Wedlake Bell
Responsible Business
We are committed to responsible business and to proactively contributing to the community and wider environment where we can.
Our impact
We aim to have a positive impact through our main themes of responsible business activity:
- Environmental
- Charitable Giving
- Social Impact
- Diversity and Wellbeing
We pride ourselves on the high professional standards to which we operate. This applies as much to the approach that we take to responsible business, as it does to the legal work that we do for our clients.
We have formed an internal Responsible Business working group with representation from various departments of the business including Legal, Finance, HR, Marketing, IT and Senior Leadership, which is working on our carbon management and wider responsible business journey.
Environmental
We are deeply committed to minimising the environmental impact of our business activities. Since 2021, we have measured our carbon emissions and enhanced our data accuracy, transitioning from spend-based data to establish our baseline carbon footprint in 2024, which has been externally verified.
While respecting the factors outside of our control, we are committed to doing everything reasonable and practicable to reach Net Zero no later than 2050. To help support that goal, we have implemented an annual process for measuring scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, setting science-based carbon reduction targets and identifying actions to reduce our carbon footprint, supported by our external partner, Auditel. For more information on our scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions, click here.
Our energy and waste management reduction activity forms a key part of our carbon reduction plan and pathway to net zero. We were pleased to reach some key milestones in 2025:
- As of February 2025, we achieved zero waste to landfill
- 00% of the firm’s electricity is now generated from renewable sources
We comply with all relevant environmental legislation and regulations, and we support our clients in doing so by providing training to our staff to facilitate this.
Some of the ways in which we are already reducing our environmental impact, are set out below:
- We encourage video and telephone conferencing wherever possible. Where travel is needed, we prioritise the use of public transport and trains over air travel. We offer interest-free travel season ticket loans and operate a cycle-to-work scheme.
- To minimise disposable waste, we encourage staff to avoid printing and, when they do print, to use double-sided paper.
- Our IT department carries out audits on equipment to identify opportunities for improving energy efficiency. Most recently, this involved updating settings on photocopiers and meeting room screens.
- All office lighting is LED and motion sensor activated.
- We bottle drinking water and use glasses and china mugs on our office kitchens and entertainment spaces.
- We consider the environmental impact of the goods and services we purchase. An example of this is moving our data centre in 2024 to one that uses renewable energy sources.
- Employee engagement to create awareness about environmental best practice.
Supporting the community
Social Impact
We believe that, as a successful law firm, we have a responsibility to provide vital support to those parts of the community and charitable sector that need legal representation but cannot afford it.
We actively encourage community involvement among our people, this not only makes a significant difference to those we support, but also provides a valuable opportunity for developing skills.
We have a long a history of undertaking pro bono work. In 2024, Wedlake Bell joined the UK Collaborate Plan for Pro Bono. Through our membership, we have access to industry data, collaborative pro bono projects, training and information sharing.
Examples of work carried out include:
- Advising on and establishing Concerts for Carers – a charity whose objective is to improve the mental health and wellbeing of NHS workers and carers through music.
- Advised on and put in place a structure to help set up the charity, Svitlo Education, which focuses on aiding those affected by the Ukraine conflict. The charity offers online education, English language classes, school scholarships, and educational resources to children who remain in Ukraine and those who have been displaced to other nations.
Charitable Giving
Each year a Charity of the Year is selected. The charity we support is selected by our Charity Committee from a set of causes nominated by members of staff. The charity is usually small, with a personal connection to a member of staff. Past charities have included the National Brain Appeal, Lupus UK, The Wiseman Trust, Think Forward and Cedar House Support Group.
This year, we are proud to be supporting Footsteps Foundation. Footsteps Foundation provides invaluable and unique support to families of disabled children. Their mission is to improve quality of life for children with neurological conditions, enabling them to receive the intensive physiotherapy they need.
In addition to our Charity of the Year we operate a give as you earn scheme and provide matched funding.
Diversity and Wellbeing
By fostering a culture where mental health and well-being are actively supported, we ensure that our teams thrive in a respectful, balanced and enriching workplace. We provide a working environment, education and benefits to foster the wellbeing of our people.
Wedlake Bell takes the issues affecting inequality in employment seriously. Our focus on equity ensures that everyone, regardless of background or identity, feels valued and empowered.
We have inclusive and accessible recruitment practices and retention-focused activities. This includes our partnership with Rare Recruitment which provides Contextual data for our early careers recruitment and conscious recruitment training which is provided to all early careers interviewers.