Corporate social responsibility

We have always endeavoured to go beyond our business focus and contribute to the well-being of all stakeholders, including the community at large. We believe that sustained economic growth cannot happen without social progress and the well-being of the communities we operate in.

Our CSR philosophy is focused on four principal areas:

Our people are central to everything we do. We realise our potential by creating a safe, healthy and inclusive workplace, and by broadening our skills and experience.
Our community, where we live and make our living. We focus our efforts on three themes: widening access to justice, access to finance and access to education. Our community initiatives span from pro bono work and volunteering in the community to charitable donations.
Our environment and contributing to a more sustainable world is important to how we advise our clients and manage our business.
Doing business responsibly through market-shaping practices in relation to ethics, professional standards and risk management is a top priority.

Vision and objectives

In alignment with its CSR philosophy and through various CSR programmes, the firm focuses on the areas of education, environment and women empowerment. We aim to achieve the firm's CSR objectives in the above focus areas by establishing guidelines and creating opportunities for employees to engage in socially responsible initiatives.

CSR policy

Our CSR policy sets out guidelines for our employees.

COVID-19 Relief

To help combat the spread of COVID-19, we teamed up with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) to manufacture more than 10,000 low-cost face shields. IIT Delhi is one of India's top engineering education institutes and has received national and international recognition in the field of science and technology. As part of this project, the IIT Delhi team designed and distributed innovative low-cost face shields – COVLOCK, which can be worn for prolonged periods without the need for adjustment, unlike common face shields in the market. The project aims to reach more than 10,000 beneficiaries (mainly hospitals, NGOs and other front-line organisations dealing with COVID-19) through this engagement.

Along with this project, we also collaborated with the Smile Foundation to distribute dry ration and essential item kits to economically poor and vulnerable communities during the COVID 19 lockdown in March and April. The Smile Foundation is a national development organisation, headquartered in Delhi, that benefits children and their families in education, healthcare, skilling and women empowerment across 25 states. With the help of local NGO partners, the Smile Foundation distributed 200 dry ration kits to various families.

Women empowerment

Karigari Project

This project aims to pioneer future skills for the creation of employment opportunities like organic farming and organic pit preparation, mobile repair shops, knitting, etc. The project uses a composite approach to bridge the demand and supply gap in workforce participation. On the supply side, the project works closely with businesses to identify suitable employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for women and youth, and develop their skills while also looking at participatory cost-sharing models that can ensure sustainability. On the demand side, the project is working towards building appropriate models that facilitate information dissemination, skill development and enterprise support for women. Literacy India conducted a community survey to identify and enrol beneficiaries. Approximately 100 women have benefited from the project.

Education

Gurukul Project

Since 2015, the we have partnered with Literacy India to support the education of approx. 120 tribal children (on a yearly basis) in Purulia (West Bengal).

The Gurukul Project evolved from the need to educate meritorious children who have potential but cannot access mainstream formal education due to a lack of access, resources and opportunities. Under this project, we also support students who wish to pursue higher education towards achieving graduate, post-graduate and other job-oriented vocational qualifications in subjects such as engineering and business.

Environment

Tree Plantation Drive

We partnered with Sankalp Taru for a tree plantation drive in the Aravalli hills of Manesar, Haryana. The tree plantation programme entailed the planting of 500 trees by our employees. The aim of the programme is to:

Promote bio-diversity by planting native species;
Create a self-sustaining ecosystem and natural habitat through long-term engagement of the village communities in growing and nurturing trees, and
Create environmental, social and rural impact by empowering village communities, especially rural women, through training on the production of allied agro products.

Clifford Chance

Careers

India