Norton Rose Fulbright makes final fundraising push for 2022 Global Charitable Initiative

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright’s 2022 Global Charitable Initiative focused on ‘Building Sustainable Communities’ will conclude this month, with firm personnel collectively contributing £170,000 so far and more events scheduled. With these efforts, the firm is helping Save the Children with its four-year GREEN project to assist more than 40,000 people and 8,000 fishing households around Cambodia’s East Tonle Sap Lake, an ecologically fragile fishing community in Southeast Asia.

Global Chair Farmida Bi, CBE, who selected this year’s Global Charitable Initiative, said:

“Never has it been more important to focus on climate adaption. I am proud of our firm for its fundraising efforts to support Save the Children’s GREEN Project in helping the at-risk Tonle Sap Lake communities. We wanted to make a tangible difference in the lives of these families and offer them hope for a brighter future.”

Higher temperatures, drought, pollution, overfishing by commercial trawlers and environmental damage have led to a dramatic fall in the fish stocks that many people rely on to earn a living. The GREEN Project, implemented by Save the Children in collaboration with local authorities in the East Tonle Sap Lake region and jointly funded by the European Union, is addressing these challenges by: providing clean drinking water and sanitation facilities using climate-intelligent technologies to keep children healthy; helping families diversify their incomes through green initiatives to reduce reliance on the fishing industry; and giving children the chance to go to school and learn by equipping and rebuilding classrooms, training teachers and providing safe travel.

As part of the Global Charitable Initiative, firm personnel have taken part in a number of fundraising initiatives throughout the year, including the firm’s #Do100 challenge, which involved participating in an activity with a theme relating to the number 100. Additionally, a 12-person multiregional group of partners, non-partner lawyers and legal support personnel participated in a three-day visit to Cambodia’s East Tonle Sap Lake. During their trip, these firm ambassadors engaged in skills sharing sessions and visited schools which had received new educational materials and equipment, as well as increased access to clean water, sanitation and hygiene.

Caroline Whatley, Director of Partnerships at Save the Children UK, said:

“We are so grateful to have been selected as the partner for Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Charitable Initiative in 2022. We are so proud of our collaboration and all the efforts to raise vital funds to help create positive and lasting impact with and for children.”

Along with fundraising for the GREEN Project, Norton Rose Fulbright placed an emphasis across its 52 global offices to improve the environment in their local communities, identifying sustainability projects and volunteering in support of them. Norton Rose Fulbright also focused on continuing to implement sustainability improvements throughout its business operations. Embracing best practices with environmentally-friendly behavior will help the firm to achieve its goal of becoming a leader in sustainability.

2022 marks the tenth anniversary of Norton Rose Fulbright’s Global Charitable Initiative. Since the program’s inception, the firm has selected a specific cause each year for its Global Charitable Initiative as part of the firm’s commitment to give to important causes.

Contributions to Norton Rose Fulbright’s fundraising can be made online to help the people of Cambodia’s East Tonle Sap Lake.