As a long-standing Hertfordshire business, being part of our community is an important part of who we are. We want to make a positive difference not only through the legal support we provide, but through the way we contribute as an employer, business and group of individuals. We focus our efforts where we believe we can have the greatest impact – supporting local charities, strengthening our community, improving access to justice, championing inclusion, reducing our environmental impact and promoting wellbeing.
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Community engagement locally & internationally
We are proud to play an active role in both our local business and legal communities. Through leadership roles with the St Albans Chamber of Commerce and St Albans BID, we support initiatives that help our local economy and city centre thrive. Our people also give their time as school governors and community volunteers. Within the legal sector, colleagues hold roles including with the Herts Junior Lawyers Division, and we support future talent through careers events with the University of Hertfordshire, both having long term impact on the future of the legal profession and the next generation of legal minds. We also contribute through the Eurojuris international legal network, chairing specialist groups in private wealth and international business.
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Pro-bono
We are committed to improving access to justice in our community by offering free legal support to people who need it most. Through our partnership with the University of Hertfordshire, some of our legal teams volunteer regularly at the Hertfordshire Law Clinic, providing advice to those who may not otherwise be able to access it. This work not only helps individuals facing difficult circumstances, but also gives law students valuable practical experience alongside experienced legal professionals. By supporting the clinic, we aim to make quality legal advice more accessible, regardless of a person’s financial situation.
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Charity
We focus our charity efforts on a three-year partnership with one local charity, allowing us to make a meaningful difference through fundraising, volunteering and charitable giving. Our charity partner, voted for by our people, is The OLLIE Foundation, a suicide prevention and wellbeing charity working to reduce stigma and promote early intervention and prevention. Through this partnership, we hope to help raise awareness, encourage open conversations and support the charity’s mission to give more people the confidence to help someone stay safe for now because… One Life Lost is Enough. If you would like to support our fundraising, you can donate via our JustGiving page.
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Diversity and inclusion
At Debenhams Ottaway, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where people feel respected, supported and able to be themselves. With women making up over xx% of our people, including half of our partnership and our managing partner, we are proud to be building a culture that reflects the communities we serve. Through flexible working arrangements that support different needs and life stages, and a people-first approach that values different perspectives and experiences, we aim to create an environment where our people can thrive and our clients feel understood, welcomed and genuinely supported.
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Environment
We are committed to reducing our environmental impact by embedding more sustainable ways of working across the firm. This includes supporting local suppliers to reduce transport emissions, monitoring our printing habits, and working with local providers to improve our waste and recycling. We have also introduced practical initiatives such as water-saving sensors, hand towels made from drink cartons, and donating used coffee grounds to Soil Squad to be turned into nutrient-rich compost. As part of our client feedback programme, we also plant a tree in the UK for every completed survey and have planted more than 900 trees through our partner Ecologi.
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Wellbeing
The wellbeing of our people is important to us, because we know employees do their best work when they feel supported and at their best. We run a range of initiatives throughout the year to support mental, physical and financial wellbeing, including our annual health and wellbeing week, with activities and expert input from local businesses such as nutritionists and yoga instructors. We also recognise the importance of tailored support at different life stages. Debenhams Ottaway was one of the first employers in the legal sector to sign the Menopause Workplace Pledge, backed by a policy, training and Menopause Champions.