Sustainability Vision

Furthermore, as a firm, we want to do our bit towards an ecological, economic, equitable and sustainable future. With this in mind, we at GSJ have developed a clear vision that reflects sustainability as a core value of our firm:

“GSJ aims to be the leading legal partner in Flanders and beyond, combining expertise and advice with social responsibility. We demonstrate that economic progress goes hand in hand with care for the climate, social justice and fair governance. As a law firm, we play a key role in making society more sustainable – by providing clients with sustainable advice, contributing to a just legal system and organising our operations in an environmentally conscious and transparent manner. In this way, we build lasting trust with clients, within our organisation and in society.”

Our mission statement is as follows: GSJ provides legal expertise of the highest standard, with respect for the rule of law, people and the environment. We treat our people, resources and relationships with care, and are committed to legal solutions that are valuable and responsible not only today but also in the long term. Our core values – integrity, professionalism and innovation – guide every decision and every collaboration.

We incorporate the concept of ‘sustainability’ into our business operations through the 5 Ps: People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace and Partnership. The United Nations has also categorised the Sustainable Development Goals into these five dimensions. The 17 SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) form the cornerstone for eradicating global poverty, tackling inequality and protecting the environment and world peace by 2030.

As a law firm, we do this by, amongst other things, prioritising health and wellbeing at work, adopting a ‘paper-low’ approach and working digitally wherever possible, encouraging sustainable mobility amongst our staff, donating financial support and legal services to charities, collaborating with local partners, and much more. For us, CSR is about finding the right balance between these five dimensions.

1. People

Internal

• Annual participation in sporting events such as the Antwerp Ten Miles, the Paleisrun and the OVB Lawyers’ Run
• Fairtrade fruit and soup delivered twice a week
• Establishment of the GSJ running, cycling and padel club
• Green spaces in the office to promote wellbeing at work and improve air quality
• Organisation of numerous team activities such as Happy Hours (GSJ Sip & Paint), team-building activities by department and across the whole office, GSJ barbecues, Ugly Christmas Sweater Day, New Year’s receptions, Tableau parties, secretarial get-togethers, office outings (Carnival in Oeteldonk, etc.)
• Conducting a periodic wellbeing survey
• GSJ Gazet: an in-house magazine featuring fun facts about our GSJ family
• An inclusive HR policy with a focus on older employees and diversity
• An induction policy featuring a mentor scheme
• Promotion of lifelong learning through a structured training policy for all our staff
• Annual in-house first aid and AED training courses
• Organisation of internal workshops on stress, resilience and Pilates

External

• Facilitating work placements: summer, winter, practical and taster placements for secondary schools, colleges and universities
• Sponsorship of charity campaigns and causes, e.g. Kom op Tegen Kanker, Nijlen voor Hodora, Bistro Buitengewoon, Hope vzw, Pakje van je Hart, Warmste Week, Special Olympics, Pink Ribbon, Olivia Fund, Ferm’Eline

2. Planet

• Move to the sustainable Post X office complex in 2019: an energy-conscious choice for a passive building
• Use of green electricity with certificates of origin
• Installation of solar panels at the Post X site and charging points in the car park
• Implementation of energy-saving measures such as LED lighting with motion sensors
• Option to work from home (reducing commuting)
• Promoting sustainable mobility: Cambio and Vélo car and bike-sharing subscriptions, organisation of a Mobility Month during which staff can try out alternative and sustainable modes of transport free of charge
• Offering a bike-leasing programme
• In-house ESG team made up of staff
• Maximising socially responsible procurement through a sustainable purchasing policy: FSC-certified and recycled paper; delivery of fruit, soup and lunch in reusable packaging; installation of Aqualex (tap water instead of bottled water); use of thermos mugs, refillable Dopper bottles and returnable glass bottles in the office
• Paperlow and working digitally as much as possible (DocuSign: e-signature tool)
• Circular use of IT equipment (2023: donation to the NGO Close the Gap and in 2024: internal sale to colleagues with proceeds donated to various charities)
• Friday = “leftovers day” at the office

3. Peace

• As part of the Warmste Week campaign, we organise an office fundraising initiative every year, the proceeds of which are donated to the DWW fund.
• Annual donation to charities resulting from savings made by sending digital (rather than paper) Christmas cards

4. Prosperity

• Supporting the local economy through collaboration with local partners for GSJ merchandise, catering, etc.
  
• Providing legal advice to organisations with a social purpose, such as Maatwerkbedrijf De Brug vzw
• A sustained commitment to social justice through pro bono services, in collaboration with social organisations and partners that support vulnerable groups

5. Partnership

• Engagement with the local community through collaboration with local partners, membership of various networks and sponsorship: a wide range of socially meaningful activities designed to make communities more resilient.
  
• Knowledge is the key word at GSJ. It is no coincidence that our slogan is ‘Shared knowledge is double knowledge’. Our solicitors are regularly invited to speak at seminars, and we sponsor the ALEC and AHLIC chairs. In this way, we as a firm seek to contribute to high-quality academic research and education in our city within the sectors in which we operate on a daily basis.
  
• We act as a sponsor of De Conferentie, the study centre dedicated to the practice of legal scholarship in our own language, and are a partner of the Antwerp faculty club Sofia.
• Since 2021, we have been an alliance partner of a British and Dutch law firm, TLT LLP and Holla legal & tax. This enables us to support internationally-oriented clients better than ever before. Recently, the Spanish law firm BPV Abogados also joined this alliance.
• Since 2025, we have had a partnership with 180 Degrees Consulting Antwerp, through which we mentor students in developing legal advice for non-profit organisations and social enterprises.

In October 2025, we were awarded the “SDG Pioneer” certificate. In June 2026, we were also awarded the Voka Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship certificate for the fourth year running (VCDO). This recognition was the result of a comprehensive action plan featuring initiatives such as building up ESG expertise, organising sustainability training courses, print campaigns, initiatives on sustainable mobility, wellbeing and health at work, donating financial support and legal services to various charities, and much more besides.

So, whilst a great deal of effort has already been put into our business operations, the work is far from over and the challenges we face as a society are considerable. Sustainable business is a process of growth, and we are proud that our firm has taken the first steps. We look forward to the next sustainability challenges – or rather, “collaborative challenges”. The challenge lies in working together: our behaviour and our actions are the key to success!