprint findings follow from the annual reports. In 2022 we reduced our CO2 footprint per full time employee and per €1 million turnover. | Our carbon footprint is materially impacted by the way we commute and we realise that our transport choices can make a big difference to our carbon impact. 34% (27/79) of our employees use the bike lease option. We also promote the use of public transport for the daily commute and offer a NS Business Card for 19% (15/79) of our team come to the office using public transport. |
We care about the impact we make in the world. Building a sustainable business is one of the ways we can contribute to a sustainable future. Johannes de Jong - Partner, Advocaat, The Netherlands
Looking Ahead
With our commitments to the Science Based Targets initiative we have set ambitious targets to reduce our carbon footprint leading to a net-zero business by 2040. We look forward to taking more and quicker steps to a more sustainable business.
In 2024 we intend to take the following actions and measures to make our business more sustainable.
We will prioritise our actions based on their carbon reduction impact:
• Implement a sustainable international travel policy.
• Implement a new commuting policy.
• Implement a sustainable procurement policy.
