Foot Anstey pledges to donate 1% of net profits to good causes

National firm Foot Anstey has become one of the first UK law firms to decide to donate 1% of its net profits to charity.

The firm’s pledge, described as a ‘benchmark donation’, will be invested into the firm’s responsible business programme which focuses on supporting sustainability, community and charity initiatives. Foot Anstey described the pledge as the ‘next step on the journey to having a greater positive impact on local communities’.

The funding commitment will also provide a boost to The Foot Anstey Foundation, which supports charities and community groups through grants. The 1% donation will be used to match staff fundraising for good causes. 

As part of its responsible business programme, this summer the firm donated £50,000 to YHA (England and Wales). The charity provides accommodation for young people and families facing adversity. The donation will help provide 250 spaces on YHA’s breaks programme which provides access to travel for groups of young people who face challenges or need additional support.

Executive director of responsible business at Foot Anstey, Bola Gibson, said the firm wanted to tackle ‘social mobility cold spots’ and ‘find and support our next generation of talent’.

She added: ‘Foot Anstey is ready to take the next step on the journey to having a greater positive impact on local communities and young people across the country. Our new strategy will also see us make significant commitments around environmental performance and to the provision of other resources to help local communities.’

Managing partner Martin Hirst said: ‘We take our responsibility to our people, the planet and our communities seriously. Our people want to use their time and skills to deliver for our clients and causes that matter to them, and our new approach will enable them to do this.

‘With the appointment of our responsible business lead and our 1% profit pledge, we’re excited to see the difference we can make.’

In 2023/24, the firm’s turnover was more than £67m, and it recorded a net profit of £6.15m. The firm has achieved 44% growth since 2020 when revenue was around £46m.

Foot Anstey said it believes it is one of the first UK firms to make a 1% profits pledge. In 2021, international firm Simmons & Simmons made an additional charity donation of £2m of its global profit to charities providing relief to those affected by the pandemic.