Uría Menéndez has committed to conduct its business in a way that contributes to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. We are focusing on SDGs 4, 5, 8, 16 and 17 as they are the most relevant to what we do.

We contribute directly to achieving the SDGs in the way we practise law and to do this we have identified the SDGs that are most closely linked to our sector, our activities and our impact on people, the economy and the environment.

 

Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

We contribute to SDG 4 through:

  • Training our professionals: 6.379 hours in 2020.
  • Our lawyers’ teaching and research work.
  • Taking on interns and graduates under 69 framework agreements with 41 universities and the Madrid Bar Association.
  • Running open days and supporting school and university students.
  • Running mentoring programmes involving our lawyers.

The education and training programmes promoted by the Professor Uría Foundation.

Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

We contribute to SDG 5 through:

  • Fostering a culture of equality.
  • Promoting equal treatment and opportunities between men and women at the firm by removing gender-based barriers.
  • Creating a Talent and Diversity Team to manage diversity, with a particular focus on gender diversity.
  • Running leadership programmes for our senior female associates.

Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all.

We contribute to SDG 8 through:

  • Direct job creation: 95 new hires in 2021.
  • Managing our team’s diversity, for example through our LGBTI & Allies Desk and disability-related initiatives.
  • Indirect job creation: we work with over 350 suppliers, 78% of which are local.
  • Continuously investing in innovation to improve productivity.
  • Implementing efficiency measures to reduce our consumption of electricity, water, paper and toner.
  • Our employee health and wellbeing programme humanum.

Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.

We contribute to SDG 16 through:

  • Our zero-tolerance anti-corruption policy.
  • Strict compliance with our statutory obligations and rules of professional conduct.
  • Our Code of Conduct, which sets out the ethical principles and general rules to be followed by everyone at the firm.
  • Raising awareness and running training for everyone at the firm on ethical and professional conduct matters.
  • Supporting the rule of law and its institutions.
  • Our pro bono work.

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalise the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development.

We contribute to SDG 17 through:

  • Partnerships with universities and other international firms.
  • Our lawyers’ participation in committees of many of the most prestigious organisations of the legal profession.
  • Collaborations with museums: Prado, Thyssen-Bornemisza, MNAC, Guggenheim Bilbao, MAAT, the Manuel Benedito Foundation and the Mapfre Foundation.
  • Professor Uría Foundation projects and collaborations with other foundations.