KOCHAŃSKI & PARTNERS SIGNS THE DIVERSITY CHARTER

By signing the Diversity Charter, Kochański & Partners continues its strategy of conducting business in a responsible and sustainable manner. The Diversity Charter is one of the largest international equality projects under the auspices of the European Commission, coordinated in Poland by the Responsible Business Forum (FOB). This is another important step towards the implementation of the Firm's ESG policy, this time in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
The aim of the Diversity Charter is to promote equality and diversity management in the workplace. The initiative has been implemented in 26 EU Member States, including in Poland since 2012, as part of the activities of the Responsible Business Forum and under the patronage of the Commissioner for Civil Rights. The Diversity Charter is primarily a commitment to prohibit all forms of discrimination in the workplace, to implement measures to create and promote diversity, to involve all employees and business and social partners in these actions, and to report on progress in their implementation. Employers with an appropriate level of organisational maturity in terms of diversity management choose to sign up to this commitment.

“We have always been committed to equality and diversity. An example of this can be seen with half of our Firm management being women. They are the ones who run our key departments, supporting legal practices in director roles. We have a similar situation among partners and equity partners, with a third of our practice heads being women,” says Piotr KochaÅ„ski, Managing Partner.

“We also know that diversity brings us international recognition. Last year, a prominent Ukrainian lawyer – Markiyan Malskyy, PhD – joined our equity partners, and is now leading a number of our clients' projects in Ukraine. We also employ Ukrainian lawyers and consultants. Another of our lawyers, Parasto Yari, an Afghan activist and human rights defender, works with us on a pro-bono basis after the Firm helped her and her family to settle in Warsaw after fleeing Kabul on the last plane. We also have other similar examples. We have created a diverse team of highly competent and open-minded individuals, and a friendly and inclusive space where everyone’s contribution is valued,” concluded Piotr KochaÅ„ski.

Joining the ranks of signatories to the Diversity Charter is another step by the Firm in line with its motto: “We work with those who change the world for the better. We find the rules”. This is a clear message to business partners, clients, and current and future colleagues. Shaping the culture of the organisation and the non-financial aspects of doing business are very important in the Firm's activities.

“We are implementing very specific measures to provide equal opportunities for growth and promotion. We are proud of the achievements of all our team members, but we are not resting on our laurels, as we are fully aware of the changing needs of our employees,” added Monika Wojciechowska, CEO and CFO.
“We run regular programmes to raise the team’s awareness of inclusive language, conduct cyber-security, anti-corruption, mobbing and discrimination training, and are actively engaged in employee initiatives. We also involve our lawyers in mentoring programmes, including the international Next Generation programme run by our international partner, Pinsent Masons. We aim to promote an attitude of openness and tolerance, involving both ourselves and our business and social partners. We believe that this will benefit us all,” stressed Monika Wojciechowska.

Key Diversity Charter projects include DiversityINCheck – a tool to assess the maturity of employers in managing diversity in their organisations, and Diversity@Work – a project to support anti-discrimination, and to promote diversity and equal opportunities in the workplace. The signing of the Diversity Charter is a further transparent step in the Firm’s commitment to ESG values, following joining the United Nations Global Compact – the UN’s largest corporate sustainability initiative – last December.