corporate social responsibility review - loyens & loeff

Corporate Social Responsibility Review

We are Loyens & LoeffA full-service law fi rm offering an integrated range of tax, legal and notarial services to those doing business in or from the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland.

Independent and internationalLoyens & Loeff is an independent fi rm with a network of 13 offi ces in major global fi nancial centres, staffed with specialists in Dutch, Belgian, Luxembourg and Swiss law. Our presence in Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Brussels, Luxembourg and Zurich forms the majority of our business.

Innovative and pragmaticEach problem requires a customised solution. Our pragmatic approach and drive to devise innovative solutions allow us to effectively address the demands of our clients’ domestic and international businesses.

Focused and engagedEntrepreneurship, client focus, quality awareness and social engagement all characterise our fi rm’s culture. We offer a challenging work environment and equal opportunities for all our employees; we do our utmost to protect the environment and we invest in neighbouring communities.

A B O U T U S

1,419Employees

408Attorneys at law

93Civil law notaries

329Tax advisers

€291mTurnover

London Brussels

Paris Tokyo

Hong Kong

Singapore

RotterdamAmsterdam

Dubai

Arnhem Zurich

Luxembourg New York

13Offi ces

Most InnovativeLaw Firm in Europe (Nominated by The Financial Times 2013)

Most InnovativeLaw Firm in Corporate Strategy (Nominated by The Financial Times 2013)

Loyens & Loeff CSR Review

Welcome to our corporate social responsibility reviewWe are proud to introduce this review, which gives an insight into just some of the ways in which we have begun to make a positive contribution to society in recent years. I hope it gives a sense of what our 1,400-strong team has achieved on this vital agenda, but equally that it provides a candid account of a firm at the beginning of a journey to understand and address its responsibilities. For us, this review is particularly significant because it creates the foundation from which to develop a more strategic, robust and impactful approach in the years ahead.

CSR is about far more than recycling and switching off lights; it’s about acting on our responsibilities to society and the environment. We owe this to our clients, because they count on us to be a reliable and responsible partner. We also owe it to society, because we realise that we benefit from society and have been given many privileges and opportunities. And we owe it to ourselves, because we are not just professionals, but also members of society; we want our work to be rewarding in all aspects, not just professionally. And so while CSR may very well be good for business, improving productivity, delivering bottom line savings, in the end we spend our time and efforts on CSR because it is the right thing to do.

This review comes at a propitious moment, as we celebrate 15 years of Loyens & Loeff. So, as well as being solid years for our business financially, it has also been a milestone period in terms of how we position ourselves within society. We have begun to set in motion a process towards a formal CSR strategy, involving all our employees to gain a clear picture of the Loyens & Loeff culture; we also worked alongside clients on their own CSR journey. Since 2012, we have given 2,632 hours of pro bono legal, tax and notarial advice to small businesses, charities and public bodies, and almost €1.5 million in direct sponsorship. We set stretching targets around gender diversity and made progress capturing environmental data and reducing unnecessary business travel.

Across all of this, we worked with others, building partnerships with academic, government and charitable organisations. Indeed, we have signed a Declaration of Sustainability Ambitions, alongside other global businesses in Amsterdam’s Green Business Club.

Despite steady progress, as we reflect on the journey so far, our partners share the view that there is still far more we can do. Through this review you will see plans for 2015 and beyond and we are deeply committed to ensuring we deliver on those plans and take our responsibilities on this agenda seriously. As this is our first review, we are covering our progress to date in order to provide a context to our CSR story thus far. These are exciting times for our firm and we are privileged to be part of this journey to a better future.

Contents

02 Our CSR journey04 Operating responsibly07 Supporting communities12 Caring for our people17 Protecting the environment

This review is particularly significant because it creates the foundations from which to develop a more strategic, robust and impactful approach in the years ahead.

Willem JarigsmaManaging partner

Pieter van DrutenChairman of the Board

Loyens & Loeff CSR Review 01

O U R C S R J O U R N E Y The Loyens & Loeff ethos of fair, transparent business has underpinned our approach to CSR. Engaging others along the way, we apply these principles both internally and in our interactions with clients and partner organisations. As always, we know there is more we can do in truly embedding an ethos of responsibility into our operations but drawing upon our values as a foundation is a positive first step.

In addition, we also draw upon ‘underlying values’ of co-operation (see page 03), diversity (see page 14) and innovation. Together, explicit and underlying values are embedded in our comprehensive Mission, Values and Conduct Protocol, which sets out how we confront issues ranging from corporate culture, conflicts of interest, and bribery and corruption, to grievances and social media risks.Where we’ve

come from...With nearly 100 years of heritage behind us, we have made steady progress in understanding and acting on our responsibilities to neighbouring communities and the global environment.

Our values Our CSR journey so far

2010 Co-founder of Amsterdam’s Green Business Club 2011 Signed the Talent to the Top Charter on gender diversity2012 Shared Values Code created2013 Diversity action plan to 2017 createdNominated Most Innovative Law Firm in Corporate Strategy by the Financial TimesConducted a ‘cultural barometer’ to understand our firm’s cultureBecame a partner in KLM airlines’ Biofuel Programme2014 CSR vision framework drafted Signed a Declaration of Sustainability Ambitions with the Green Business ClubConducted risk assessment survey and workshop

Client focus

Investing in the quality of our service and

trying to understand our clients better.

Social engagement

Contributing our knowledge and expertise – our pro

bono work.

Quality awareness

Securing the quality of client documentation and internal

quality management.

EntrepreneurshipWorking independently

and mitigating risks while exploring new, innovative

ways to improve our clients’ organisation

or trade.

02 Loyens & Loeff CSR Review

...and where we are going CSR is now one of the strategic themes for our firm. In 2014, we began the process of establishing a formal strategic framework to inform our direction.

CSR strategy

Vision

Policy framework

Initiatives and programmes

Inspirational focusStewardship

Goals, targets & KPIsGoals, targets & KPIs

Drawing on in-depth interviews with partners, as well as desk research into CSR insights and trends, the framework will act as a blueprint for how we will monitor, measure and drive impact. It will do this by creating a vision and policies to provide structure to the initiatives and programmes already in place. It will also set measurable goals and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Developing a pragmatic strategy that is suited to our sector and size and that the whole firm buys into is an ongoing process. We are currently consulting with colleagues via questionnaires and workshops to understand where to focus our efforts. In September 2015, we will dedicate our annual conference (attended by all employees in every global office) to the subject of CSR. Following this, we will further develop our strategy and we look forward to reporting progress on this.

Achieving more togetherAs our CSR journey evolves, we rely more than ever on partnerships to leverage our impact. We also believe it is essential to add a global perspective to our expert knowledge. So, as well as working alongside clients, sector peers and charitable organisations, we keep in close contact with the academic community, international thought leaders and business and industry organisations. These partnerships help us maintain the innovative edge that our clients expect from us.

We have participated in the Law Firm School since its founding in 2008, an initiative of 16 internationally operating law firms that have a presence in the Netherlands; and the Green Business Club since April 2010 (see page 08). We are also members of Business & Society and Time4Society.


O P E R AT I N GR E S P O N S I B LY

A trusted partnerOperating responsibly means being trusted by our clients to deliver accurate, neutral and confidential tax and legal advice. It also means being respected as a corporate citizen in society.


O ur Mission, Values and Conduct Protocol provides a structure to build this trust and respect,

while internal Learning & Development clarifies the behaviours and conduct expected of our team.

Protecting and engaging clientsIt is our duty to assure clients that we operate responsibly at all times. This includes never taking bribes or engaging in corruption and maintaining the utmost security of client (and employee) data. Our Code of ICT Conduct safeguards information through mechanisms such as encryption software for the firm’s computers and mobile phones.

This is one measure within a wider risk management system which we strengthened in 2014 by conducting a risk assessment survey and workshop attended by all partners,

Loyens & Loeff is excellent in terms of responsiveness, business acumen and quality of advice.

Loyens & Loeff client reporting to the global directory Legal 500

PolicySupplier Code of Conduct and Sustainable Procurement PolicyHelp ensure that CSR extends down our supply chain

Firstin the Incompany 100 survey

49employees have charitable board/committee responsibilities outside the firm

the outcomes of which included clarity on our priorities, and the goals and actions needed to address these. Risk awareness emerged as a key issue (specifically information security) as well as culture, behaviour and values, revising our client acceptance procedure, and partner compliance and assessment.

Our Engagement Partner Client teams play an active role in maintaining positive client relationships. In addition to our value-added services, we strongly believe that seamless project management is key to exceeding expectations. Loyens & Loeff came first in the Incompany 100 survey, the largest independent customer satisfaction survey among business service providers. We scored particularly highly in know-how, professional skills, vision and service.


Governance framework

O P E R AT I N GR E S P O N S I B LYC O N T I N U E D

Good governanceOur partners are committed to operating the firm ethically, fairly and transparently. This is vital to our licence to operate and maintains relationships of trust with our clients and partners. Employees at all levels are able to feed concerns or suggestions through a series of channels (including a dedicated grievance procedure and committee) and ultimately to the Executive Board.

As we begin our journey to formalise a strategic approach to responsible business, we have established specific structures to ensure issues around responsible business remain high on the agenda. A dedicated CSR partner, supported by a project team (to which any colleague can make suggestions or submit an idea), is tasked with embedding CSR within wider systems of governance.

Service delivery and client management

Board (8 partners with board assignment)

Shareholders (partners)

Practices, sector teams (junior & senior professionals)

Alignment & feedback

Alignment & feedback

SupportSupport

Alignment

& feedback

Alignment

& feedback

Local mangem

entin each office

Business Service Departm

ents(H

R, F&C

, IT, M&B)

Council6 Non-Executive Board members

Executive Board2 Executive Board members

Decision andcontrolling function• Management of the firm• Long-term strategy • Decide on the new projects, standards & policies

• Monitor implementation

Major topics:• Approval annual accounts• Long-term strategy discussions• Review and selection of possible new partners• Select new partners

Meeting in:AprilJuneSeptemberDecember

Meet 4 to 5 times a year. Final decisions making according to one man/one vote principle.

• Day-to-day management• Initiate new projects, standards & policies

• Implementation of Board decisions

BoardSecretariat

Looking aheadResponsible and ethical business is becoming increasingly important to our clients and is evident in our day-to-day interactions with them (including request for proposals and our third party Code of Conduct). We are mindful that our portfolio of tax and legal services that specialise in environmental planning, renewable energy and corporate governance has the potential to grow in a low-carbon market. There are also

opportunities to deliver thought leadership via our value-added services (events, briefings, training, publications and secondments).

In 2015, the Law Firm School, one of our education partners, will launch a new chapter on ethics to its education programme. This reflects our own journey towards becoming a more responsible, values-driven business. We will also be providing staff training on our Mission, Values and Conduct Protocol.

In new work bids, clients are requesting information most frequently on diversity, pro bono activity and environmental initiatives. They are also looking for robust governance and risk management. This reinforces the business case for corporate responsibility.

Pieter van Druten Chairman of the Board


S U P P O R T I N G C O M M U N I T I E S

Being a good neighbourEvidence shows that businesses thrive when neighbourhoods thrive. This is why investing in our communities is not only about being a good neighbour, it’s about safeguarding a future pipeline of talented people, and creating resilient local supply chains and new client opportunities.


S U P P O R T I N G C O M M U N I T I E SC O N T I N U E D

€1,486,428in sponsorship given to good causes since 2012

€15,000 scholarship We offer a scholarship for a young postgraduate student to undertake a Master of Law degree programme

Giving back Recognising that the world is becoming increasingly polarised between those who have and do not have access to justice and freedom of speech, we try to contribute to tackling social inequality in the communities we work in, and in the way in which we operate our firm. We do this by championing issues of human and labour rights, youth and education.

We view supporting arts and culture as fundamental to promoting education, and this has been at the heart of our communities strategy for many years.

Food for thought

Loyens & Loeff Amsterdam has been supporting the city’s food bank since 2012 through pro bono and financial donations. In 2014, the team leveraged its membership of the financial district’s Green Business Club, joining other businesses to donate 39 crates of food to those who have fallen through the cracks of the city’s welfare systems.

The team visited the food bank and met with volunteers and clients to hear first-hand just how easy it can be to become hungry, even in western Europe. Colleagues saw how, in addition to providing food, the centre formed a focal point for wider support to get people back on their feet. Volunteers also run classes to demonstrate how it is possible to cook cheaply and nutritiously. The food bank project is a real-life story of social equality in action, right on our doorsteps.

Case study

Unlikely encounters on the pitch

An enthusiastic team of Loyens & Loeff footballers met their match on a summer’s evening in Amsterdam. They played 16-20 year-old students from Calvijn met Junior College in an event organised by local charity Zingeving Zuidas, which aims to build positive relationships between businesses and communities in Amsterdam’s financial district.

Despite a close contest, the Loyens & Loeff team kicked their way to a semi-final victory. But even more rewarding than winning was the chance to integrate with others in the neighbourhood and instil a sense of social equality that transgressed age, gender, race and educational boundaries.

Case study

Your firm gives its people a lot of space and allows them to propose charities themselves, which stimulates strong commitment.

Willemijn Verloop FounderWar Child


We believe that social equality begins with the basics. This is why we contribute to food banks, vital havens for those vulnerable in society, even in some of the world’s most developed countries.

Fundamental to how we give back to society is our heritage of charitable sponsorship. In 2014, we gave €595,205 to charitable organisations. As an example, Loyens & Loeff provides essential funding to the Legal Aid Center in Amsterdam, an organisation run by volunteers that gives 5,500 people access to legal services, people who otherwise could not have afforded it. In 2014, alongside two other law firms in the city’s financial district, we pledged to give €8,000 annually as well as advice from our civil law notary, Rien Meppelink, who became Chairman of the Board at the Legal Aid Center.

Examples such as this complement our pro bono work and reflect the causes close to the heart of those who work for Loyens & Loeff. Volunteering time and money also helps to engage and inspire our people (see page 13).

Spotlight

Sponsorship

€ 595,205595,205

461,557

429,666

2014

2013

2012

Since 2007, employees have had the opportunity to exchange their Christmas gift for a donation to one of three charities. We gave a total of over €22,468 to Right To Play, which uses sport and play to enhance child development in areas of disadvantage; the Nije Foundation, which inspires and facilitates a better quality of life for (ex-) cancer patients and their families, and Lawyers for Lawyers, which campaigns for freedom and independence in the legal profession worldwide.

Helping youngsters get organised

We have partnered with JINC for six years, supporting its mission to expose young people to the world of business from an early age. We provide six half-day placements a year for students in their first year of high school. The goal is to enable youngsters to make the right choices and to offer them better prospects for work to reduce the likelihood of students dropping out.

Between 2012 and 2014, 215 students had a placement at our office in Amsterdam, while 40 students had a placement in our Rotterdam office during the last six months alone. In 2014, we also ran workshops for students in the first year of high school to demonstrate the importance of planning and calendar management.

The Loyens & Loeff work placements and workshops provided to young people have helped us to deliver on our charitable mission for six years. The structural financial contribution provided by Loyens & Loeff meant that JINC is not dependent on subsidies. As a result, we are able to operate quickly and alertly.

Jantine van Netten Project coordinator JINC

Case study

Low-cost communication

Our tax advisers and civil law notaries have been lending their expertise to the social enterprise BenBenet, whose mission is to give those at the base of the pyramid access to low-cost communications and banking infrastructure, with applications ranging from disaster recovery, financial inclusion and agriculture (sensor-based communications) to community networks.

Case study


Arts and culture: a partner’s viewBartjan Zoetmulder has been a partner at Loyens & Loeff since 2003. He shares his views on the importance of arts and culture to the heritage of the firm.How has Loyens & Loeff supported art and cultural initiatives over the years?We have been supporters since day one. Over the years, we’ve developed warm relationships with museums, galleries and orchestras on the doorstep of our European offices, helping ensure that arts and culture are accessible and can give inspiration to all.

Can you tell us about your support to Dutch orchestras and the Rijksmuseum?We have not only been supporting the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra for more than eight years now, we also actively partner with the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra. And one of our partners, Rien Meppelink, has provided pro bono notarial support for many years to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

How do you think this has helped engage Loyens & Loeff employees?To give an example: as part of our support to the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, we actively participate in a number of their events, such as the world tour in 2014. We offer our people the chance to learn about the excellence, talent, leadership and diversity that the orchestra fosters. The Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra organises an annual talent programme in which some of our associates have participated, learning management skills from the perspective of being in an orchestra.

S U P P O R T I N G C O M M U N I T I E SC O N T I N U E D

Pro bono Contributing our legal, tax and notarial expertise is the most effective way in which we can make a tangible difference in our communities. In doing so, we support small businesses, charities, schools and public bodies. Over the last three years, we have measured the impact of our pro bono initiatives.

Pro bono hours given by employees, and equivalent value:

€ 313,857

2012

2013 Hours

Hours Value

718.8 313,857

891.7 369,069

1,021.9 385,048

2014 Hours Value

Hours Value

Our people can nominate organisations that they care about and we encourage fee earners to pursue pro bono work. Below are some of the organisations we regularly assist:

H U M A N

R I G H T S

W A T C H

As well as sharing our know-how with good causes, we also work with academic and government partners to shape future legislation on key societal issues.

Building youth resilience, Brussels

Employees in our Brussels office have been lending a hand to Tanuso VW, the city’s Centre for Youth Care that supports young people up to the age of eighteen and their families. Tanuso offers:

• advice for youngsters aged 17 and over who are no longer at home, enabling them to live with foster families or independently;

• school holiday classes for children between 6 and 18 years, focusing on social skills and building self-esteem and confidence;

• a home and care for children who can no longer live with their families.

Around thirty enthusiastic Loyens & Loeff colleagues have volunteered their time to turn the garden into a games and recreational space for the young residents.

Case study


Going forward As our strategy begins to take shape, we look forward to addressing the synergies between our charitable sponsorships and wider issues of social inequality, for example. In doing so, we aim to have a deeper and more lasting impact in our community investments.

719 hoursgiven by our employees in pro bono legal, tax and notarial advice

€313,857 given in free legal, tax advice and notarialy support

27 Loyens & Loeff employees cycled to the top of Mont Ventoux to raise €15,000 for Ven2-4Cancer initiative

Pro bono highlights 2014Alongside financial support, we provided €313,857 in legal, tax advice and notarial support to, among others:• Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF),

for instance on immigration law• The 1%Club, which offers crowd-

funding for start-ups that want to contribute to a better world

• War Child, which protects children from violence in war zones

• Terre des Hommes (TDH) which works for the rights of the child and for equitable development

• Emma Children’s Hospital

It’s empowering being able to help an organisation with ideological aims by using your own know-how.

Jasper Neefe Senior mentor Loyens & Loeff Academy

The right to play

One billion children live lives of trauma in areas of conflict. The Right To Play Foundation trains local teachers and youth leaders to be coaches, helping children become more resilient through playing sports and games. We offer our legal expertise and Hermine Voûte, partner at Loyens & Loeff, is on the Board of the Foundation.

Marijn Bruins, a real estate attorney and lease specialist, and Paul Visser have been involved in supporting Right To Play by helping them with the lease agreement for their new premises. “The Foundation’s priorities were to obtain a decent-sized office and a reasonable lease term. We put the ball back into the landlord’s court. And not only did he agree to these conditions, he was even willing to offer a discount and sponsorship.”

Case study


C A R I N G F O R O U R P E O P L E

Shaping positive futuresAs a professional services firm, our employees are the greatest assets we have. We rely on talented individuals who offer a diversity of perspectives and we have a responsibility to shape a positive future for them, from induction to retirement.


H aving the right culture in place is the first step to harnessing people’s potential. We strive

to offer a workplace that is dynamic and challenging, but also inclusive, flexible and supportive. Diversity and work/life balance have been appointed as key priorities, as well as training and development.

In an independent survey, Loyens & Loeff Netherlands emerged as Best Employer in the business service provision sector, while our own ‘Culture barometer’ conducted in 2013 revealed encouraging results with high scores for engagement (8.0/10) and pride (8.1/10) among partners and senior associates. Slightly lower scores

were reported for satisfaction (7.7/10), which will inform our approach to people and culture in the year ahead.

With 74% of senior associates and partners participating in the culture barometer exercise, we learned that:

• there is a culture of high ambition (most wanted to continue working at Loyens & Loeff and become partners);

• male and female experiences of culture were similar; and

• experiences between partners and seniors differed, with seniors noting that they lacked time for a personal life and indicating a need for more structured coaching and feedback.

8.0/10Employee engagement

8.1/10Employee pride

High engagement level

Employee engagement8.0/10 8% 33%

59%

Employee retention8.2/10 11% 50%

39%

Employee satisfaction7.7/10 11% 32%

57%

Employee pride8.1/10

8% 48%

44%

Respondents rated the topic 9/10 or higher

Respondents rated the topic 6-9/10

Respondents rated the topic 6/10 or less

TalentContinuing to attract the best talent relies on a package that not only supports and rewards, but also develops people. Our greatest opportunity to learn is on the job, working with and alongside our clients but we also offer numerous opportunities for employees to receive guidance from more senior colleagues (e.g. partners and senior associates). We are beginning to capture staff feedback more frequently. For example: during formal career performance meetings, we carefully record all input and check that the action points are followed up.

We believe that it is vital that employees pursue continuous learning so they can offer the most innovative solutions to our clients and remain motivated in their roles. We offer a comprehensive induction programme through the Loyens & Loeff Academy, which gives junior attorneys, tax advisers and civil law notaries the opportunity to meet international colleagues and discover how to put our values into practice (see page 02). The induction programme is followed by an extensive learning & development programme to enhance both technical (legal), interpersonal and leadership skills.

Bring a Friend event

In 2014, employees at Loyens & Loeff were given the chance to invite their friends to our office by signing up for the Bring a Friend event. This event is for friends that are in their third or fourth year of studying Dutch Law, Notary Law, Tax Law and/or Tax Economics, and provides an opportunity to get to know the office by discussing a legal case. Initiatives such as these help develop the next generation of tax and legal professionals.

Case study


During the elevator pitch workshop, we learned how to make a good first impression in two minutes. The secret is to display enthusiasm and give clear and simple explanations, without resorting to technical statements or complex jargon.

Muriel DenruyterMarketing & business development manager

C A R I N G F O R O U R P E O P L EC O N T I N U E D

Diversity Our business requires a diversity of perspectives and talents that reflect our client base. A culture of inclusiveness ensures that we find the best people for the job, regardless of ethnicity, age, gender, sexual orientation or disability. We know that we can do better to achieve this and we are working hard to integrate a culture of inclusiveness into all processes from recruitment and training to cultural change, and executive and leadership development. However, we recognise that we still have unacceptably few female partners (11), heads of department and directors.

A priority since 2008 has therefore been gender diversity. We established a Diversity Council to explore the ratios of male and female staff employed by Loyens & Loeff between 2003 and 2013, and to raise awareness of the importance of an inclusive and flexible culture through a range of initiatives:

• Awareness training for all partners, with a focus on leadership style and diversity.

• Career Watchers Programme. Female talent is monitored and supported by mentors (who are partners). It was decided to extend this to male mentees in 2012.

• Signing the Talent to the Top Charter in the Netherlands (see page 16), which aims to promote the influx, flow, and retention of women ‘at the top’, thereby setting a target for 15% of partners or heads of department to be women by 2018 (30% by 2025).

• Working Parent lunches. An opportunity for parents to exchange thoughts on how to combine work with having children.

• Appraisal and career review forms. We have added a series of questions about work/life balance to make this an integral part of the conversation.

• Executive Board and Committee. More attention is focused on the male/female ratio.

With a clear vision, targets and a 2013-17 action plan, the Diversity Council recognises that there is still a long way to go in achieving a truly inclusive and flexible working culture. We recognise that the percentage of female senior fee-earners is still much lower than males (despite a similar influx of juniors) and there is therefore a very large outflow of females at the intermediate-level. Beyond genuine attention for those groups that are currently under-represented in our firm, we will have to include innovations

in the field of career development and employment. Against this background, the name of the Diversity Council was changed to Social Innovation Council in 2012. The Executive Board and the Social Innovation Council are committed to exponentially increasing the number of women serving on bodies such as the Board and the Partner Appointment Committee.

Partner spotlight

On 29 April 2014, Winfried van den Muijsenbergh was knighted in the Royal Order of Orange-Nassau. He is chairman and co-founder of several organisations, among them: UNESCO Netherlands, the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, the Atlantic and Pacific Exchange Program, the Hugo Grotius Founding, the Center for International Legal Cooperation, the Liliane Fonds Foundation, Dance Studio Al Porto, Poets of All Nations, Free Word Foundation, the Selexyz Proza Debuutprijs Foundation, and the Netherlands Sultanate of Oman Foundation.

On behalf of His Majesty the King, Hamith Breedveld was knighted in the Royal Order of Oranje Nassau on 15 May 2014, in recognition of his extraordinary effort to help society to a higher level. The Mayor of Rotterdam recalled the boundless energy that Hamith has given to society from an early age and the generous way in which he has always shared his knowledge and experience with others, especially his pioneering administration work for the Vincentius Foundation in Rotterdam, supporting individuals and groups in social need, and his work for Stadsherstel Historisch Rotterdam were praised. The latter aims to maintain and operate historic and landmark buildings in Rotterdam and the surrounding area.

Case study


More than 30of our partners and associates hold a position as professor, teacher or assistant in the leading Benelux universities or business schools

30%target: 30% of the firm’s partner base to be female by 2025

The programme has primarily increased my awareness of differences between people, not only between men and women; it was a great starting point to appreciate my own distinctive qualities and how to make the most of them within our firm and when dealing with business relationships.

Lucia SahinTax adviser

Top Mom

In the Netherlands, only 7% of senior positions are filled by women. Loyens & Loeff has supported the Lifeguard Academy’s ‘Top Mom’ programme since 2012. Top Mom aims to tackle the barriers to women gaining and upholding senior positions in businesses such as juggling children with work, societal expectations around being a mother and remuneration disparities between men and women.

The programme consists of:

• training in personal effectiveness for young mothers or pregnant women in senior roles;

• coaching from a psychologist specialised in behaviour change, personal effectiveness and communication.

Participants have attended from Ernst & Young, Fortis, KPMG, McKinsey & Company, PwC and Stibbe. Following the three-day course, women continue to gain insight and motivation from the network, defining their limits and managing feelings of guilt that may be experienced by working mothers.

Case study


P I L L A R 3C A R I N G F O R O U R P E O P L EC O N T I N U E D

Our mission for the next three years is to help create a culture of inclusiveness that favours diverse talent, one in which people know that their opinions are taken seriously and giving them the opportunity to develop.

Frank Leijdesdorff Partner and Chairman Social Innovation Council Loyens & Loeff

In 2014, we launched ‘Career Watchers’ for the third time. In this programme, partners coach female colleagues to support them in their career goals and challenges. Our buddy system has also proven successful in Belgium.

Looking aheadOur human resources (HR) team has committed itself to support two of the strategic themes within our firm: Talent Development and Partner Development. Two themes with underlying initiatives such as: making partners (enhancing the current career performance route), modifying the appraisal system framework, introducing a partner assessment cycle and developing leadership programmes for associates and partners.

Gender diversity will remain a key priority for us in the years ahead as we work towards our target of 30% women in senior roles by 2025. We will be taking the recommendations of the Talent to the Top Monitoring Committee forward to do this.

We will also:

• Enhance coaching and feedback opportunities

• Focus on individual qualities, appreciation and recognition

• Improve clarity on partner appointment criteria

• Reduce presence culture, accept flexible working hours and working from home

• Strengthen a sense of team spirit and a culture of shared responsibilities

Case study

Talent to the Top

In 2011 Loyens & Loeff, alongside businesses, organisations and institutions based in the Netherlands, signed the Talent to the Top Charter, committing ourselves to establishing and reporting on measurable targets, as well as devising a strategy and action plan for placing and retaining more women in senior roles (defined as partners, heads of department and directors). We report progress annually to the Monitoring Talent to the Top Committee, using a bespoke tool to monitor the conditions conducive to achieving our goals. At the end of 2014, 59.1% of employees were female, higher than the sector average. However, only 11.5% of senior positions were occupied by women, putting us off-track to meet the Talent to the Top Charter’s target of 15% by 2018.

Women as a percentage of the workforce

Percentage of women in senior roles

2014

59.1%

2014

11.5%

2013

58.5%

2013

11.1%

The Committee has therefore made the following recommendations:

• Establish a rigorous diversity policy, managed within clear governance systems• Ensure greater leadership commitment and make sufficient resources available

to drive the agenda• Embed the strategy within human resource processes including recruitment

and selection, career planning and learning and development• Leverage the Social Innovation Council (made up of male and female partners,

senior employees and staff members) to communicate ambitions internally, profiling examples of females ‘at the top’ and create a culture of inclusivity


P R O T E C T I N G T H E E N V I R O N M E N T

Towards a cleaner futureWe see the potential in a cleaner, greener economy. By becoming an efficient, smart business we will save time, money and energy while also realising new client opportunities in environmental law and alternative energy.


46,000kilowatt hours saved in Amsterdam in 2014 by sourcing more efficient data servers and using LED lights in communal areas

Bicycle policy Our bicycle policy promotes the option to cycle to work. We also encourage employees to use Tax-E, our electric taxi service provider

P R O T E C T I N G T H E E N V I R O N M E N TC O N T I N U E D

A s a professional services firm, our greatest impacts are business and commuting travel,

waste, energy and paper consumption. We focus our environmental initiatives in these areas.

Cutting carbonAlthough we are early on in this journey, we are measuring and monitoring energy and travel data at our primary European sites. We are also beginning to calculate a carbon footprint baseline for these offices, which will help us make further reductions going forward.

Spotlight

Brussels energy use

Electricity consumption (kWh)

378,076

378,076

389,272

444,083

2014

2013

2012

Our 2014 electricity consumption represents 74.1 tonnes of CO2 based on average Belgium electricity mix (Conversion factor source: UK Government/ DEFRA). Green buildings

Loyens & Loeff took part in PROVADA, an annual real estate exhibition in Amsterdam. This year’s theme was (Re) Building the Business and was the inspiration for an event we hosted around transforming real estate and making it more sustainable. Around 75 clients attended the event and discussed the importance of sustainable buildings to the business world, including the increasing incentive for property investors to satisfy tenants’ ‘green’ expectations.

Case study


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replaced

Resource efficiencyReams of paper and hard copy files have come to symbolise the legal profession. At Loyens & Loeff, we are determined to change this perception by reducing our paper consumption and associated waste. In our Amsterdam office, we recycle approximately 47 tonnes of paper per year and paper is certified to the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC), as it is in Rotterdam. In our Luxembourg office, paper is certified by The Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), an international non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting Sustainable Forest Management through independent third-party certification.

Spotlight

Brussels paper use

Consumption (sheet)

184,750

184,750

129,000

2014

2013

Our waste contractor, Sita, has a Green Label standard, investing 0.6-2.5% of our fee in The Carbon Neutral Group’s sustainable energy projects and those initiated by the Dutch branch of CARE International. In addition to paper, we also recycle batteries, toners, lamps and other hazardous waste. Old mobile phones are sold to start-up Tech Returns to be given a new lease of life, with funds from phones sold donated to charity.

Flying on French fries

Global mobility is central to our firm and business travel is by far the greatest contributor to our carbon footprint. We are a partner of the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines’ Biofuel Programme, the world’s first biofuel proposition for contracted corporate accounts, developed alongside the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). The first ‘French Fries Flight’ took place on 8 March 2013. As a partner in this initiative, we can be assured that certain flights we take will run on recycled vegetable oil from restaurants, replacing in part kerosene fuel and stimulating the further development of biofuels.

Case study


We participated in WWF’s Earth Hour by switching off all lights.

Aruna Ghisaaidobe-NandaOffice management executive

Our annual Power &Utilities Seminar wasused to give smallbusinesses the chanceto pitch green ideasto a jury of businessleaders. The winner,Being Development(a sustainable realestate developer),received €5,000 oftax and legal adviceto propel its growth.

Niels MullerSenior tax advisor

P R O T E C T I N G T H E E N V I R O N M E N TC O N T I N U E D

Spotlight

Rotterdam waste generation

Waste generated(tonnes)

150.6

150.6 2014

While not a material environmental impact, we do measure and monitor our water consumption and take measures to save water where we can.

Spotlight

Luxembourg water use

Water consumption (m3)

3,839

3,839

3,543

3,732

2014

2013

2012

Blue roofs

Most people have heard of green roofs. A new idea is gaining momentum: blue roofs that capture, regulate and reuse rainwater and convert waste water into energy. Working with the Green Business Club, Loyens & Loeff is championing sustainable building projects like these by contributing legal expertise. The GBC water project group, for example, is made up of developers, financial experts and attorneys at law.

The energy project group enabled solar panels to be placed on the roof of the RAI conference centre to set a good example. Making an adjustment to a building in this way also has legal and tax implications. A tax expert and an attorney at law from our firm were therefore part of the realisation process.

Timo Huisman, Attorney at law and Chairman of the Amsterdam GBC

Case study


Looking aheadWe recognise that we need to go much further in consistently measuring environmental data, as well as reducing paper, energy and carbon. Therefore, while we have established some useful baselines, going forward we are committed to expand the scope of our reporting and ensure we report consistently for all European sites (expanding to global offi ces in a subsequent phase).

From 2015, we have ensured all our tea and coffee is Fairtrade and all paper cups are bio-compostable. We will also be offering a hybrid vehicle option within our leasing policy and have installed charging stations in Rotterdam and Amsterdam.

Our Amsterdam offi ce is equipped with a rainwater system.

Hans JagerHead of facility services

The great plastic challenge

As part of our involvement with the Green Business Club, two of our employees in the GBC Young Professionals Programme came up with an initiative to collect plastic around the fi nancial district. During the challenge week, the project gathered momentum and other businesses in the area including Accenture, Google, De Brauw, Baker and BCG joined in.

Participating recyclers (including Sita, our own Green Label contractor) took plastic waste for free or at a reduced rate during the Plastic Challenge week. The waste collected was given to fi rst-year art students at the Rietveld Academy, who made sculptures from the waste. The sculptures were part of an outdoor exhibition in the fi nancial district; one sculpture was a gift to the Amsterdam Alderman for Sustainability.

Case study

16.8 tonnesof CO2 saved through the use of biofuel in aeroplanes as part of our partnership with KLM

Loyens & Loeff CSR Review

For more information, please contact:

Pauline de Hek-Jonquière Head of Marketing & CommunicationsT: +31 20 578 50 28 E: [email protected]