PRESS RELEASE: UK firms top responsible business index as US firms regress

UK law firms have continued to scale up responsible business activity in the past year, topping an annual index that sees them continue to outperform US counterparts. 

While scores for the UK top 100 were up 12% on 2024, the US top 50’s average total score dropped by 30% in the face of political headwinds.  

The annual report, published by Lamp House, part of leading legal rankings and insights intelligence company Chambers, analyses the websites of 150 leading law firms, tracking reported responsible business activity across three categories: People, Planet and Governance. 

Overall, UK-headquartered firms’ average score was double that of their US counterparts, with 65% of UK firms seeing their average scores increase year on year. 

UK firms made the most significant progress on the environment and sustainability, supporting women in the profession and social mobility when compared to 2024, while US firms saw the biggest drops in initiatives supporting ethnic minorities, women and LGBTQ+ individuals. 

The top five highest ranking firms (in alphabetical order): 

Nearly six in 10 UK firms (58%) now have a publicly declared net zero target, up from 44% last year, with still only 19% now reporting on how they are progressing the notoriously challenging issue of tackling business travel-related emissions. This compares to 9% of firms in 2024. 

The three most reported actions in relation to the environment were waste reduction programmes (67%), energy reduction measures (56%) and use of renewable energy (51%).  

Initiatives to support the retention and progression of women showed the most growth in the UK, up 6% over the last 12 months, with more firms publicly disclosing parental leave policies accounting for much of the change. There was also an increase in the number of firms designing and promoting career development programmes for ethnic minority talent within their firm – 13% of firms are now doing this compared to 8% in 2024 – and the majority of firms are now taking action on recruitment efforts aiming to improve social mobility, with apprenticeships offered by almost three quarters (73%) of UK firms.  

Action to support LGBTQ+ individuals and those with disabilities scored lowest compared to other under-represented groups. 

Some 42% of the UK firms have a responsible business board or steering committee, up from 32% a year earlier, while 46% have minimum standards in place for suppliers.  

The biggest year-on-year increase in the governance category was in the number of firms describing how responsible business-related risk forms a part of their risk register, up from 13% in 2024 to 24% in 2025. 

Lisa Hart Shepherd, chief product and innovation officer at Chambers and Partners, says: “While UK firms continue to make heartening progress when it comes to responsible business, political headwinds in the US appear to have had a significant effect on what US firms are prepared to disclose, particularly in relation to initiatives designed to support the recruitment, retention and progression of women, ethnic minorities and the LGBTQ+ community. 

“That doesn’t mean the initiatives in place have disappeared overnight, but firms are rethinking and reshaping the public communication and positioning of those efforts in the light of the political risk. 

“The continued commitment of UK firms on the environment, social mobility and women in law in particular is welcome. We know how important progress in these areas is to talent and clients as well as society as a whole and we hope that long term we continue to see an expansion of responsible business initiatives on both sides of the Atlantic.” 

ENDS

For further information, please contact:  

Louise Eckersley, Black Letter Communications on 0203 567 1208 or email: 

[email protected] 

Kerry Jack, Black Letter Communications 

[email protected] / + 44 (0) 203 567 1208, 07525 756 599 

The Lamp House annual review of law firm responsible business activity analysed the websites of 150 leading law firms, including any specific responsible business reports. Reported activity is measured across a framework encompassing three broad categories: People, Planet and Governance. 

This year’s analysis was conducted July – August 2025 and included the top 100 UK firms and top 50 US firms by revenue. 

Lamp House Strategy is an insights specialist for the legal sector, providing invaluable research and data that helps law firms to shape their responsible business strategy. It was acquired by Chambers and Partners in June 2024.  

Its purpose is to modernise the legal industry and enable firms to have a more positive impact on their people, the planet, and their profits. 

The company’s legacy business influenced the dialogue on a number of important topics within leadership teams. Today, it applies the same data-driven approach to deliver insights that help law firms reframe responsible business as a symbol of sustainable success. 

Lamp House Strategy’s research solutions enable firms to understand their current position, engage stakeholders, and secure their future. 

Chambers is a leading global legal rankings and insights intelligence company.  

For over 30 years, Chambers has differentiated the very best legal talent by identifying and ranking law firms and lawyers, through an unrivalled research methodology, delivering indispensable insights based on irrefutable rankings that truly reflect ability and talent.  

Chambers’ in-depth research teams assess lawyers and law firms across more than 200 jurisdictions around the world, providing independent and impartial intelligence and market insight. Its rankings and insights enable decision makers, from General Counsel at global bluechip firms, through to local influencers, to secure the talent that’s right for them.