A raft of top firms have signed up to the U.K. government’s C-19 Business Pledge, aimed at providing additional support to employees, clients and communities during the coronavirus pandemic.

CMS, DLA Piper, Gateley, Herbert Smith Freehills, Hogan Lovells, Lewis Silkin, Shakespeare Martineau, Shoosmiths, and Travers Smith are among those to have joined the initiative, created by former cabinet member Justine Greening at the beginning of April.

The initiative aims to encourage businesses and universities to be “a force for good” by committing to do what they can to tackle the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This includes helping communities access practical support, such as enabling food deliveries, and offering financial assistance for organisations that support vulnerable people, and to publish clear and simple advice for customers facing difficulties.

As of Monday, more than 290 employers have signed the C-19 pledge, with other signatories including Asda, PwC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Sainsbury’s, Shell, TSB and Unilever.

In a statement, Greening said: “We acknowledge that many businesses are fighting to stay afloat and must do what is needed to protect themselves and the jobs they support. The Government must also ensure the support that it has made available quickly reaches many more of the businesses that need it.

“This is a time when everyone must do what they possibly can to contribute and I would urge employers of any size to ask themselves if they could do more to help the people and communities around them.”

The coronavirus crisis has encouraged top firms to step up their pro bono and charity efforts through co-ordinated networks such as the Association of Pro Bono Counsel and The Collaborative Plan for Pro Bono.

Last month, U.S. firm Paul Hastings announced that it had launched a fund aimed at addressing the urgent needs of staff who’ve been harmed directly by the virus or have suffered from its consequences.

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© 2024 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.