The report sets out DACB's ambitious new commitments to reduce its carbon impact, expanding the scope of the firm's environmental reporting to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi), which is the world-leading framework for setting targets and aligned with the Paris Agreement. DACB made its first submission to the SBTi earlier this year, committing to reducing Scope 1 & 2 emissions by 42 per cent, and Scope 3 emissions by 25 per cent, by 2030.

DACB has also grown its volunteering programme, which launched five years ago and today has a participation rate of 27 per cent amongst DACB colleagues. The programme addresses three key themes: homelessness, disadvantaged schoolchildren and the elderly.

DAC Beachcroft’s Senior Partner, Virginia Clegg, commented, "Through this report we have set out our commitments to reducing our impact on the environment and contributing to social sustainability. This is about more than ‘doing the right thing’, it connects directly to our Purpose as a firm, which is focused on creating sustainable value for our clients, our people and our communities."

DACB's sustainability commitments complement its growing ESG advisory work for clients, which includes recent publications such as the DACB 'Risk Register 2023 - Special Edition: ESG and what it means for law firms', 'ESG Decarbonisation in the Shipping Industry', the 'ESG in Health and Social Care' report, as well as the firm's 'Informed Insurance' collection of thought leadership and predictions for the insurance sector.

The firm's volunteering programme with Change Please, a social enterprise which helps homeless people through its coffee business, has also been recognised recently through two award shortlistings. As part of the programme DACB volunteers have helped 40 people through six employability workshops, with 85 per cent going into onward employment.

Further details can be found in the DAC Beachcroft 2023 Sustainability Report, which can be accessed here.