Abstract
Although Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is developed within a legal framework this area of legal advice is mainly dominated by non-lawyers. This chapter discusses the development of CSR, the international legal imperatives with regard to human rights, particularly in employment, environmental obligations, and the new UK Companies Act, which provides for more specific duties of directors with regard to CSR. These legal imperatives are discussed within the context of the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit. An argument is put forward for the need for either in-house lawyers or independent law firms to be involved in the decision making process at Board level in particular during discussions on CSR. The chapter also discusses the legal risks with regard to CSR Reports and the need for legal advice across the whole area of CSR. An analysis of a survey of international law firms and CSR is discussed, with examples of the wide range of projects undertaken by the firms and the impact the projects have. The outcome of a survey of regional law firms on the perceptions of lawyers and CSR is also discussed.
Lose money for the firm, I will be very understanding; lose a shred of reputation for the firm, I will be ruthless
Warren Buffett, inaugural address as Chairman of Solomon Brothers (1991).
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Books
Goldsmith. (2005), Lawyers responsibility for advising on corporate social responsibility. In Mullerat, R. (Ed.), Corporate Social Responsibility: The Corporate Governance of the 21st Century, International Bar Association.
Odeleye, I. (2005), Corporate social responsibility and the in-house counsel. In Mullerat, R. (Ed.), Corporate Social Responsibility: The Corporate Governance of the 21st Century, International Bar Association.
Articles
Murray, S. (2005), A wider role for in-house lawyers. Financial Times, July 13th & 14th 2005.
Murray, S. (2007), Private practice: corporate social responsibility. Financial Times, July 6th 2007.
Ruckin, C. (2008), CSR winning more lawyer converts. Legal Week, Vol. 10, No. 4, 7.
Zerk, J. (Autumn 2004), Legal aspects of CSR Reporting: Panacea, Polyfilla or Pandora’s Box? New Academy Review, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp 17–33.
Electronic Sources
CCBE, Corporate Social Responsibility and the Role of the Legal Profession. September 2003. http://www.ccbe.org
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Community and pro bono legal advice. http://www.freshfields.com/csr/community
International Unit. Corporate Social Responsibility A view from the Law Society, September 2002. http://www.lawsociety.org.uk/
Financial Times FT.com, July 13th 2005 http://www.ft.com/coms/s/4a7c84cc-0b4c-11dd-8ccf-0000779fd2ac.dwp_uuid=ebe33f
Modernising Company Law – draft clauses, vol II- Schedule II, 2 (b), (p 112). http://www.icaew.com/index.cfm/route/145195/icaew_ga/en/Technical_amp_Busines
Ruckin, C. CSR Winning More Lawyer Converts. http://www.legalweek.com/Navigation/24/Articles/1090741/Online+CSR+wi
Ruggie, J. Business and Human Rights: Mapping International Standards of Responsibility and Accountability for Corporate Acts. Report A/HRC/4/035. http://www.business-humanrights.org/Documents/RuggieHRC2007
The History of Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability, http://www.brass.cardiff.ac.uk
Legislation
Companies Act 2006 section 172.
UN Doc. E/CN. 4/Sub.2/2002/XX/Add.1 2002.
Modernising Company Law – draft clauses, vol II- Schedule II, 2 (b), (p 112).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2009 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Park, P. (2009). Perspectives of Lawyers in Practice on CSR. In: Idowu, S., Leal Filho, W. (eds) Professionals' Perspectives of Corporate Social Responsibility. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02630-0_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-02630-0_3
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-642-02629-4
Online ISBN: 978-3-642-02630-0
eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsBusiness and Management (R0)