Creating positive change for our people, communities and planet

Sustainability is embedded in how we work and in our purpose of helping shape Aotearoa New Zealand's future. Our firm is playing an active part in Aotearoa New Zealand's sustainability journey, which is already underway, and we are committed to using our collective skills, time and resources to create positive, lasting outcomes for our people, clients, communities and planet.

Sustainability Strategy 2025+ 

Our Sustainability Strategy 2025+ reflects our mission to deliver a positive, lasting impact for our people, clients, communities, and planet. 

Our approach is guided by three strategic pillars:

• Kia toitū te taiao – protecting our environment
• Kia toitū te tangata – caring for our people and communities
• Kia toitū te tikanga – leading sustainable business practices

Together, these pillars guide our environmental initiatives, community partnerships and responsible business practices as we work towards a more sustainable future for Aotearoa New Zealand.

Read our Sustainablilty Strategy 

Kia toitū te taiao 

Taking action for our environment 

We are working to reduce our environmental footprint through emissions measurement, responsible resource use, sustainable travel and employee-led initiatives.

Responsible consumption and production of goods and services

Underpinning our commitment to positive outcomes for our planet, we have implemented a Responsible Consumption and Production of Goods and Services policy, which contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12. 

We are striving to be net zero carbon by 2050 and are currently working towards external certification.

Supporting lower-emissions aviation 

As part of our commitment to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050, we were one of the first organisations to partner with Air New Zealand to support the adoption of sustainable aviation fuel.

Sustainable aviation fuel is a lower-carbon alternative to conventional jet fuel. Our multi-year investment in sustainable aviation fuel certificates helps us address emissions associated with international business travel while supporting the development of lower-carbon aviation solutions.

Supporting sustainable commuting 

• ME-Bike: Through our ME-Bike scheme, eligible employees can purchase an e-bike using pre-tax salary deductions. The scheme makes e-bikes more accessible and supports healthier, lower-emission commuting choices. 
• GoME!: Our GoME! programme allows eligible employees to pay public transport costs from pre-tax income, making travel by bus, train and ferry a more practical and cost-effective option. 

Together, ME-Bike and GoME! encourage our people to consider more sustainable ways of travelling to and from work.

SustainME 

SustainME is our employee-led environmental network. Representatives from across our firm work together to reduce our environmental footprint and encourage more sustainable practices in our workplace.

Initiatives include:

• soft-plastics recycling across our offices
• FollowME printing technology to help reduce paper waste
• e-waste and battery recycling
• extending the useful life of firm-provided devices
• reusing technology within our firm and donating suitable equipment to community organisations in need
• donating used coffee grounds for community gardening
• supporting e-bike and public transport programmes
• encouraging lower-impact food choices through regular vegetarian lunches. 

These practical initiatives give our people opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable workplace.

Kia toitū te tangata 

Investing in our communities 

Our Community Investment Programme brings our sustainability commitments to life through community partnerships, pro bono legal support and volunteering.

We support organisations working across areas including climate action, poverty reduction, equity, access to justice and community wellbeing. By contributing our time, skills and resources, we aim to build enduring partnerships and create meaningful outcomes across Aotearoa New Zealand. 

Opportunities include conservation work on Tiritiri Matangi, environmental restoration, supporting access to justice and helping families navigate legal challenges. These experiences enable our people to use their skills in practical ways and contribute to stronger communities. 

Our community partners 

Our community partners include organisations making a positive difference across Aotearoa New Zealand.

• Supporters of Tiritiri Matangi: We support conservation and restoration work that helps protect Tiritiri Matangi and its native wildlife. Learn more.
• Community Law: Through our partnership with Waitematā Community Law Centre and Community Law Wellington & Hutt Valley, our people volunteer their time and expertise to help individuals and whānau access free legal information, education and assistance. Learn more.
• Who Did You Help Today?: We support work that helps mothers in prison maintain meaningful relationships with their children through legal information, guidance and advocacy. Learn more.
•  Volunteering: Our people can contribute their time and expertise through a range of environmental and community activities.

 Learn more about our Community Investment Programme

Kia toitū te tikanga 

Leading through sustainable business practices 

We recognise the role our firm can play as a business and strategic adviser in supporting more sustainable practices.

Our environmental initiatives, community partnerships and responsible business practices are connected by a shared goal: to help create positive, lasting outcomes for our people, clients, communities and planet.

This includes continuing to examine how we operate, engaging our people in sustainability, working with organisations that share our goals and using our expertise to support more sustainable decision-making.

Partnerships

• The Lever Room: As part of our long-term commitment to reach net-zero carbon by 2050, we are strengthening the way we measure and manage our greenhouse-gas emissions. To support this, we are working with resilience and carbon impact specialists The Lever Room, whose approach is anchored in international best practice and science-based methodologies. Together, we are implementing an annual programme of comprehensive emissions measurement and analysis across our entire value chain (Scopes 1–3). This process draws on recognised global frameworks, high-quality data, and processes that are rooted in leading climate science.  The Lever Room’s role is to ensure that our emissions profile is accurate, defensible and continually improving, enabling us to make well-informed decisions about where and how to reduce our footprint. They also support our teams in identifying practical, meaningful reduction opportunities and in progressively improving the quality and completeness of our carbon data year on year. This partnership enhances the integrity of our climate strategy and ensures our progress toward net zero aligns with leading international standards and the expectations of our clients, people and communities. Learn more about The Lever Room.
• Toitū Tahua: Our firm helped establish Toitū Tahua and provides ongoing legal advice to the Centre and some of its implementation groups. Learn more abou Toitū Tahua.
• The Chancery Lane Project: We were the first New Zealand law firm to commit to climate conscious drafting applying the approach taken in The Chancery Lane Project and introduced the initiative to our clients and wider community. Learn more about The Chancery Lane Project.
• Living Wage: We are proudly a Living Wage employer, a movement that emerged as a response to growing poverty and inequality holding back New Zealand workers and families. As a firm, we remain committed to paying the living wage. Learn more about Living Wage.

Learn more:

• Sustainability and ESG expertise
• Climate change expertise
• Sustainable finance