Leading regional law firm Gardner Leader has announced its B Corp Certification, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to environmental and social responsibility (ESR) and its ongoing impact across the communities it serves.
The firm joins a growing global movement of responsible, purpose-led businesses, with the UK home to over 2,700 organisations, including 40 law firms – the largest B Corp™ community and network in the world. The certification forms part of a deliberate shift towards becoming a more purpose-driven, responsible business.
The certification follows five years of strategic growth during which time the firm has expanded across the south of England, into Swindon and Oxford, and its headcount has increased by 52%, up to 211, while maintaining strong employee engagement and embedding its responsible business approach.
The firm, which also has an office in central Maidenhead, has launched a wide-ranging programme of ESR-led initiatives over these five years, headed up by Chris Dale, Environmental and Social Responsibility Manager. This includes partnering with fellow B Corps such as Oxford-based sustainable printer Seacourt and PKF Francis Clark for its accounting and auditing, which received B Corp status in April.
Managing Partner Derek Rodgers said: “Becoming a B Corp marks an important milestone in our journey and forms part of a deliberate strategic shift, which aligns closely with our firm’s existing values and long-term vision. It also formalises our commitment to operating as a responsible business delivering peace of mind for our people, clients and our community.”
The certification has involved a significant firmwide effort across the B Corp™ Pillars – governance, workers, community, environment and customers. This provides a clear framework for how the firm will measure progress and continue to evolve its impact over time.
Rodgers added: “The process has been rigorous and required real commitment from many colleagues in teams across the firm and particularly from Chris Dale. B Corp sets a higher bar for us going forward. It is not just recognition of what we’ve achieved, but a framework for how we continue to improve and the direction we are taking.”
Gardner Leader has embedded improvements across all the B Corp™ pillars. For example, updating its LLP Agreement – similar to a company’s Articles of Association – to ensure People and Planet are central to its decision-making process, alongside publishing an annual Impact Report to measure progress.
The firm has also launched an extensive programme of activities and groups to facilitate building supportive internal communities. Every employee now has two days’ paid volunteering – with the firm matching staff fundraising for its nominated charities pound for pound. Its Nature and Environment working group drives initiatives like litter-picking lunchtimes, planting bee-friendly greenery, and hosting events with environmental experts.
As part of its long-term ambitions, Gardner Leader is aligning itself with the Better Business Act, which calls for company law to consider people and planet alongside profit. The firm is also working with Ecologi to measure, report and reduce its emissions, including establishing its baseline carbon footprint across Scopes 1, 2 and 3, with plans to deliver a detailed carbon reduction and net zero strategy.
Rodgers continues: “I would like to thank everyone across the firm, including Chris Dale and our Impact Team, whose commitment and hard work in guiding us through the certification process has been critical to helping us reach this point. We look forward to doing more and doing better as we continue on the demanding, but important journey to remain a responsible business.”
