Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility
We are committed to run our business in a responsible and sustainable way. This is important to us both as individuals and as a company.
Our commitment
We take active responsibility both in how we manage our business and through contributing beyond our own sphere. We have been certified as an «Eco-Lighthouse» since 2009, and through purchasing climate quotas we are today a climate neutral company. We aim to exceed the expectations placed upon us, and sustainability and corporate social responsibility are integrated parts of our business strategy. We and our business partners must comply with the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the ILO conventions including the Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work, and the UN RIO Declaration on Environment and Development.
Ethical requirements and guidelines
We are dedicated to ensure high ethical standards, and we have solid routines for the prevention of money laundering and conflicts of interest. We have established our own ethical guidelines which is expected to be adhered to by everyone who performs work for our company, including our supply chain. As part of our effort to raise awareness of ethical requirements and compliance, several of our lawyers participate in various public committees, hold board positions in associations, and are authors of professional books and articles.
As a law firm, we are concerned with legal protection and rights. For several years Simonsen Vogt Wiig has been a financial supporter of Amnesty International Norway. In 2023, we extended our collaboration to also encompass an academic side, where our dedicated specialists will prepare two memorandums connected to artificial intelligence and the EU Commission’s proposed AI Act.
Collaboration with Amnesty International Norway
We are excited to announce the renewal of our partnership with Amnesty International Norway. The new collaboration is two-sided, with both a financial as well as an academic side.
We provide pro bono legal assistance in relation to judicial review of matters of fundamental importance and offer our expertise to both individuals and organizations as part of our social commitment. Among others, we have worked with the Norwegian Patient Organization, Gatejuristen, Jussbuss and NOAS.
The Norwegian Transparency Act
In accordance with the Norwegian Transparency Act, we have anchored accountability in our internal guidelines and routines. The OECD Due Diligence Guidance for Responsible Business Conduct as well as widely accepted sector-specific guides for responsible supply chains are leading for our activities. We map and assess actual and potential negative impacts on basic human rights and decent working conditions that may arise from our business conduct. We follow applicable requirements for handling the occurrence of such actual or potential consequences and enact mitigating measures. We adapt our internal routines continuously and ensure active audits of the supply chain. Collectively, this minimizes the risk of negative impacts on basic human rights and decent working conditions.
Simonsen Vogt Wiig supports UN’s Sustainable Development Goals
Fighting inequality and climate changes doesn’t happen by accident. In order to contribute reaching UN’s sustainable development goals, we in Simonsen Vogt Wiig have made sustainability and corporate social responsibility one of our main strategic priorities.
Simonsen Vogt Wiig is certified as an “Eco-Lighthouse”
This certification means that we have met certain requirements regarding environmentally friendly operations and a good working environment. Eco-Lighthouse is Norway’s most widely used certification scheme for enterprises seeking to document their environmental efforts and demonstrate social responsibility.
Focus area: Diversity and gender balance
SVW strongly feel that the best team of lawyers reflects the society, and therefore focus on hiring resources with varied background and experiences. It is important for us an employer to be a safe ally for all employees, regardless of their background, gender or sexual orientation. For this reason, we also celebrate Pride every year.
We have had a positive development in the proportion of women in the partnership and hold one of the highest proportions of female attorneys among the largest leading law firms. This is a result of a long-term strategic work.
Our services within ESG and sustainability
Along with increasing focus on sustainable development, rules and regulations also gaining momentum. Our ESG- and sustainability team assists with sustainability compliance in all aspects of business management and corporate governance. We offer among other taxonomy assessments and assist with compliance preparedness for investors, managements and PE-environments. We also provide advice to businesses that need to understand how they can adapt to the new ESG and sustainability requirements in relevant sectors.