At J A Kemp, we are committed to promoting and sustaining cultures and working practices which promote equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in our workplace. We believe that these attitudes not only contribute to the collective creativity and quality that is valued by our clients, but also generate a supportive and welcoming workplace for our employees. Our partners have agreed D&I commitments reflecting our determination to take positive steps to improve in this area and we have a dedicated diversity and inclusion group responsible for implementing EDI initiatives across the firm, as well as a steering group at partner level to consider EDI policy. We are signatories to the IP Inclusive Charter.
To help monitor our progress, we conducted a survey during 2023 to collect EDI data from our staff, including data on age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic group, disabilities, neurodiversity, religion/faith, caring responsibilities, type of school attended, and eligibility for free school meals (a benefit available in the UK to those from low income backgrounds).
Two open-day events are held each year at J A Kemp for potential trainee patent attorneys to enable prospective applicants to discover more about what it is like to work as a patent attorney. We reserve places at each open-day for those from under-privileged backgrounds.
We also regularly review our recruitment practices to ensure our trainee positions are open to all. Those involved in our trainee interview programme have received interview training to help reduce unconscious bias. CVs are redacted to remove information that may reveal information such as the gender and ethnicity of the candidate before review by decision-makers.
The firm has enhanced maternity and paternity benefits in place. We recognise that returning to work after maternity leave represents a particular challenge and have put in place additional support mechanisms, including a mentoring scheme, to support women both whilst they are pregnant and on their return to work. We also have flexible and hybrid working policies.
To support our employees’ mental health, we have a qualified team of internal mental health first aiders and access to external counselling via an enhanced employee assistance programme.
All our offices are wheelchair friendly, with accessible toilets on each floor.
At J A Kemp we are an equal opportunities employer and are committed to improving diversity and inclusion within our firm. Our partners’ D&I commitments set out our determination to take positive steps to improve in this area:
- We are committed to providing a welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone, regardless of background or characteristics such as sexuality, race or gender, has the opportunity to succeed.
- We will further embed a culture in which all people are respected and valued and can contribute to the future of our firm.
- We recognise that improving D&I needs more than just words – we will continue to build and maintain a community within J A Kemp that is inclusive, respectful and welcoming to all.
- We will raise D&I issues on our partnership agenda and will continue to dedicate management time to improving D&I.
- We will make space for and listen to the views of everyone at J A Kemp.
- We will continue to strive for fairness and ensure equal opportunity, both in our recruitment processes and for our existing staff.
- We will continue to learn about D&I issues so that our actions to improve D&I at J A Kemp can evolve.
In early 2023, J A Kemp attained accreditation for ISO 14001 (Environmental management system) and ISO 50001 (Energy management system).
ISO 50001 provides a framework of requirements for us to:
- Develop a policy for more efficient use of energy
- Fix targets and objectives to meet the policy
- Use data to better understand and make decisions about energy use
- Measure the results
- Review how well the policy works
- Continually improve energy management
- ISO 14001 provides a framework for improving our environmental performance through more efficient resource use and waste reduction.
J A Kemp is committed to only considering buildings that meet a very high energy and environmental standard. Our London and newly opened Cambridge offices are both accredited to meet Building Research Established Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM). They have a raft of environmental/energy efficiency features designed into the build, including:
Solar Panels:
- Heat recovery systems to reduce energy consumption when heating/cooling incoming fresh air
- LED digital lighting systems controlled by occupancy sensor
- Building management system (BMS) to efficiently manage mechanical plant
- Individually controlled room air conditioning
- Leak detecting
- Planned preventative maintenance regimes to maximise the mechanical plant efficiency
- Wild gardens
Our London and Cambridge offices are located immediately adjacent to train stations to encourage energy-efficient transport and have secure bicycle storage and showers. We also offer staff interest-free loans to purchase travel season tickets.
For several years, we have been taking steps to minimise our waste. For example, we have operated almost paper-free and have used refillable glass bottles for water in our meetings (as opposed to disposable plastic bottles). We have also partnered with an environmental consultant to manage our waste streams and ensure minimal waste is sent to landfills.
J A Kemp has been included in the third edition of Legal 500’s UK Green Guide 2025. The guide puts a spotlight on law firms around the globe which have been able to showcase a contribution to the green transition and reflects the breadth of mandates in this space. The UK guide showcases 40 law firms engaging with sustainability within the UK.
