Gleiss Lutz took first place in the Sustainability/CSR category for its Digital guide for refugees from Ukraine project at the PMN Awards ceremony held in Frankfurt on 22 September 2022, beating two other finalists.
In announcing the winner, the jury praised “the entirely altruistic idea – not about the firm's own sustainability or a product for its clients, but instead about helping people in need." The award was greeted with a standing ovation.
The project was the brainchild of Marc Geiger, Director Legal Operations & Business Technologies at Gleiss Lutz, and was implemented with an interdisciplinary team of employees from Legal Tech, Legal Operations, Business Development, Marketing and Communications as well as a large number of lawyers from the firm's ESG practice. Geiger commented: “We were all deeply shocked by Russia's unlawful war of aggression against Ukraine and wanted to do what we could to help. With our digital guide, we have provided refugees arriving in Germany with basic guidance, help in dealing with the authorities and an overview of available assistance."
Prof. Michael Arnold and Dr. Alexander Schwarz, co-managing partners at Gleiss Lutz, said: “We are delighted to receive this recognition for a project that is very close to the firm's heart. Following the attack on Ukraine, we wanted to do everything we could to assist those forced to flee their homes and come to Germany. So we supported the project without hesitation and are happy to have made the arrival in Germany easier for many refugees."
Established in 2009, the PMN Management Awards recognise innovative projects originating from the management and business services of commercial and multidisciplinary law firms in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
There are seven categories: Communication, Legal Tech, Human Resources, Business Development, Newcomer – which singles out new and unusual law firm startups – as well as Management, and since 2019, Sustainability/CSR.
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