We are pleased to announce that we have received the gold-level quality label from the Estonian Responsible Business Forum (VEF). This award recognises our efforts to promote responsible entrepreneurship in Estonia. Responsible entrepreneurship involves the seamless and voluntary integration of economic, environmental and social dimensions into a company’s daily activities, management and business strategy.
“We have been systematically working on responsible business objectives and activities for a long time, and we applied for the VEF index for the first time in 2019. We support clients in addressing climate change and we make sure we choose partners who align with our values. Simultaneously, we will also reduce the environmental impact of our office. We organise events based on sustainable principles, such as offering more plant-based food options, reducing food waste, organising events online when possible, sorting waste, minimising printing, and giving only sustainable gifts,” explains one of our assistant lawyers, Maarika Maripuu, describing life at Sorainen.
Carefully selecting our clients
Sorainen has clear criteria for selecting clients. During background checks, we evaluate clients’ commitment to sustainability and ensure compliance with anti-money laundering procedures. “Our rules are even stricter than what the law requires. We rigorously check clients’ backgrounds, particularly regarding sanctions, and ensure our clients share our values. This makes our work much more enjoyable, knowing that with most clients, we’re speaking the same language, so to speak,” says our partner Karin Madisson.
“We started a pro bono programme called ‘Shared Mission’ in 2020. Through this programme, we provide free legal assistance to individuals and organisations addressing social issues. Each year, we focus on a specific area requiring attention or change in society and offer EUR 100,000 worth of free legal aid to companies working on these issues. Additionally, we offer legal and tax advice to clients focused on solving environmental problems. We dedicate nearly 600 hours yearly to pro bono work,” Madisson explains.
Considering employees’ needs
Our office, awarded the Green Office Award last year, comprises 71% women and 29% men. Sorainen values diversity among its employees. Parents can bring their children to work when needed, as there is a fun playroom in the office, and remote work is allowed in a way that suits everyone. The office also has a massage chair and a relaxation room for power naps. Additionally, there’s a portable ramp, although many rooms are accessible for everyone without it.
We monitor our greenhouse gas emissions and aim to achieve a net-zero footprint by 2050, though this may be challenging as we operate in rented premises where not all the conditions are under our control.
According to Karin Madisson, it is essential for employees to get on well and any form of workplace bullying, harassment or causing discomfort to others is strictly prohibited. “We provide relevant training to increase awareness, and we’ve created a whistleblowing channel for all our Baltic offices to ensure whistleblower protection and anonymity. Additionally, we prioritise diversity and equal treatment. To help each person develop to their fullest potential, we generally hold individual discussions monthly, and everyone has opportunities to participate in various internal training sessions. We offer a special training portal for high-level courses, and there are also opportunities to attend external training.”
Mapping stakeholders’ ESG priorities and mitigating risks
As our ESG team advises clients on all matters in this area, we plan to voluntarily submit a sustainability report next year, including additional metrics, ESG-based goals, and a materiality assessment to identify Sorainen’s stakeholders’ ESG priorities, so as to better shape our strategy. “We see great interest among clients in ESG-related advice. Recently, we have helped clients develop ESG reports and policies, worked on major energy projects such as Energiasalv, and assisted Rail Baltica in implementing its green railway infrastructure project,” explains our associate Elina Lumiste, who specialises in advising clients on various ESG-related legal matters.
Sorainen’s board members must submit annual declarations of personal interests. We ensure comprehensive data protection and cybersecurity risk management. “Compliance specialists conduct regular internal audits on data storage and related procedures. To protect data, we maintain our databases securely and ensure that sensitive documents are inaccessible to unauthorised persons, disposing of them properly using sealed paper containers,” says Karin Madisson.
How were the labels awarded?
The Responsible Business Index methodology was developed specifically for the index in collaboration with international experts, adhering to the principles of the UN Global Compact, ESG assessment frameworks, and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
To complete the index, organisations answer 55 multiple-choice questions in three categories: climate and environment (30%), society and social environment (30%), and governance (40%). The evaluation is based on 30 questions with different point values, allowing organisations to earn up to 100 points (93 points for micro and small enterprises).
Medium and large organisations that score 70 or more points and micro and small enterprises that scored 50 or more points receive gold-level recognition. Additionally, medium and large organisations are required to score at least 50 points in each category.
Sorainen scored 71 points across the three categories. In the feedback, the evaluator noted that topics related to responsibility are central to Sorainen’s activities. Our new diverse ESG report and our plan to conduct a materiality assessment were particularly praised, with the evaluator highlighting that it would undoubtedly help to set overall focuses and to identify the most impactful activities.
