Our commitments
We collaborate with expert partners to reduce our emissions, food waste etc. and as well as aligning with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. Locally, we strive to positively impact our community by supporting social entrepreneurs and providing pro-bono services to selected nonprofits and organisations tackling significant social challenges, particularly in health and education.
We consider our team's capabilities and expertise as our most valuable assets – and we encourage our colleagues to engage in volunteering and charitable activities, supporting them in contributing to their local communities.
These commitments reflect the core values of our firm and our dedication to fostering a fair and just society.
Sustainability
Plesner has been a member of the UN Global Compact since 2012. The ten principles of the Global Compact and the 17 Sustainable Development Goals adopted by UN member states serve as vital benchmarks for fostering a better and more sustainable society, both globally and locally.
Plesner has been committed to reducing climate-impacting emissions from our headquarters at Amerika Plads in Copenhagen for more than a decade.
Over the years, we've made significant progress and continue to enhance our efforts on energy savings, fuel reduction, minimizing food waste etc. Our first climate accounts were published in 2022, and we constantly work to refine them to ensure our actions have maximum positive impact. We monitor various factors, including canteen operations, travel activity, electricity, and heating.
Our headquarters received a B energy label rating in the latest report from 2020 and the Danish Energy Agency will review our building again in 2030. Upgrading our office to an A rating will be challenging, but we are determined to do our utmost.
Since 2023, Plesner has teamed up with the Danish start-up 0-mission. They match our electricity consumption with 100% green electricity that they add to the national electricity grid. The green energy is sourced from a newly constructed solar park in the western part of Denmark. The company that operates the park not only provides renewable energy but also manages the land under the solar panels in an eco-friendly and organic manner, benefiting drinking water and biodiversity.
Additionally, since 2022, we have invested in a CTS system to regulate heating and ventilation in our building, replacing the original system installed in 2004. We anticipate up to a 15% reduction in energy consumption once the new system is fully operational and have replaced the old system.
Explore our latest CSR report, including detailed insights into our sustainability initiatives
Diversity & Inclusion
At Plesner, we aim to promote diversity and inclusion in all aspects of our organization. We believe that a diverse and inclusive workplace not only enriches our work environment and strengthens our team cohesion but also enhances our ability to provide the best legal advice to our clients.
Diversity
We value the unique perspectives that employees from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences bring to the table. For us, diversity encompasses not only gender, ethnicity, culture, religion, and age but also various life views, professional backgrounds, and mindsets. These different perspectives better equip us to understand and solve complex legal challenges, and all employees, current and future, are evaluated based on their competencies.
Inclusion
An inclusive and trusting culture is at the heart of our company and is crucial for our success. We work diligently to create a work environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and has equal opportunities to develop their full potential.
Commitment
We are dedicated to fostering a culture of diversity, inclusion, equality, and respect. We measure our success through concrete actions and results. We are focused on ensuring that inclusion is an integral part of our daily life, and we work through targeted initiatives and awareness to improve and develop our approach, particularly aiming to achieve a higher degree of diversity than we currently have.
Pro bono
At Plesner, we understand the importance of giving back to the community. This commitment is reflected in our CSR program, which is the most comprehensive in the Danish legal profession. Every year, we are proud to contribute a significant number of hours to pro bono work by our dedicated attorneys.
We offer free legal counsel of our usual high standard to organisations that support vulnerable children, young people, or those who are seriously ill. Currently, Plesner collaborates with 11 carefully chosen NGOs, all focused on these crucial areas.
Beyond advising established organisations, we are exceptionally proud of our over 10-year partnership with a local school in Copenhagen, Nørrebro Park School. Many young people grow up in environments where education is undervalued. Our initiative headlined “Stay in School” aims to tackle this issue by presenting young people with new role models and broadening their view of what a brighter future may look like. We work to motivate the students to stay in the education system beyond primary school and inspire them to participate actively in society.
Stay in School involves a team of Plesner employees and external role models committed to making a difference for the students at Nørrebro Park School. Each month, the students meet with Plesner's Stay in School team, and each quarter they receive a presentation by an external speaker who talks about their education and career. The team at Plesner also arranges company visits to partners of the initiative and to our offices where the students, together with the team, can gain firsthand insights into various career opportunities. These visits allow them to see the day-to-day activities of different professions and learn about the diverse paths, individuals have taken to arrive at their current positions. By experiencing the workplace environment and interacting with professionals from various backgrounds, the students can better understand the relevance of their education and how it can be applied in the real world. This practical exposure is designed to inspire them, broadening their aspirations and encouraging them to envision a range of possibilities for their future careers.
Many students who have participated in Stay in School experience lower absenteeism rates and improved grades, with significantly more students continuing their education after primary school.
With more than a decade of experience from the initiative, Plesner is now committed to sharing our successful model of Stay in School with other companies, helping them launch similar initiatives that can provide invaluable mentorship and inspiration to young people.