Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer - Freshfields in the Community

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (Freshfields) launched its community involvement programme, 'Freshfields in the Community' (FITC), in London, in 1999, to boost their participation in local community projects.  Additionally, the programme was designed with internationally-agreed themes, to draw the offices together as participants in one programme, making the staff feel part of one joined-up firm.

Freshfields have a target to achieve a 30% staff participation in each office, which is the level of annual participation in the firm's London office. In each European office, a partner has been identified who acts as 'sponsor' of FITC to provide endorsement for the programme and encourage staff to participate.

11 out of the firm's 18 European offices are already participating in FITC. They are involved in a range of activities including giving pro bono legal advice, fundraising, raising educational achievement in schools, mentoring, team challenges and involvement in regeneration programmes and projects. They have sought community programmes that are appropriate to the local community and encourage people from more than one office to become involved.

In September and October 2004, for the fourth year, Freshfields will be sending staff to help build houses with the charity Habitat for Humanity. The Freshfields teams are drawn from the firm's European network, with staff from Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Germany, Spain, Bratislava and Italy as well as London.