Sustainability Report 2022-2023

We are the future in practice

We have been committed to sustainability since our foundation.

The 30th anniversary of Abreu Advogados provided a valuable opportunity for in-depth reflection on the strategy to be adopted. From this exercise, sustainability emerged reinforced as a central axis of the firm’s purpose, involving all generations of the organisation.

Abreu is a pioneer and a leader in the legal sector in this area, demonstrating a strong commitment to integrating internal ESG practices aimed at the inclusion and well-being of people, social justice, environmental protection and economic development.

With a growing reputation, recognised sustainability experts and a solid track record in advising, we support our clients in adapting to the new European ESG regulations, simplifying complex contexts and promoting specific improvements in various sectors.

This is how we build the future. We are aware that we must continually improve our efforts in this direction and we are optimistic about the future.”

Inês Sequeira Mendes,
Managing Partner

Vision of Sustainability

We believe that the sustainability of any organisation is based on each person's fulfilment

This feeling of individual well-being goes beyond the organisation itself and depends on a balance of family, social, environmental and professional factors. Our aim is for the people who make up Abreu Advogados to be able to combine these factors in a perfect balance.

We will always be a company committed to the fulfilment of the people who work with us and the community in which we operate.

Only in this way can we become a law firm committed to sustainable development, with deep respect for people, the environment and future generations.

We develop a long-term vision

Over 30 years, this model has enabled us to be pioneers in building a humanist culture that values, supports and promotes the best social, economic and environmental practices.

Abreu Pioneering

2001

Challenging SGS to adapt the ISO 9001 certification process to legal services, making us a case study in 2008 based on our experience as the only certified law firm.

2004

Electing a woman as Managing Partner, Carmo Sousa Machado, who later, in 2017, also became the first chairwoman of a law firm in Portugal.

2007

Setting up the first Portuguese private carbon fund with CMVM - Comissão de Mercado de Valores Mobiliários.

2008

Adhering to the United Nations Global Compact, committing ourselves to govern our activity by the ten social, ethical and governance principles it establishes.

2008

Joining BCSD Portugal - Business Council for Sustainable Development, committing ourselves to an intervention that contributes to a development that guarantees a prosperous future for the next generations.

2009

Submitting a sustainability report on the legal sector, from which we have structured our path to sustainability. Disclosing billing data as an integral part of the stance of transparency that we defend in our activity.

2009

Measuring the carbon footprint as we consider environmental sustainability to be a commitment made by all towards a common future. Considering Pro Bono hours a key performance indicator (KPI).

2010

Publishing a children’s book on legal literacy, A Justiça Trocada por Miúdos, by lawyer Rita Maltez in collaboration with a daily newspaper.

2011

Publish a style book and set out to all employees the principles, values and objectives by which we propose to orientate ourselves.

2015

Becoming B Corp certified. A certification that is granted to businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental performance and accountability.

2016

Creating a code of conduct and a complaint channel.

2019

Implementing a cultural project within the Lisbon office in partnership with Carpe Diem Arte e Pesquisa.

2020

Developing sustainability training for Law students – Sustainability School.

2021

Creating an internal happiness management department – Happiness Hub. Implementing the Legal Up programme, defined for Abreu Advogados' sustainability area, around which internal and external initiatives are developed to raise awareness and promote public debate.

Scaled responses to global challenges

We govern our contribution to sustainability according to the following guidelines:

Promoting the Future

Recognise the importance of our work as lawyers in defending the rule of law and sustainable development

Responsible Practice of Law

Develop balanced, transparent and responsible relationships with our stakeholders

Environmental Protection

Promote an active response to environmental problems

Human Asset Management

Seek employee development as a differentiating factor

Community Engagement

Promote investment in the community and drive the development of society at large

Sustainability governance

Our Sustainability Committee provides a space for reflection and support for the strategy of defining sustainability and identifying priorities for intervention. It is composed of 5 fixed members and 8 rotating members.

We have also created a group of Ambassadors, who energise the projects, helping to reinforce our culture of sustainability.

In our work we apply ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) criteria, around which the overall response we give our clients in legal services also gravitates.

Progressing in the application of measures, in line with the requirements of the most credible international working groups and organisations dedicated to climate targets.

Improving our policy of diversity, gender and inclusion, which has guided the way we design the composition of our teams since our inception, promoting education and training platforms as a factor in sustainable development and putting our legal knowledge and experience at the service of the community to build a more informed and just society.

Ensuring the highest standards of transparency and ethical action and a robust corruption prevention policy.

When we choose sustainability, we choose to be the future

The commitments we have made

Focus on Sustainability in Abreu Advogados' activity

Creation of the Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Department.

Launch of biennial theme for Sustainability - Legal Up - in order
to optimise the impact of initiatives.

Draw up a letter of commitment for our suppliers.

Creation of the ESG - Environmental, Social and Governance service.

Reactivation of the Sustainability Commission to coordinate and monitor the sustainability plan.

Appointment of ambassadors to lead initiatives defined within the scope of the Sustainability Commission.

Contributing to a reflection on sustainability in the legal sector

Creation of the Sustainability School, dedicated to training final year law students in the area of law and sustainability.

Creation of the ESG Chair at the Nova School of Law.

Promotion and dissemination of knowledge about social, environmental and governance challenges in legal activity.

Conclusion of collaboration protocols with faculties, namely NOVA School of Law, NOVA Green Lab and IE Law School (Madrid).

Develop the policy of pro bono legal services and community support

Restructuring of the Pro Bono Commission.

Updating and renewal of institutional protocols with pro bono partners.

Promoting employee involvement with pro bono partners.

Promoting legal literacy

Creation of Legal Literacy Manuals with the aim of translating existing legislation into language accessible to all.

Support of the Dyslexia Day by Day project in interpreting the legislation applicable to children with dyslexia.

Reinforce Abreu's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and using resources efficiently

Submission of greenhouse gas reduction targets to the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Membership in the Climate Ambition Accelerator, aimed at combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Raising employees' awareness of the efficient use of resources and developing sustainable initiatives to develop in the office.

Promoting the use of soft modes of transport by making an electric bicycle available for employee journeys.

Implementation of eco-communication practices.

Realised

In progress

General

Focus on Sustainability in Abreu Advogados' activity

Creation of the Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Department.

Launch of biennial theme for Sustainability - Legal Up - in order
to optimise the impact of initiatives.

Draw up a letter of commitment for our suppliers.

Creation of the ESG - Environmental, Social and Governance service.

Reactivation of the Sustainability Commission to coordinate and monitor the sustainability plan.

Appointment of ambassadors to lead initiatives defined within the scope of the Sustainability Commission.

Contributing to a reflection on sustainability in the legal sector

Creation of the Sustainability School, dedicated to training final year law students in the area of law and sustainability.

Creation of the ESG Chair at the Nova School of Law.

Promotion and dissemination of knowledge about social, environmental and governance challenges in legal activity.

Conclusion of collaboration protocols with faculties, namely NOVA School of Law, NOVA Green Lab and IE Law School (Madrid).

Community

Develop the policy of pro bono legal services and community support

Restructuring of the Pro Bono Commission.

Updating and renewal of institutional protocols with pro bono partners.

Promoting employee involvement with pro bono partners.

Promoting legal literacy

Creation of Legal Literacy Manuals with the aim of translating existing legislation into language accessible to all.

Support of the Dyslexia Day by Day project in interpreting the legislation applicable to children with dyslexia.

The Environment

Reinforce Abreu's commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and using resources efficiently

Submission of greenhouse gas reduction targets to the Science-Based Targets initiative.

Membership in the Climate Ambition Accelerator, aimed at combating climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Raising employees' awareness of the efficient use of resources and developing sustainable initiatives to develop in the office.

Promoting the use of soft modes of transport by making an electric bicycle available for employee journeys.

Implementation of eco-communication practices.

Realised

In progress

We know that our actions are part of a global context of unprecedented challenges, for which responses will also have to be of scale.

We refer to the Agenda for Sustainable Development – also known as the 2030 Agenda – whose Sustainable Development Goals require a relevant contribution from each individual and each organisation.

Read our Sustainability Report and find out how we are committed to the Sustainable Development Goals to which we believe we have a relevant contribution.