Russell McVeagh releases its 2025 report on ESG contributions

Russell McVeagh’s initiatives have included charity days and its Pro Bono Week, which sought to spotlight its more than 80 pro bono clients. 

The firm shared that it reached its target of an average of 25 pro bono hours per lawyer in the 2024 financial year. Specifically, the firm noted that its people reported: 

• 5,557 total hours of pro bono work 
• 3,211 hours of community law work 
• 999 hours with the Māngere Community Law Centre 
• 880 hours with the Wellington & Hutt Valley Community Law Centres 
• 766 hours of work referred through Te Ara Ture 
• 566 hours of work with Aotearoa Disability Law 

People

In its report, Russell McVeagh shared that it aims to offer a workplace culture where our people feel valued and supported. To achieve this, the firm noted that it: 

• invests in performance, development, and growth opportunities 
• embeds practices ensuring an open, collaborative, diverse, and inclusive workplace 
• promotes wellbeing, including through flexible work arrangements, fair pay, and benefits 

Russell McVeagh said, among its people surveyed: 

• 85 percent believed they belonged and could thrive in the firm’s environment, compared with its 80 percent target 
• 91 percent thought of the firm as a great place to work 
• 90 percent felt that their workmates included them 
• 84 percent felt comfortable contributing opinions 

Wellbeing

To support wellbeing, Russell McVeagh shared in its report that it distributes its ‘Pulse’ employee engagement surveys, which permit its people to provide anonymous comments and share their ideas on the firm’s strengths and areas for improvement. 

DEI

In its report, Russell McVeagh noted that its work program to support diversity, equity, and inclusion spans recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and career progression. 

The firm said 31 percent of its partners are women, compared with its 40 percent target. The firm added that women make up: 

• 76 percent of its new starters 
• 70 percent of all its solicitors, excluding partners 
• 67 percent of all its people 
• 61 percent of all its lawyers, including partners 
• 50 percent of its board 

Russell McVeagh said its current workforce is 23 percent ethnically diverse, compared with its 30 percent target. The firm added that ethnically diverse individuals comprise: 

• 32 percent of its new starters 
• 22 percent of all its lawyers, including partners 

Performance, development, growth

In its report, Russell McVeagh shared that it seeks to offer its lawyers opportunities to learn, grow, and progress their careers in a supportive space. The firm’s initiatives have included a scholar program, summer and graduate clerkships, and induction support. 

The firm said it provides 394 CPD courses to its people, who clocked 5,411 attendances and 7,395 learning hours. 

Environment

In its report, Russell McVeagh noted that it aims to comprehend and manage its effects on the environment by: 

• seeking opportunities to help decrease carbon intensity 
• looking for ways to help ensure a smooth transition to a net-zero carbon economy 
• employing strategies to measure, manage, and limit greenhouse gas emissions through its Toitū Net Carbon Zero certification 

The firm’s environmental initiatives have covered: 

• travel and transport 
• energy efficiency and waste 
• Protecting the Kiwi, a national call to action 
• conservation days 
• a panel event on women in sustainability 
• a climate change and business conference