Posted Monday 11th September 2023
Joelson, a leading West End London law firm, announces today that it has achieved B Corporation (B Corp) certification, joining an exclusive group of just 10 commercial law firms in the UK to receive certification.
Founded in 1956, Joelson offers an extensive suite of legal services across sectors from corporate, property, employment and immigration and litigation. With this certification, they are now part of a global network of over 7,000 businesses dedicated to balancing purpose with profit.
Joelson’s journey to B Corp certification started in 2018, championed by Managing Partner Phil Hails-Smith. He was inspired during his work with innocent on their B Corp application. Certification by B Lab confirms that Joelson meets exacting standards in key impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment, and Customer Relations.
Attaining B Corp status is no small feat. Businesses must surpass a benchmark of 80 points, showcasing positive practices in environmental and social responsibility. Joelson proudly scored 86.1 points, with outstanding performance in the Workers and Community categories.
Further underscoring their commitment, Joelson has revamped their corporate governance, by adopting the legal change to ensure that in all decision-making partners uphold B Corp principles and balance the needs of people, profit and planet.
The UK’s B Corp community is vast and diverse, boasting over 1,500 members from various industries, including household names like innocent, PROPER Snacks, Vita Coco, Dash, Hattier’s Rum, and Oggs. Joelson’s certification comes on the heels of significant work with fellow B Corps, notably advising Dash on its Series A fundraise, allplants on its Series B fundraise and PROPER Snacks majority stake investment by Exponent.
Beyond the B Corp achievement, Joelson continues its commitment to environmental responsibility as a member of the Climate Action Workforce and proudly sits in Ecologi’s top 100 for tree planting initiatives.
Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK, says:
“We are delighted to welcome Joelson to the B Corp community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Joelson is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward.”
Phil Hails-Smith, Managing Partner at Joelson, says:
“I’m thrilled to announce Joelson’s new status as a Certified B Corp. It’s a huge milestone for us. This recognition, transitioning from an initial score of 56 to our current 86 points, is testament to the diligence, commitment, and collective effort of our entire team.
Over the years, our dedication to entrepreneurs, founders, and family-owned businesses has distinguished us from larger institutional-focused firms. Achieving B Corp status feels a natural part of that mission – we’ve joined a community of companies committed to leaving the world a better place. My heartfelt thanks to our team and clients for their part in the Joelson journey – we’ll stay true to our promise to build our firm in a way that that focusses on delivering for our clients, employees and our other stakeholders whilst continuing to meet and improve on the high standards of environmental and social performance which is embodied in the B Corp framework.”
This article is for reference purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Specific legal advice about your specific circumstances should always be sought separately before taking or deciding not to take any action.
Joelson has advised My Emissions, the London based tech start-up and the official carbon labelling partner of Just Eat, on its £1.3 million fundraising Seed Round to Become the go-to platform for carbon assessments across the food industry.
Joelson, a leading London law firm, has been awarded Ecologi’s ‘For Our Planet’ Silver Award this Earth Day.
We have partnered with Ecologi and are now a Climate Action workforce. Through Ecologi we are planting trees across the world to grow our own forest to offset our carbon emissions.
