Nine law firms sign up to the Mindful Business Charter committing to better working practices for mental health and wellbeing

The ground-breaking initiative, originally developed by Barclays and law firms Pinsent Masons and Addleshaw Goddard, sees financial services businesses and law firms collaborate to follow a set of principles centred on improved communication, respect for rest periods and considerate delegation of tasks.

Signing up to the Charter at an event hosted by Eversheds Sutherland today are: Capsticks, CMS, DWF, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Herbert Smith Freehills, Michelmores, Osborne Clarke, Stone King, and Weightmans.

The new firms will join the three banks and nine law firms that signed the Charter upon launch, working together to share learnings and embed the Charter's principles.

In signing, these organisations pledge 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.

Philip Aiken, Managing Director at Barclays said:

"It's hugely exciting to see the number of law firms signing up to the Mindful Business Charter continue to grow. This goes to show that many organisations want to find ways in which they can support their colleagues in pursuing careers which are sustainable for the long term and, whilst the Mindful Business Charter has its origins in the legal industry, this will also be relevant to many organisations beyond the legal profession."

Richard Foley, Senior Partner of Pinsent Masons said:

"Just six months since launch, the Mindful Business Charter has already started to promote a cultural shift in our daily working practices. Small adjustments have the potential to dramatically improve our day-to-day professional life and support mental wellbeing.

"By working together we can foster positive change. It's fantastic to see that more corporates and their law firm advisors firms share our aspirations and are joining the Charter's movement."

Charles Penny, Senior Partner at Addleshaw Goddard adds:

"It is great to see the momentum building behind the Mindful Business Charter. We have always taken the view that we will achieve far more in this space if we work together and it is this collaborative approach that sets the Charter apart."

Keith Froud, Managing Partner (International), Eversheds Sutherlands:

"As one of the first signatories of the Mindful Business Charter we are delighted to see more leading organisations taking the decision to be brave and sign the Charter, thus committing to the promotion of better mental health and wellbeing in the workplace. By looking at the ways we work with our clients and each other we can remove unnecessary sources of workplace stress. This will help to ensure that the law is, and remains, an attractive and sustainable profession. We are proud to be part of it."