Corporate Social Responsibility at Arnold & Porter

By Arnold & Porter

Reading time: 4 mins

As well as our commitment to pro bono, we are passionate about social mobility. Recognising that entering the profession can be difficult, especially for those from less privileged backgrounds, the firm was a founding member of the Social Mobility Business Partnership and a PRIME member. We also encourage our people to volunteer their time and skills for the charities we support, and each year everyone is given one day a year of paid leave to volunteer in the community. In addition, employees are encouraged to fundraise for or donate to charities of their choice through the firms matched funding and payroll giving schemes.

Diversity and inclusion are core values for Arnold & Porter. The London office is a vigorous supporter in every aspect to promote an inclusive, fair, and ethical work place, and we are committed to several initiatives to encourage and maintain Arnold & Porter’s diverse community of professionals. The firm also offers internships through the 10000 Interns Foundation.

The firm has several firmwide affinity groups.

APCares: Supports parents and caregivers
APSoloAlliance: Connects and supports those who are living alone or may feel isolated
ACCORD: Attorney Community Championing Our Racial Diversity
BLAC: Black Lawyers of ACCORD Caucus
PRIDE: LGBTQ+ Group
VALOR: Veterans and Affiliates Leadership Organisation
WISE: Women’s Initiative for Success and Empowerment.

These groups serve as support networks, help the firm identify strategies that support our diversity efforts, and foster a stronger sense of community within the firm.

"The firm has a long commitment to public service and the advancement of social justice. Through our pro bono programme and work in the local community, we are proud
of the contribution we make. We pride ourselves on having a welcoming and inclusive workplace, where everyone is comfortable being themselves."

—Kathleen Harris, head of the London office and co-chair of the firm’s Anti-Corruption practice and member of the firm’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee

"Throughout my time at Arnold & Porter, I have been impressed by the firm’s genuine commitment to diversity & inclusion. Being a member of the firm’s Pride network has given me a fantastic opportunity to build relationships with members of the network across the firm’s international offices and allowed me to give something back. I also mentor Law students from diverse backgrounds which I have found incredibly rewarding."

—Alastair Brown, Counsel, Antitrust

Pro Bono

We have a strong commitment to pro bono, including work on behalf of NGOs, charitable organisations, individuals, and communities in need. Projects can range from challenging high-profile human rights abuses in international courts, pursuing legislative and policy resolutions, liaising with public authorities on behalf of individuals and charities, acting to protect the brand and reputation of NGOs, and helping nonprofit organisations comply with their governance responsibilities. Recent matters include representing families for Kids in Need of Defense UK, assisting ILGA-Europe with third-party interventions before the European Court of Human Rights, and successful advocacy in PIP benefit appeals. The firm has received recognition for its commitment, ranking 17th in Law.com International’s 2023 Best Law Firms for Pro Bono in the UK, being included in Law.com International’s 2023 UK A-List, and winning the Most Cases Taken on by a Law Firm award at the 2026 Pro Bono Connect Awards, recognising our lawyers’ commitment to expanding access to justice through pro bono legal services.

Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion are core values for Arnold & Porter. We are committed to cultivating diversity and inclusion in a positive work environment, where all talent is supported and accorded dignity and respect.

We value the contributions that each person makes, enable our colleagues to be comfortable being themselves, and encourage every person to realize their potential. We believe that each individual has the right to work in a professional atmosphere that promotes equal opportunity. We continually shape our approach across five key pillars: recruitment, retention, advancement, engagement, and service. With strong leadership support, we foster an environment where diversity sparks innovation, collaboration thrives, and every individual feels valued.

Community

The firm encourages community service by providing employees with one day a year to volunteer their time for charity. We work closely with selected charity partners, supporting their work through fundraising, volunteering, pro bono assistance and gifts-in-kind. The London office has a particular focus on social mobility, aimed at widening access to the legal profession. We are a founding member of the Social Mobility Business Partnership, a volunteer-led charity committed to supporting and mentoring students from low-income backgrounds, and a PRIME signatory — an alliance of law firms and in-house teams — committed to improving access to the legal profession. We also support struggling five to seven year olds with online reading sessions.

Sustainability

Arnold & Porter is committed to creating a better and more sustainable future for people and the planet and reducing our carbon footprint. We annually measure scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions and have committed to SBTi (“Science Based Targets Initiative”), committing to develop strategies and submit targets for reduction of emissions to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in line with the goals of the 2015 Paris Agreement. Initiatives include reducing emissions associated with business travel, enhancing recycling, donating surplus office furniture to schools, supporting carbon-capture projects linked to our paper use and encouraging sustainable travel through our Cycle to Work scheme.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

We are committed to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues through trained Mental Health First Aiders, awareness initiatives and wellbeing activities throughout the year.