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Herbert Smith Freehills is delighted to announce today that it has signed the Armed Forces Covenant – a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the armed forces, and their families, are treated fairly. 

This UK initiative focusses on helping members of the armed forces community have the same access as any other citizen to government and commercial services and products such as; education and family well-being, having a home, and starting a new career.

Over 1,000 organisations have signed the covenant and Herbert Smith Freehills is one of the law firms to do so. Commenting on the signing of the covenant Haig Tyler, Chief Information Officer at Herbert Smith Freehills and an ex-Flt Lt said:

"I spent 12 years in the RAF firstly studying for a degree and then as an engineering officer. I was surrounded by a tremendously supportive culture, an ethos of absolute focus on delivery, and a wonderfully resilient and flexible group of friends and colleagues. All of these elements transfer well into civilian lives and careers. I'm proud not only of the time I spent serving but also that HSF is actively involved in this important scheme."

The signing of this covenant symbolises the commitment the firm will make in its business dealings to uphold the key principles of the Covenant, which are that: no member of the armed forces community should face disadvantage in the provision of public and commercial services compared to any other citizen and in some circumstances special treatment may be appropriate especially for the injured or bereaved. Part of this commitment will involve endeavouring to offer a degree of flexibility in granting leave for Service spouses and partners before, during and after a partner's deployment, and supporting employees who choose to be members of the Reserve forces by accommodating their training and deployment where possible.

Sara Scott, a senior associate at Herbert Smith Freehills who is married to a member of the armed forces, said:

"The uncertainty and additional challenges that come from a partner being in the armed forces could have made pursuing a legal career impossible. Instead, it has been manageable for me because of the support and understanding that I have received from those I work with within the firm. It is really great to see the firm putting its support for the country's armed forces and their families on a more formal footing by making the Armed Forces Covenant pledges."

 

About Herbert Smith Freehills

Operating from over 26 offices across Asia Pacific, EMEA and North America, Herbert Smith Freehills is at the heart of the new global business landscape providing premium quality, full-service legal advice. We provide many of the world’s most important organisations with access to market-leading dispute resolution, projects and transactional legal advice, combined with expertise in a number of global industry sectors, including energy, natural resources, infrastructure and financial services. www.herbertsmithfreehills.com

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For further information on this article please contact

Claire Watts

Claire Watts, Communications Manager

London