Corporate Social Responsibility

Our firm is committed to transformation, empowerment and diversity in South Africa.

Eversheds Sutherland recognises that South Africa's apartheid and gender discrimination legacy has inhibited the access: of black people to the legal profession; of women to the legal profession; and to legal services by the poor and indigent.

We actively participate in advancing transformation through the recruitment, training and development of individuals who are or who have the potential to become lawyers of the highest calibre and who embrace the firm’s professional standards, value system and ethics. We give preference to recruiting staff from previously disadvantaged groups.

Eversheds Sutherland understands the need to transform society and the professional environment in which we operate.

Social Responsibility

Eversheds Sutherland is committed to social responsibility.

In particular we provide legal, financial and administrative support to the following non-profit organisations:

Women and Men Against Child Abuse (WMACA)

Established in 1997, WMACA is very outspoken in its role as an advocacy organisation, challenging inadequacies in the justice system and raising awareness about the many and complicated issues around child abuse and its effects on the victims. WMACA is an non-profit Child Protection Organisation committed to fighting for the rights of children and to end the abuse of children in South Africa. They provide free medical and psycho social treatment to child victims of abuse. They also provide prevention, diversion and education about child abuse to the communities in which they operate.

WMACA and Eversheds Sutherland have joined forces in an effort to fight child abuse and we are acting as WMACA’s legal arm on a pro bono basis.

Eversheds Sutherland's Managing Director, Peter van Niekerk is on the board for WMACA.

For more information on WMACA and its initiatives visit their website.

The Baby Ethan Foundation

Eversheds Sutherland are proud to be involved in the Baby Ethan Foundation, a foundation set up by Janine Freed after her son, Ethan, was born prematurely at 27 weeks. Ethan spent over 3 months in the Neonatal ICU ("NICU") at Morningside Clinic, Johannesburg. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy and had to undergo a number of procedures.

The Baby Ethan Foundation's objectives are to facilitate a conducive, healthy environment for premature or sick babies in a NICU. They also facilitate numerous other projects which empower the mothers to learn a craft while living at the hospital with their babies.

Eversheds Sutherland were honoured to facilitate the setting up the Baby Ethan Foundation Trust, of which one of our Directors, Tanya Waksman, is a Trustee.

Eversheds Sutherland also provide free legal assistance, advice and administrative support to the Baby Ethan Foundation.

For more information on the Baby Ethan Foundation, visit their website.

Do More Foundation

Eversheds Sutherland has chosen to be a strategic partner of The Do More Foundation. The Do More Foundation is formed from RCL Foods Limited, a client of Eversheds Sutherland and is a natural fit. The Do More Foundation has four focus areas:

1. Young children: Literacy & numeracy programmes, school nutrition programmes, teacher & caregiver support and teacher training
2. Easing hunger: Product donations, community gardens, agricultural training and support
3. Youth development: Small holder farming, skills development, vocational training and career desk
4. Animals: Product donation, support for animal shelters and monthly pet food provision.

For more information on the Do More Foundation, visit their website.