SA Law has become the first Hertfordshire-based law firm to achieve B Corp certification. Headquartered in St Albans, the firm has been recognised for its high standards of ethical and sustainable practices.
There are over 2500 B Corps in the UK, but only a small number of law firms have achieved B Corp certification.
Certified B Corporations, or B Corps, are companies that meet high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Rather than focusing solely on profit, B Corps are legally required to consider the impact of their decisions on their workers, clients, suppliers, community, and the environment.
B Lab, the global non-profit organisation behind the B Corp movement, assesses companies’ eligibility and pushes organisations to drive more inclusive, equitable and regenerative practices. This is central to B Corp’s mission, which is ‘to transform the global economy to benefit all people, communities and the planet.’
SA Law saw the B Corp certification as an essential next step for the firm. Since SA Law was founded in 2005 – it celebrates its 20th anniversary this year – the firm has consistently upheld strong ethical standards. This includes, but is not limited to, working for clients in industries that prioritise ethical standards in their commercial operations; investing in and supporting the wellbeing of its staff, including championing flexible working; and having a solid commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility in the communities they serve. As part of its journey to B Corp, SA Law has also introduced other initiatives to enhance its environmental and social performance, such as taking steps to reduce its emissions.
To certify as a B Corp, SA Law has undergone B Lab’s rigorous verification process, under their B Impact Assessment, which measured the firm’s social and environmental performance across five Impact Areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers. In order to achieve certification, companies must demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing B Lab’s risk review.
Steve Ryan, co-founder and Joint Managing Partner, commented:
“When we set out on our B Corp journey, we were conscious that, whilst we had made great strides to becoming a socially conscious business, there was so much more we could do to be, in B Corp’s words, a ‘force for good’.
“Very few law firms in the UK have B Corp certification, but at SA Law, we felt that a focus on the continual improvement of ethical and sustainable practices in business was non-negotiable.
“Lawyers play a huge role in developing standards – not only are they at the forefront of legislative change, but through their legal advice, they heavily contribute to their clients’ commercial practices.
“As a firm, we pride ourselves on our multi-disciplinary, holistic approach to clients’ legal issues. We see the consideration of ethical and sustainable standards as part of this.”
Tracy Lacey-Smith, Joint Managing Partner, added:
“We are proud that SA Law is the first Hertfordshire-based law firm to become a B Corp and has joined its growing community of organisations looking to do business more ethically.
“Becoming a certified B Corp gives us more opportunities to engage with others who share our ambition to create positive change. As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, this really is the beginning of a new era for the firm.
“Being conscious about the environmental impact of your business is a necessity. Whilst SA Law’s staff were already working and advising with sustainability in mind, we felt we could do more to improve on these initiatives.
“We are looking forward to building on the sustainable business initiatives which has earned us this recognition, and we are excited to collaborate with the B Corp community.”
Kelly Pike, Head of Human Resources, also said:
“The passion to become a B Corp has been felt across the firm, with our team taking great strides to explore new ways to improve our impact. We are thankful for everyone’s creativity, commitment and dedication to achieving certification.
“B Lab’s Impact Assessment process challenged and stimulated our thinking. It was hard work, but so worth it. We have already seen the positive effects it has had on staff morale and client engagement. We would encourage our peers across the legal industry to consider embarking on the certification process. The legal sector has an important role to play in creating a more equitable and environmentally conscious world.”
To find out more about the ethos and work behind B Corp and the B Lab certification process, please read here.
