Our approach to Environmental, Social & Governance.
ESG Vision
Engagement is part of Lexence’s DNA. Our commitment extends beyond the practice of our profession. We are convinced that our firm can only thrive and grow thanks to the society in which we operate. For many years, Lexence has therefore been purposefully and increasingly focused on developing policy in the area of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG). All our employees are actively involved in this. We have developed a range of initiatives relating to non‑profit and pro bono work, advising and collaborating with charitable organisations, as well as education and personal development.
Green Business Club
Lexence is a member of the Green Business Club Zuidas, an impact‑driven organisation that achieves sustainable results by initiating concrete projects. Through this partnership, we contribute to initiatives such as the The Zuidas Community Garden, Zuidas turn off the lights, the E‑bike Try‑out, the Zero Waste programme and the Green Meal initiative, which aims for 80% plant‑based proteins by 2027. Together with other partners, we are committed to a future‑proof, sustainable way of working and living. Green Business Club Zuidas is part of a national network of 20 local Green Business Clubs.
Energy efficient office
Lexence is located in Infinity, a building known for its innovative sustainability features, including a “double skin” façade and advanced technical systems. The design ensures that heat‑reflective screens and blinds prevent unwanted solar heat gain, reducing the need for cooling in summer. In winter, these measures keep the cold out, lowering heating demand. An underground water storage system further supports the building’s heating and cooling.
Sustainable business practices
Sustainable operations are a key part of our vision. At Lexence, we actively encourage the use of public transport and bicycles through our progressive mobility plan. We continuously work on reducing waste and reusing materials, making increasingly conscious choices. In our catering and cleaning services, we primarily use Fairtrade and environmentally friendly products and collaborate with local suppliers wherever possible. We also take additional steps—such as using artificial flowers, improving waste separation and reducing food waste—to further minimise our environmental impact.
Sustainability report
At Lexence, we believe that engagement extends beyond our work for clients. We also take responsibility for our role in society. That is why we proudly present our 2024 Sustainability Report, which outlines our progress, decisions and challenges in the areas of Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG).
Some key results include:
- 100% green electricity from Dutch wind turbines
- 22% increase in recycled waste
- 53% women within our organisation
This report demonstrates how we continue to build a future centred on care, transparency and decisive action.
Social
Equal opportunities
In recent years, we have devoted significant attention to achieving a more balanced gender ratio within Lexence, with positive results. The percentage of women in our firm has increased from 46% in 2016 to 53% in 2025. At partner level, the proportion of women has grown from 5% to 12% over the same period. We have achieved this in part by committing to the ‘Talent to the Top’ Charter and through intensive training and coaching. One example is our Female Leadership training programme, designed to support our (future) female leaders in taking authentic ownership of their career development.
Personality
Across the firm, we use the Myers‑Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), a psychometric tool used worldwide to support personal development. This helps us recognise and embrace the diversity of personalities within our organisation.
Cultural Diversity
We aim to increase awareness around cultural diversity. We do this through initiatives such as multicultural in‑house days, bias training and collaborations with organisations including Stichting Lequal and Bridges. Bridges Network’s mission is to build a bridge between bicultural/first‑generation students and the commercial legal sector. Stichting Lequal is dedicated to promoting cultural and intersectional diversity within the legal profession in the Netherlands.
Diversity, equality and inclusion
The success of our organisation depends on the quality of our people and the diversity within our teams. An inclusive working environment—one that embraces both visible differences (gender, age and ethnicity) and invisible differences (personality, work experience, sexuality and gender identity)—is essential. Creating such an environment is a gradual process that begins with raising awareness.
D&I Committee: We also have a D&I Committee that is committed to fostering an inclusive and comfortable workplace. A number of initiatives include:
- Celebrating holidays: sharing information internally about a wide range of cultural and religious holidays for our employees and clients.
- Partnerships: collaborating with Bridges and with FORWARD to support LGBTQ+ acceptance and visibility.
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion is an ongoing process, and we continue to strive for improvement and growth in this area. Together, we are building a workplace culture enriched by a wide range of perspectives and experiences.
The committee consists of:
Recruitment
Lexence does not apply diversity quotas in its recruitment process. Our aim is to find the best match between the individual, the team and the role. To avoid blind spots and unconscious bias, we apply the four‑eyes principle at every stage of the recruitment process.
Governance
Strict Compliance and Ethics programmes
We have compliance programmes in place to ensure that all business activities adhere to applicable legal and ethical standards. We conduct regular audits to verify compliance and provide ongoing training to keep our employees up to date with the latest legal and ethical developments.
Transparency in Reporting
We are committed to full transparency in our corporate reporting. We undergo independent assessment by EcoVadis, a globally recognised platform for evaluating sustainability performance. Our EcoVadis report adds an additional layer of transparency by providing an objective view of how we perform in the areas of environment, labour & human rights, ethics and sustainable procurement. This assessment helps us continuously improve our processes and enables us to remain accountable to our clients, partners and the wider community.
Governance Structure
Our governance structure is designed to ensure balanced representation of interests. The board consists of members with diverse backgrounds, providing broad perspectives and strong governance. The managing partner is a highly experienced executive who dedicates 100% of her time to governance responsibilities. Her indefinite term contributes to independent and long‑term decision‑making.
We apply a clear separation of powers between the board and the operational teams, helping to prevent conflicts of interest and safeguarding the integrity of our decision‑making processes.
Stakeholder Engagement
We place great value on the views and input of our stakeholders. We therefore aim to engage regularly with representatives of employees, clients, suppliers and the local community. Although this is an ongoing process, we make every effort to consider their interests carefully in our decision‑making and to ensure their perspectives are heard.
Risk Management
We have a risk management system in place to address operational, financial and reputational risks. This system includes continuous monitoring of risk factors, enabling us to respond quickly to changing circumstances and proactively adjust our policies and strategies where necessary.