4 New Square has signed the Mindful Business Charter, joining a wide range of businesses and law firms in a collective commitment to address the avoidable stresses in our working practices to promote healthier and more effective ways of working.
The Charter, originally launched by Barclays and law firms Pinsent Masons and Addleshaw Goddard, brings organisations’ in-house legal teams and their legal services providers together to reach a shared agenda for mental health wellbeing.
At an event marking 18 months since the Charter’s launch, 4 New Square will pledge its commitment to abide by a set of principles centred on improved communication, respect for working hours and considerate delegation of tasks. 4 New Square will be the first set of barristers’ chambers to sign up to the Charter.
The Mindful Business Charter aims to promote a culture of openness about mental wellbeing, ensure responsible business is included as an area of assessment during significant procurement processes and drive forward the actions and necessary change in support of the principles of the Charter.
Lizzy Stewart, Senior Clerk and CEO at 4 New Square, welcomed the initiative:
“Chambers is delighted to be joining the community of professionals who have already signed up to the pledge, and thanks the team behind the Mindful Business Charter for the support it has provided. We see the Charter as the next step in building on the work we are already doing in relation to wellbeing, and feel confident that it will be mutually beneficial in our relationships with clients and solicitors, as well as internally between staff, pupils and members of chambers.”
Speaking on behalf of the founding group, Philip Aiken, Managing Director at Barclays said:
“4 New Square’s wholehearted engagement with the Charter demonstrates its passion and belief in inspiring positive change. The take-up from so many of our banking, legal and wider business counterparts shows the power of collaboration and we hope that in time these principles will be applied in all organisations across all sectors.”
Richard Martin, director of byrne·dean and leading on their Charter work, said:
“The Charter could not be more relevant at the present time as we tackle the challenges and opportunities of our new working lives against a backdrop of heightened anxiety on so many different levels. It is fantastic that 4 New Square is joining the movement at this critical time. At byrne·dean we exist to create kinder, fairer, more productive workplaces and so the Charter lies at the heart of our purpose.”
The Charter has the support of mental health charity Mind, the City Mental Health Alliance, the International Bar Association, the Law Societies of England and Wales and of Scotland, LawCare and the Solicitors Regulatory Authority.
