London based legal business ushers in “a new era” with B Corp status achievement

Obelisk Support has become just the 12th legal business to achieve B Corp status. The certification demonstrates Obelisk as having met rigorous social and environmental standards, representing its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

Even though there are over 1,500 B Corps in the UK, fewer than 1 per cent are in legal services. As one of the first alternative legal services providers, Obelisk has been at the vanguard of changing the way lawyers work.

Since its creation in 2010, the business has advocated a ‘Human First’ approach by putting people at the heart of the business and making legal work more inclusive. The business now has the UK’s largest vetted freelance legal team, with over 2,000 consultants. Its lawyers work for the likes of the BT, British Business Bank, Kantar, ING Bank and Ocado.

Dana Denis-Smith, founder and CEO of Obelisk Support says the certification marks the start of a period of refocus for the business, commenting: “Achieving B Corp certification provides external validation of the values we have held since day one.

“The certification process was rigorous, lengthy, and highly evidential. We’ve been pushed to become the very best business we can be. As a result, we have created an improved and sustainable business framework. It’s a new era for Obelisk. The certification safeguards our founding principle of ‘Human First’.

“For our team, it shows them that we’re serious about treating them like people, not profit centres. For our clients, it provides them with the reassurance that we actively pursue a better way of doing business and they can access not only a quality legal service, but one that centres on ethical business principles.

“There’s also an important message for the legal profession that you can pursue both profit and purpose. You don’t have to sacrifice one for the other. In fact, given the way environmental, societal and governance issues are driving corporate agendas today, B Corp status provides the profession with a recognised way of aligning with client agendas.”

The B Corp certification addresses the entirety of a business’s operations and covers five key impact areas: Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of over 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency.

Obelisk achieved a score of 91.5 and completed its certification by legally embedding their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles, a mandatory requirement of certification.

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

• Add me on LinkedIn and Twitter to keep up to date
• And follow Bdaily on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
• Submit press releases to editor@bdaily.co.uk for consideration.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →