Corporate Social Responsibility
Charity and community
Rothera Bray Solicitors is dedicated to supporting local charities and organisations in the community. We’ve developed a longstanding relationship with Age UK Nottingham & Nottinghamshire. Their Trees of Life campaign gets individuals and businesses sponsoring and planting trees. This raises vital funds for the charity and enhances the local environment.
Award-winning CSR
As a result of ongoing collaboration with Age UK Nottingham and Nottinghamshire we won the Partnership of the Year Award at the 2019 Nottingham Post Business Awards.
What we stand for
Our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) defines our values and commitment as a firm. We’re driven by the desire to have a positive impact on our local community and environment as well as improving the quality of life of our workforce. Our CSR values cover these areas:
- Charity and community
- Staff health and wellbeing
- Equality and diversity
- Environment
Charity
Each year we support the Midland Legal Support Trust by taking part in their legal walk in May to raise money for the trust and the Personal Support Unit who help clients who don’t qualify for legal aid or don’t have the financial means to instruct a solicitor.
At Christmas we sponsor the carol service held at St Marys Church in the Lace Market.
Matched Donations
As a firm we encourage and support staff participating in events for charity and offer matched donations of up to £250. Previously we have supported colleagues who have taken part in the Robin Hood Marathon to raise money for Notts County FC Football in the Community and Time to Run, raising money for Parkinsons UK.
Advice centres and legal clinics
Many of our solicitors and fee earners are involved in weekly legal advice clinics, providing free legal advice to members of the public in local communities. We work with the following organisations to provide legal clinics:
- Age UK Nottingham and Nottinghamshire
- Derbyshire Carers Association
- Cotgrave Advice Centre
- Radcliffe-on-Trent Advice Centre
A number of our Wills and Probate partners have also given talks offering legal advice to the Alzheimer’s Society and local care homes.
Free Wills
Our Wills, Probate and Trusts department work with a variety of local organisations to offer free wills to the public including Cancer Research UK and Age UK Nottingham and Nottinghamshire.
Staff health and wellbeing
We recognise that our staff are our most important asset, and as a result we offer a flexible working hours policy to ensure staff have a good work-life balance, as well as agile working options as a result of a survey conducted by the firm asking staff how they want to work since the Covid-19 pandemic. We also offer a number of benefits to staff including generous holiday allowance, a bonus scheme, pension scheme and life assurance.
We have also launched a Development Forum, providing staff with a series of events and activities that give them the opportunity to engage in learning more about how they can maximise their potential and develop both their professional and personal effectiveness.
In July 2022 we held a rounders family funday at Wollaton Park, organised by our Charity Committee as part of our inclusivity and teambuilding initiatives and supporting our nominated charity, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM).
We have a firm book club and hold regular social events, organised by our Social Committee including pay-day drinks, bowling, escape rooms, and a lunch club.
We have also set up running and walking clubs, giving staff the opportunity to socialise out of work and stay healthy.
Employee of the Month scheme
Our Employee of the Month scheme recognises staff members who have demonstrated behaviours that align with our firm values, with a different value chosen each month. The month’s top performer is rewarded with £50 of vouchers of their choosing and the firm donates £150 to the charity of their choice.
Commuter schemes
We have introduced a Cycle to Work scheme in which the firm contributes an amount towards the cost of a bike, as well as Tram to Work and Bus to Work schemes to encourage staff to use public transport to get to work.
Equality and diversity
Rothera Bray is very mindful of all of its obligations relating to equality and diversity and has an ethos running throughout the firm which encompasses all aspects of this concept. This not only covers its responsibility to staff (and those who apply for positions with us) but also to clients and non-clients alike.
We undertake internal surveys annually amongst our staff regarding their characteristics and the results of the latest survey are available here.
Environment
Our Green Committee, established in 2019 was created to encourage all staff to put forward suggestions for making our offices and our systems more efficient and the refurbishment of our offices ensures that our workspaces are more sustainable.
You can read more about our environmental initiatives by visiting our Sustainability page.
Corporate team advises Formula Air Group B.V. on UK acquisition of Dust Spares Ltd
Our Corporate team has advised Netherlands-based Formula Air Group B.V. on its strategic acquisition of Dust Spares Ltd, a specialist Midlands supplier of dust extraction products and components.
Nottingham Inquiry: week one
Week one of the Nottingham Inquiry saw the introductions to proceedings, where we saw the core participants, their solicitors and counsel, and heard the overview of what happened on the lead up to 13th June 2023, and what happened afterwards.
Leaving a gift to charity in your Will
Leaving a gift to charity in your Will is a meaningful way to support causes close to your heart long after you’re gone. Whether you want to support medical research, animal welfare, education, or your local community, including a charitable gift in your Will can have a lasting impact.
Family calls for lessons to be learned after inquest into death at Royal Papworth Hospital
The family of Luke Barnes, who died nearly three years ago while receiving treatment at Royal Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, have called for urgent improvements to patient safety, transparency, and incident investigation following the conclusion of an inquest into his death.