ESG stands for Environmental, Social and Governance - a core set of principles that the firm follows in response to the impact running a business has on its employees, clients, local community and the wider environment.

ESG is embedded into our firm’s culture and we aim to be as transparent and accountable in the way we work, as possible. The senior management team has ultimate responsibility for performance, development and continuous improvement at the firm.

We believe in:

• supporting diversity, inclusion and social mobility,


• supporting our colleagues to realise their full potential,


• providing a professional yet personalised service to every one of our clients, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible,


• taking responsibility for our environmental impact, and


• supporting our local community.

Environmental

The firm is committed to adopting and maintaining environmentally sustainable working practices as far as possible. Examples of this include:

• Investment in IT equipment to support flexible working and reduce the need to travel between offices for meeting,


• Recycling is encouraged at both our offices.


• Supplies of stationery and marketing materials come from sustainable sources, wherever possible.


• Reducing paper waste and energy consumption.


• Providing Nespresso machines in each office to reduce the need for people to buy hot drinks in single use packaging.


• Ensuring both our offices are easily reachable by public transport.

Social

The firm recognises that it is part of the wider community and regularly explores ways to become more involved. Examples of this include:

• Supporting local charities and social enterprises.


• Sponsorship of local grass roots football teams.


• Damien Todd, Partner, is the Secretary of Sunderland Law Society.


• Rebecca Cresswell, Head of Family and Litigation, is the Secretary of the Newcastle branch of CILEX.


• In collaboration with Newcastle University and Sunderland University, the firm has established an annual ‘Sweeney Miller Scholarship Grant’, providing scholarships for students interested in a career in the law. Students are given the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, as well as winning a cash prize.


• Generally, throughout the year the team at each of Sweeney Miller Law’s offices also regularly organise and take part in ad hoc charity events such as Children in Need, McMillan Coffee mornings, Comic/Sport Relief, Christmas Jumper day etc. Every year at Christmas, the firm makes collections for the local foodbanks in lieu of Secret Santa.


• The firm regularly hosts a range of wellbeing and team building events including quizzes, office drinks at the end of the month, Pizza Tuesdays once a month as well as regular cross-site visits between the offices.


• In collaboration with other property professionals in the region, Surbhi Vedhara set up and coordinates the North East Landlords forum, meeting regularly with leading industry guest speakers. This not-for-profit forum aims to educate local landlords, provide networking opportunities and raise awareness of common issues and challenges. These meetings promote best practice, ethical standards and social responsibility amongst the North East Residential landlord community.


• The firm is committed to developing lawyers of the future and promoting accessibility and inclusion through the Solicitor Apprenticeship, Licensed Conveyancer and CILEX career pathways.

Understanding the pressures of working in a law firm for all members of staff, Sweeney Miller Law has made a firm commitment to wellbeing. Several members of the firm, all senior lawyers or partners, have been trained as Mental Health England first aiders, and are therefore able to identify and deal with early signs of any staff in difficulty. In addition, the firm has taken on board a qualified counsellor where staff have access to her services, paid for by the firm, to assist with stress, anxiety, grief etc.

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Governance

Full induction training is provided for all new employees through our bespoke in-house training programme. Ongoing training and monitoring of colleagues is provided to ensure they comply with relevant regulatory and legislative obligations.

Sweeney Miller Law are longstanding holders of Lexcel accreditation, a legal practice quality mark for client care, compliance and practice management, awarded by The Law Society.

The firm is Cyber Essentials certified. This is a Government-backed scheme that helps us protect our business, our clients and staff against the growing risk of cyber-attacks.

Sweeney Miller Law’s Policy statement:

Sweeney Miller Law (“the Firm”) is committed to ensuring that all business carried out by the firm is conducted with integrity, transparency and fairness, and in compliance with all relevant rules, regulations and legislation.

The firm and each of its owners and directors are committed to preventing the facilitation of any form of tax evasion. The firm will not engage with any business or individual that does not share its values and this commitment to prevention. The firm will not work with any individual or organisation that is not committed to preventing the facilitation of tax evasion, in compliance with the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

From time to time, we may send you emails inviting you to upcoming events or updating you on the latest developments in the sector or in the firm. If you would like to stop receiving emails regarding events and all the latest news from us, please send an email to enquiries@sweeneymiller.co.uk with the words UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject box and we will remove you from our mailing list.