DLA Piper - Sustainability

Sustainability

As a global law firm and a significant part of the legal community in the Nordic countries, we can affect society through the positive change we can influence and contribute to. We do this by getting involved and investing resources where our involvement and advice can make a difference. Through our actions and with our legal competencies as a foundation, we can contribute to a more just, stable and sustainable world.

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As lawyers, we can significantly contribute to creating a more sustainable world. At DLA Piper, we’re dedicated to contributing to the transformation we face as a society. In our role as professional advisors, we’re helping our clients with the transformation and the change that must come from ourselves.
Martin Lavesen, Chairman of the Nordic Board of DLA Piper

The Nordic countries share a common approach to responsible business, driven by shared values, equality and solidarity. Our societies are recognised for combining economic growth with strong social and environmental policies. We’re leaders in governance, innovation, capitalization of human potential, equality and environmental sustainability indicators. These factors influence how we address environmental, sustainability, social and governance issues.  And we have big ambitions to make a difference.

Pro bono work is an essential and integral part of our culture. As a responsible law firm, we volunteer to help local and international communities.

We focus on three main areas:

  • promoting climate justice and conservation
  • protecting the rights of vulnerable people
  • promoting equality and good governance

Pro bono work is a valuable way for our lawyers to develop their skills, broaden their experience and build their experience in ESG.

Our lawyers use their professional skills to volunteer for good causes. We encourage all our lawyers to undertake pro bono work and see it as a necessary and value-added activity alongside other client work. Each year, we contribute more pro bono hours across DLA Piper, and for several years we’ve provided more than 200,000 hours per year globally. We’ve contributed more than 4,206 hours in the Nordics.

Martin Lavesen

Chairman of the Nordic board of DLA Piper

To find out about our sustainability work globally, please visit DLA Piper's Global Sustainability Report:

DLA Piper's sustainability report
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People

With offices worldwide, understanding, valuing and incorporating diversity is woven into our culture. We are continuously striving to be the best place to work and develop for our employees and to promote diversity, inclusion and equality within the firm.

Our goals
Ensure our Business Services population remains inclusive and representative through monitoring and targeted recruitment.
At least half of all future internal partner promotions to come from underrepresented groups from now on.
Nordic figures for 2023
* average figures for Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway 2023.
Diversity and inclusion
DLA Piper Sustainability - Diversity and inclusion
At DLA Piper, diversity, inclusion and equality are a part of how we live our values.

We promote a culture that is inclusive of all where everyone has the opportunity to grow their career and pathways to success are transparent.
 
Through our international "Break into Law" initiative and Women in Law network, we actively address gender-balance issues.
 
We foster human resources networks designed to support our employees, raise awareness, share information, and collaborate with other stakeholders. Iris is our international open network, providing networking opportunities and promoting LGBT+ events and initiatives. The group works to increase representation of LGBT+ colleagues at leadership levels, delivers pro bono legal services to LGBT+ organisations through Iris Represents, and promotes inclusion.

DLA Piper - Sweden
Sweden

In Sweden, the local Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) committee is actively engaged in various initiatives to enhance diversity and promote a more inclusive workplace. This includes partnering with the Diversity Charter to underscore our commitment to an inclusive work culture. We also host internal seminars during European Diversity Month and collaborate with organizations such as Nolla Utanförskapet, Fryshuset, and others to empower and mentor youth from diverse backgrounds.

DLA Piper - Norway
Norway

In Norway, the local D&I committee has taken action in several areas to increase diversity and inclusion. These include ensuring that job ads are gender and culturally neutral, ensuring that marketing and communication has balanced representation, and visibly key diversity events such as Oslo Pride.

DLA Piper - Denmark
Denmark

In Denmark, an internal survey on gender diversity was carried out among all legal staff members in the spring of 2021. The project name is ’Equal opportunities’, and the general topics of the survey included career, development, retention, and flexibility. The survey, which is to be carried out bi-annully, aimed at determining whether our male and female legal staff members experience equal opportunities for equal pay, promotion, the taking of leave, work-life balance, and whether views, expressed by a male or female staff member, are dealt with in an equally serious manner.

Finland

Everyone deserves to feel valued and supported, regardless of background or identity. Through regular wellbeing surveys, training programs, workshops and ongoing dialogue, we aim to create a workplace where diversity is celebrated and everyone feels empowered to contribute their unique perspectives.

Health, safety and wellbeing
DLA Piper - Health, safety and wellbeing
We challenge customary ways of working

For a global firm remote work is just one of the ways of getting things done. In accordance with expectations of a modern working life, our employees have a great deal of freedom to choose when and where they want to work, as long as they deliver according to our and clients' expectations. These measures also support our ambitions increasing numbers of women in leading positions.
 
To help our employees maintain a good work-private life balance we monitor workload and actively offer our employees sports and wellbeing benefits.

Learning, development and engagement

Our aim is to provide a range of learning opportunities that our people can use according to their own needs and preference, from formal training to pro bono work. Colleagues can also sharpen their skills through volunteering or being part of a local office champion group or network.

Cross-border secondments in the Nordics
Cross-border secondments in the Nordics

We offer a smooth cross-border working environment to our people. The Nordic Secondment Week is a unique opportunity for our people to get to know their Nordic colleagues, another office culture and local practice groups.

Nordic Onboarding event
Nordic Onboarding event

Each year we host a Nordic Onboarding event for all new joiners. A great platform for new joiners to meet new colleagues, network and socialize together while at the same time learning more about the practices in our Nordic countries and how we work across borders as one Nordic team.

Nordic Arena
Nordic Arena

Every second year all employees in the Nordic region have the opportunity to participate in one Nordic gathering, to learn more about working at DLA Piper and how we cooperate as a Nordic team.

Clients

We are committed to advising our clients in a way that helps them successfully navigate the S&ESG challenges they face and supports the transition to a sustainable future. Our work with clients represents our biggest opportunity to make a positive difference to society, reduce environmental impacts, and support a green recovery.

We work with clients’ own sustainability matters

In our advice and support to clients, we work with both the clients’ own sustainability matters and their need to create, invest in and develop products, instruments and agreements that promote sustainability in business. We collaborate with Nordic Business Ethics, an initiative with the mission to provide inspiration and insights relating to business ethics. In Ethics Talk LIVE virtual events we address topical business ethics themes, such as, anti-corruption, compliance, business and human rights and diversity & inclusion.

The relationships with our clients are at the heart of our business. Our clients are similar to us in their efforts towards a more responsible and sustainable business. In a rapidly changing world, sustainability aspects affect all areas of business and law. I am happy to be able to work together with our clients within this area. Seeking long-term value is a key for sustainable solutions we create together.
Salla Tuominen, Partner, Head of Corporate at DLA Piper in Finland
Cases

Powering sustainable transport

For sustainable transport to become a reality, production of electric vehicle battery materials and components must be ramped up significantly. We advised the chemical manufacturer BASF on a strategic partnership with a mining company to establish a site in Finland developing battery materials for the European automotive industry. The venture is one of the first examples of the chemicals sector collaborating with the automotive sector for battery production.

Just as we advise our clients on S&ESG issues and help them create sustainable value through our S&ESG services, we also partner with them to help us manage our own sustainability impacts, sometimes in collaboration with other external stakeholders. In this way we work towards common sustainability goals and tackle challenges together.

Innovation in Foodtech

We advised Nordic Foodtech VC, on its investment in the first spin-off from the Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), PaRAS Aqua Ltd, which uses a partial air-driven recirculation aquaculture system.

The PaRAS fish farming method is a cost-effective and flexible way to produce high quality fish with minimal environmental impact. It uses significantly less energy than existing recirculation systems and its feed efficiency is up to ten percent better.

We are proud to support our client in advancing such a socially significant and sustainable innovation.

Hugo-A. B. Munthe-Kaas, Partner and Head of Compliance at DLA Piper in Norway
Sustainability starts from within. Only by taking responsibility for a sustainable future, is how we can truly contribute to making business and our global community better.
Hugo-A. B. Munthe-Kaas, Partner and Head of Compliance at DLA Piper in Norway
Cases – Renewable energy

Wind turbine and solar projects

DLA Piper has assisted NRGi in a number of wind turbine and solar projects. Either concerning investments in turn-key projects or to the purchase of existing projects. NRGi is investing capital, knowledge, and resources in renewable energy in Denmark and has a portfolio of 52.3 MW wind turbines and 53.3 MWp solar power plants.

Hydro and wind power

We have assisted the Nordic renewable energy company Cloudberry on multiple investments in and acquisitions of hydro and wind power companies and projects in Norway and Sweden. Cloudberry’s purpose is providing clean renewable energy for future generations, developing a sustainable society for the long term and create value for stakeholders.

Green Bonds to expand solar production

DLA Piper has advised the leading solar renewable company in Sweden on the issuance of a senior secured floating rate green bonds loan of up to the equivalent of SEK 1.5 billion, including five subsequent tap issues under the senior secured floating rate green bond framework.

Solar power

We advised solar power developer SAJM Holding Oy in the sale of the project rights of the solar power project located in Huittinen, Finland to the renewable energy company OX2.

The project will be one of the largest industrial-scale solar power parks in Finland with the estimated annual electricity consumption for about 95,000 households. The park will reduce the carbon footprint of electricity production and is an important part of Finland's journey towards carbon neutrality.

Society

As one of the largest global law firms, we have a significant impact on people, communities and business. We are working to gain a deeper understanding of our impact, so we can contribute to reducing inequality and building a fairer world. There are many ways we can have an impact on society, from the advice we give to our clients, to our pro bono work and our community partnerships. We have a long history of taking on leading positions in different organizations in the society.

Martin Lavesen, Managing Partner at DLA Piper in Denmark and President of the Danish Bar and Law Society
As business lawyers we have a social responsibility and we must take part in the surrounding community and make our efforts to create a sustainable future

Martin Lavesen, Managing Partner at DLA Piper in Denmark and President of the Danish Bar and Law Society

Martin Lavesen also holds membership of the special committee on diversity set up by the Confederation of Danish Industry and is member of the sustainability task force set up by the Federation of Danish Professional Service Firms.
 
Law firms are in a unique position to drive positive societal change. Lawyers can make a major contribution to civil society, protecting the vulnerable, reducing inequality, widening access to justice and embedding the rule of law. Through our community partnership programmes, recruitment practices and inclusion efforts, we also have the opportunity to improve social mobility , breaking down barriers to entering and succeeding in the legal profession.

Our pro bono culture
DLA Piper - Our pro bono culture
Working pro bono is a vital part of our culture, and central to fulfilling our purpose to make business, and the world around us, better.

We believe that pro bono projects are key to developing the skills and experience of lawyers, and we want to ensure that all our lawyers have an opportunity to explore pro bono work. Our pro bono work is handled with the same professionalism and commitment as other mandates.
 
Each Nordic office has a dedicated pro bono partner and pro bono committee who supports the creation and delivery of our pro bono services.

Our ambition is to be the leading global pro bono law firm. By being a global organization we have the opportunity to truly make a difference in the society – regardless if we contribute with legal knowledge locally or globally - we always put in the same effort.
Carl Schwieler, Head of Pro Bono DLA Piper in Sweden
Nordic pro bono facts 2023
DLA Piper - The Boards Impact Forum
The Boards Impact Forum

The Boards Impact Forum is the Nordic chapter of the Climate Governance Initiative, in collaboration with World Economic Forum. The purpose is to engage board directors in Nordics and internationally, to accelerate climate actions and innovation for sustainable business and a sustainable world. DLA Piper has supported the organization with legal advice when it comes to setup of the organization and directions on development.

DLA Piper - Human Rights Watch Denmark
Ukraine House in Denmark

DLA Piper advises Ukraine House in Denmark, an association established to promote Ukrainian culture in Denmark in 2023. The project is supported, among others, by the Ministry of Culture. The association is located at Gammel Dok in Copenhagen, where they organize art exhibitions, literary events, debates, concerts, and more. Among other things, we have assisted in relation to lease agreements, collaboration agreements, employment advice, and association bylaws.

DLA Piper - SOS-barnebyer
The Norwegian Cancer Society

The Norwegian Cancer Society (NCS) is an important societal actor and a large membership organization in the health sector. NCS works to reduce the incidence of cancer, increase survival rates, and enhance the quality of life for patients and their families through research, preventive measures, information, support, advice, and lobbying. We have provided pro bono legal services to the NCS and served as a legal sparring partner on numerous NCS projects, including the establishment of the NCS Science Center in Oslo. Several DLA Piper employees have been involved in these projects, and we have developed clear ambitions and goals for how we will work together in the coming year.  

Joannahuset

Joannahuset is the first refugee center in Denmark offering sanctuary to vulnerable children and young people. Even though the cause is highly worthy, the activities must, of course, be carried out within the existing regulatory framework. DLA Piper assists Joannahuset in ensuring that they comply with particularly data protection rules. We also provide assistance in proceedings before the Danish Data Protection Agency if anyone claims that they are in breach of the rules.

Our pro bono practice focus on three areas

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Supporting climate justice and conservation
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Supporting forcibly displaced people
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Good governance and shared value

Environment

Our single most important environmental impact and opportunity is linked to the work we do for and with our clients, and the advice we give them.
 
Operationally, the vast majority of our carbon footprint is associated with procuring goods and services from suppliers and with our business travel. Aside from climate impacts, other key environmental impacts from our operations relate to resource use such as energy, water and waste.

Our International goals
1) This goal is already fulfilled in the Nordics.

Climate action

In August 2020 DLA Piper International made a formal commitment to the Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to set a new science-based carbon reduction target on international level. On Nordic level we strive to meet the goals decided on international level, a work in progress. This commits us to reducing our absolute Scope 1, 2 and 3 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.

Sustainability - Climate action
Our global Environmental Policy applies to all of our offices and requires every employee to take reasonable care of the environment.
DLA Piper - eMission 2030
eMission 2030: We want our people to be equally involved

Our internal international campaign brings together a network of over 150 office champions, helping us meet our science-based carbon reduction target by translating our international climate strategy and priorities into local actions.

UN Global Compact
UN Global Compact

We are proud to be one of the first global law firms to commit to the UN Global Compact (UNGC) principles in 2013 and support the Sustainable Development Goals. As a signatory to the UNGC we have committed to reporting progress against the UNGC Environment Principles in our Annual Communication on Progress.

First law firm to achieve global certification
First law firm to achieve global certification

In 2007 we became the first law firm to achieve global ISO14001 and in 2017 we transitioned globally to the new ISO14001:2015 standard, further committing us to significantly reduce our impact on the environment.