Impact
Aligned with best practices, we introduced reflection on sustainability and the materiality of relevant topics from a double perspective: assessing the impact of material topics on society; and assessing the impact of material topics on the organisation’s financial sustainability.
On the team
We now know that talent management is much more than simply attracting and retaining talent. It involves creating a positive, inclusive and diverse, harmonious and collaborative work environment, fostering the engagement of all employees, and promoting their well-being and mental health.
We believe in a collaborative environment with space for innovation and where everyone can contribute to the greater good.
- Mentoring programme
- Advancement and meritocracy
- Performance management and continuous feedback
- Performance appraisal
- Personal skills development plan
- Intergenerationality
- Well-being
- Culture of conciliation
- Diversity, equity and inclusion
- Partnerships for the promotion of female leadership
On the community
If we are not citizens, if we do not fight for the principles that constitute the Foundation’s programme – Culture, Citizenship, Justice, and Freedom in the political sense, taking a stance on everything that is happening around us –, if we do not do that, we are not worthy of being lawyers. I believe that the creation of the Foundation reflects how far we have come since the day when the law firm was established. We have been fostering a consciousness in all of us and that is the merit of this initiative: it was not imposed, it arose from a consciousness shared by all, namely, that it made sense to create a foundation that would stand up for these principles, revealing a qualitative change in how we practice our profession. And I believe that this fact should represent a fundamental milestone in the evolution of the Firm.
On environmental protection
Sustainability is a part of VdA’s DNA and, in this sense, it has been implemented through a set of actions focused on energy efficiency:
- In 2018, VdA moved its headquarters to new premises, a building located in Lisbon’s historical centre renovated to achieve high energy efficiency standards and which uses solar energy to heat water. Selective waste collection and recovery was also reinforced, eliminating single-use plastics and introducing a print server control system that promotes reduced paper consumption.
- Since July 2020, 100% of the electricity purchased by VdA is of renewable origin. With 2018 as a base year, the Firm established a set of quantified environmental goals aimed at reducing its consumptions and emissions by 2022: 5% reduction in resource consumption and carbon emissions per employee and 5% increase in the waste recycling rate.
- In 2023, VdA completed the calculation of its carbon footprint, with the quantification of emissions associated with the production of the goods, services and fixed assets acquired by it (Scope 3 categories 1 and 2). Based on the results obtained, in 2024 the Firm launched an assessment process and the adoption of a more ambitious emission reduction target aligned with climate science (SBT – Science Based Target), to be submitted to the approval of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
On society
Our restlessness moves us to want to contribute. As such, being a part of the collective, getting actively involved in the debate, and contributing to solutions shape our modus operandi. Our ability to influence is exponentiated by our level of involvement.
We play an active part:
We participate in several associations and work groups, with responsibility for leading the ESG agenda and taking it further.
