Corporate Social Responsibility

Our CSR Strategy

Our Corporate Social Responsibility strategy is guided by the principles of:

• Access,
• Inclusion, and;
• Opportunity

Our current programme of activity was devised in consultation with our staff members. It is vitally important to the firm that all staff members feel a sense of ownership and engagement with the programme.

Following a staff survey and a series of consultation meetings we decided that we would focus on the following causes for this cycle:

• Homelessness,
• Disadvantaged young people, and;
• Caring for the environment

In keeping with the guiding principles of access, inclusion and opportunity we devised a programme that spans different types of activities including culture, sport and education.

To download a copy of our CSR Report for 2019 click here.

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Hugh Garvey Memorial Award for Intellectual Property Law

Congratulations to NUIG students Róisin Lyons is the worthy winner of the Hugh Garvey Memorial Award for Intellectual Property Law 2023.

Our friend and former Managing Partner, Hugh Garvey sadly passed away in 2016 following a battle with cancer. Hugh was a great mentor and inspiration to us all.

The ‘Hugh Garvey Memorial Award for Intellectual Property Law’ is a fitting tribute to him as a former NUI Galway student and a passionate legal professional.

The annual LK Shields Hugh Garvey Memorial Award for Intellectual Property Law is announced at the prize-giving ceremony at the National University of Ireland, Galway.  However, due to government restrictions and in the interest of public health and safety prize giving was cancelled this year.

We wish the winners every success in their academic endeavours and future legal careers.

Calcutta Run

The Calcutta Run is an important date for the firm every year.  Staff enthusiastically particpate in the run and in fundraising activities for Peter Verry Trust and the Hope Foundation.

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Pride Dublin 2023

LK Shields Solicitors prides itself on being an open, tolerant and welcoming workplace.  We are committed to maintaining a workplace environment that promotes diversity, equality and inclusion and creates a culture where everyone feels that individual differences are valued and harnessed positively. 

We are proud corporate partners of Pride Dublin 2023.

basis.point

LK Shields is delighted to support basis.point as a corporate patron.

basis.point was set up in 2014, with the ambition to give every child in Ireland equal access to a brighter future through education.

Founded on the idea of joined up giving, basis.point is a unique example of industry colleagues putting their time, energy and resources together, to combat one single issue, educational disadvantage.

www.basispoint.ie

Partnership with Peter McVerry Trust

LK Shields launched a partnership with Peter McVerry Trust, a national housing and homelessness charity addressing the needs of people affected by homelessness and associated issues.

Through the partnership, LK Shields will work closely with the charity to assist Peter McVerry Trust in increasing awareness of the issue of homelessness in Ireland and raise vital funds to support their vision and efforts. Recent and planned activities include:

• Staff BBQ and outdoor movie night and cake sale·
• Support of the #ThePersonWho campaign around World Homeless Day in October
• Charitable donation
• Staff volunteering day at their residential community in North County Dublin
• Volunteering and participation in their ‘Welcome Home’ Christmas Appeal
• Support for staff who wish to volunteer in the Trust’s numerous volunteer programmes

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SOAR Communication Workshops with NUI Galway Access

The SOAR Workshop Series is a partnership between LK Shields and the Access Programme at NUI Galway.
This partnership has been made possible through our relationship with Business to Arts and the Creative Ireland Programme’s National Creativity Fund. It commenced in October 2019 and involves LK Shields working with our artist in residence James Riordan, artistic director of Brú Theatre, to develop a series of communication workshops for NUIG Access Students.

These workshops will help NUIG Access students to develop presentation and leadership skills to assist them to prepare for entering the workforce and overcome barriers to progressing in their chosen career. The twelve workshops for NUI Galway Access students will take place between October 2019 and April 2020.

LK Shields staff will participate in two of the workshops through the duration of the project.

The Creative Ireland Fund initiative was launched by the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, on Thursday, 20 June.

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Network Ireland Galway – Businesswoman of the Year Awards

LK Shields Solicitors was delighted to sponsor the ‘Established Businesswomen’ category at this year’s Network Ireland Galway Businesswoman of the Year Awards.

The award went to Órla Connaughton, Aztec Medical.

Network Ireland are a nationwide organisation supporting the professional and personal development of women in business . 

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Sponsorship of Galwegians RFC

LK Shields are proud sponsors of Galwegians RFC.

Galwegians is one of Connacht and Ireland’s leading rugby clubs with an active community of over 700 players and members.

Environment

Office Recycling Scheme
LK Shields recently introduced a new office recycling scheme. Following advice from an environmental consultant we removed all waste bins from individual offices and workspaces and set up recycling stations throughout the buildings. Recycling tips and guidelines are frequently communicated to staff, and progress reports are shared via our internal communications platform. The sum effect has been a 10% reduction in waste going to landfill in the first six months of operation. We report our recycling statistics to all staff on a monthly basis. In addition, all IT hardware waste is being 100% reused via Camara Education – a charity which wipes and reconstitutes old PCs and laptops and makes them available in schools and youth centres in Ireland and Africa.

Energy Efficient IT
We are currently in the process of replacing IT hardware throughout the firm. A key purchasing criterion is the energy efficiency of any new equipment. We also have a ‘power down’ policy each evening and compliance with this is regularly checked.

Single Use Plastics
The firm recently audited our use of plastic andall single use plastic has been eradicated from the office. We have also restocked our offices with abundant crockery and cutlery and make frequent appeals to staff to avoid purchasing disposable containers and cutlery for use during meal breaks.

Paper and Printing
Our paper is sourced from suppliers who follow the Green Star System, and which promote ecoprinting. We are moving towards becoming a paperless office and are largely on target to achieve that goal in the next 18 months.

Water Conservation
Water cooler devices are located throughout our buildings to encourage water conservation.

Transport
We facilitate the bike to work scheme and have bicycle stands installed in our car parks. All members of staff who cycle are provided with a reflective back pack. We also operate the public transport tax saver scheme which allows staff members to purchase annual bus and rail tickets via salary sacrifice. In 2020, we will be introducing a ‘leave the car at home day’ each month. Incentives will be offered to staff that participate. We have installed electric car charge ports in the car park.

Other Activites

Staff Choice Charity
At the beginning of every year, staff are asked to nominate a charity to receive a sizeable donation by the firm made on their behalf. This year the Irish Cancer Society received this
donation.

Over the past 18 months the firm has supported the following organisations through partnerships, sponsorships, donations, attendance at their events and/or board memberships.

• Druid Theatre
• Business to Arts
• Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Services
• Cancer Fund for Children
• Clontarf GAA Club
• Clontarf Lawn Tennis Club
• Clontarf Rugby Club
• Galway Lawn Tennis Club
• Pearse Stadium, Galway
• Spiddal GAA Club, Galway
• Avoca Hockey Club
• Calcutta Run
• Camara Education
• Galway 2020

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