ESG Commitment

ESG Commitment

A Antas da Cunha ECIJA is firmly committed to ESG factors, incorporating practices and policies that reflect not only its environmental, social and governance awareness, but also its determination to make a positive contribution to a more sustainable and ethical world. This commitment is reflected not only in responsible internal management, embracing principles of sustainability and inclusivity, but also in the transparent and ethical relationships maintained with employees, clients and partners.

Antas da Cunha ECIJA not only recognizes the importance of ESG factors, but actively takes on the role of promoting social and environmental values, consolidating itself as a reference not only in the legal field, but also as an agent of change committed to global well-being.

To this end, Antas da Cunha ECIJA has appointed a Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO), responsible for leading and implementing strategies that integrate environmental, social and governance considerations into the firm’s objectives and activities.

Environmental Sustainability

The Go Green or Go Home Project was launched in 2021 in response to AdCE´S need to promote the adoption of pro-environmental behaviors in the workplace. Since then, and progressively, sustainability policies and practices have been defined and implemented in the office organization, based on the 3 R’s Policy: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.

AdCE has approved an Environmental Sustainability Policy, which reflects its steadfast commitment to socially responsible business practices and environmental preservation.

Social Responsability

Antas da Cunha ECIJA is aware that its growth as an organization and the increase of its impact on the legal market, in particular, and on society in general, entails responsibilities towards the community that should not be ignored and on which it became evident the need to assume an institutional position.

For this reason, the Antas da Cunha ECIJA understood that it was urgent to create, formalize, organize and regulate, at an internal level, an Antas da Cunha ECIJA Social Responsibility area, which pursues eminently altruistic purposes.

Goals:

a) Support social groups in a particularly fragile situation, directly or through entities that pursue the same purpose, with a view to protecting the dignity of the human person and promoting equal opportunities in terms of professional and academic training;

b) Contribute to promoting environmental, social and corporate governance sustainability;

c) Support and establish partnerships with entrepreneurs, institutions and other entities that share the purposes of AdCE’s Social Responsibility area;

d) Strengthen AdCE’s role as a socially relevant and responsible institution in civil society.

Types of support:

a) Providing pro bono legal services;

b) Financial support;

c) Professional training;

d) Volunteering actions;

e) Any other actions or support suitable for the pursuit of the purposes of the area.

Beneficiaries:

a) Individuals or groups of individuals who are in a situation of special vulnerability with basic needs related, namely, to food, health and education;

b) Non-profit legal persons;

c) Educational institutions;

d) Start-ups and other emerging businesses whose purposes are aligned with those of the area.

Mental Health and Work Life Balance

Antas da Cunha ECIJA provides TEAM 24 APP, a platform that promotes psychological well-being and mental health among employees.

Additionally, it has been developing various strategic partnerships to ensure exclusive discounts and simplified access to essential services for operational daily life, with the purpose of providing tangible benefits to all employees.

Privacy

In compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), AdCE has implemented, approved and communicated, among others, the following policies and procedures relating to privacy and the protection of personal data, which are updated periodically:

• Designation of a Data Protection Officer (DPO)

• Record of Processing Activities

• Procedure for Detection, Management, and Notification of Data Breaches and Security Incidents

• Subcontracting Procedure

• Privacy Policies for Customers and Employees

• Procedure for Exercising Data Subject Rights

• Execution of Data Processing Agreements with subcontractors

• Policy on the Use of Information Technologies

• Procedure for Retention and Erasure of Personal Data

• Internal training and communication for awareness of information security and personal data

Anti-Corruption Policies

In compliance with the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing Law, the General Regime for Corruption Prevention, the General Regime for Whistleblower Protection, and the Regulations of the Bar Association, Antas da Cunha ECIJA has approved and internally adopted the following Policies, which have already been made available to all Employees:

• Policy for the Prevention of Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

• Policy for acceptance of new clients and matters (conflict of interest verification)

• Implementation of an internal reporting channel and respective Policy for Reports and handling of Reports

• Appointment of a Compliance Officer and two managers of the internal reporting channel

• Code of Conduct and Professional Ethics

• Corruption Prevention Policy

• Training for all employees on the adopted Policies