Perspectives of lawyers in practice on CSR

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. © 2010 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.