全球最大法律事務所 - 國際通商法律事務所 (Baker & McKenzie) - 之「企業社會責任」行動

Abstract

企業社會責任已成為國際企業和跨國法律事務所之顯學，勢不可擋，持續成長，面對當前遲滯的經濟大環境更是如此，究竟為何如此？為何不讓企業單純合法努力營運獲利就好，社會責任就由國家政府、慈善機構和善良百姓來盡即可？難道企業社會責任只不過是企業行銷時用來裝飾門面的概念？正因並無足以驗證企業社會責任具商業意義之確切實證，使得此議題更顯得複雜。 一如世界各地多數全球性法律事務所，Baker & McKenzie同樣必須面對以上問題、宣揚其企業社會責任行動，並評估其企業社會責任行動之優缺點。不僅如此，既然Baker & McKenzie似乎是全世界獲頒最多企業社會責任相關獎項 / 榮耀的法律事務所，那麼Baker & McKenzie究竟是如何贏得如此之盛讚？ 基於本篇論文中解釋的理由，本文作者試提出以下部分結論： 1. 企業社會責任顯然具有道德或類道德與類商業意義。大致而言，企業社會責任同樣對公司或法律事務所有利。Baker & McKenzie有必要將事務所重視獲利的形象和企業社會責任形象兩者加以平衡。更多企業社會責任也能提升事務所律師的士氣。 2. 正因為並無足以驗證企業社會責任具商業意義之確切實證，只要能找出支持企業社會責任具商業意義之理論基礎或經驗機率，即可確立商業意義。 3. 企業社會責任會產生相關成本。企業社會責任勢必會涉及某種程度之集體強制而不得不犧牲個人自由。 4. 一般情況下，凡遇牴觸情事，法律事務所均應遵循特別的專業道德規範，而非通用的企業社會責任規則。 5. 關於Baker & McKenzie企業社會責任行動的三大支柱，即 (i) 公益免費法律服務與社區服務；(ii) 全球多元與包容；以及 (iii) 永續發展，基於仰賴高度多元人力資源與客戶組成之全世界最為全球化法律事務這樣的角色，Baker & McKenzie確實有必要應著重於公益免費法律服務以及多元與包容。Baker & McKenzie這類法律事務所與污染充其量只有間接關聯性，而且沒有對造成污染的客戶或供應商予以差別待遇的彈性。此外，就提供社區服務而言，Baker & McKenzie這類法律事務所與任何其他企業相較並無比較優勢。 6. 對本所律師塑造重視企業社會責任的性格以及本所的公益免費法律服務兩件事，應該是本所企業社會責任計畫的兩大重點。因此，企業社會責任委員會目前多數成員均為律師，也應持續如此。 7. 隨著企業社會責任計畫依序執行，企業社會責任已成為Baker & McKenzie的重點活動。但Baker & McKenzie和事務所的每一份子都應該要再加把勁。 本篇論文的主要貢獻： 1. 本篇論文讓商學院學生和社會大眾能瞭解對一般企業而言理應推動企業社會責任行動的理論架構和固有限制，並使讀者能從更寬廣與歷史性的視野來觀察企業社會責任的趨勢。 2. 本篇論文從獲得最多企業社會責任相關獎項 / 榮耀之最為全球化的法律事務所，為國際性法律事務所提供經過驗證的指導曙光，照亮各事務所可以或應該認真考慮採取的企業社會責任價值和行動，為所有相關的利害關係人 (包括事務所本身成員在內) 獲致總利益的最大淨值。 3. 本篇論文亦說明有助於在國際性法律事務所開展其企業社會責任行動，並提出讓各地分所 / 子公司能向全球總部回報各地企業社會責任提案的諸多創新做法。 4. 本篇論文能讓企業和社會大眾一窺法律事務所和律師在處理企業社會責任時面對的特殊限制，以及事務所和律師如何克服限制或抵消限制的負面作用。

Why is CSR so trendy, inevitable to and a growing part of international businesses and international law firms, particularly under the current stagnating economic climate? Why not just allow businesses to lawfully strive for profits, and let the states, charities and individual ethics to fill in the vacuum? Is CSR a mere window-dressing concept for marketing? The matter is compounded by the fact that there is no conclusive empirical evidence proving a business case for CSR. As the most global law firm in the world, Baker & McKenzie has to address the above issues, to proclaim its CSR program, and to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of its CSR program. Moreover, since Baker & McKenzie appears to have won more CSR-related Awards/Recognitions than any other law firms in the world, what is Baker & McKenzie doing to win such accolades? For reasons explained in this thesis, this writer concludes among other things that: 1. There is a clear moral or quasi-moral and quasi-business case for CSR. Generally CSR is also good for a business or a law firm. Baker & McKenzie should need to balance the profit-driven image with a CSR image. More CSR would also boost the morale of its lawyers. 2. Just because there is no conclusive empirical evidence proving a business case for CSR, the business case can nonetheless be established if one could show a reasonable theoretical ground or empirical probability that there is a business case for CSR. 3. CSR has its its associated costs. CSR necessarily involves some collective coercion that impairs individual liberties. 4. In ordinary cases it should be good for law firms to comply with the special professional ethical rules in lieu of the general CSR rules to the extent of any contradiction. 5. In respect of the three pillars of the CSR Program of Baker & McKenzie, namely (i) Pro Bono & Community Service, (ii) Global Diversity & Inclusion and (iii) Sustainability, as the most global law firm in the world relying on very diverse human resources and clienteles, it makes more sense for Baker & McKenzie to concentrate on Pro Bono works and Diversity and Inclusion. A law firm like Baker & McKenzie is quite indirectly correlated to pollutions and in any case has little flexibility to discriminate against polluting clients or suppliers. Further, a law firm like Baker & McKenzie has no more comparative advantage to provide Community Service than any other corporations. 6. Both the shaping of CSR-conscious characters among our lawyers and our pro bono works should be the two main focuses of our CSR Program. Correspondingly, most of the CSR Committee members of Baker & McKenzie are and should be lawyers. 7. With the orderly implementation of the CSR Program, CSR has been brought to the forefront of the firm activities of Baker & McKenzie. But there is more Baker & McKenzie and everyone therein can do. The main contributions of this thesis are: 1. This thesis gives business students and the society an understanding of the theoretical framework and inherent limits in justifying CSR programs in businesses generally, and allows the readers to see the trend in CSR from a broader and historical perspective. 2. This thesis gives international law firms a proven guiding light, from the most global law firm with the most CSR-related Awards/Recognitions, on what CSR values and programs they could or should advisably consider adopting for the maximum net overall benefits of all relevant stakeholders including its members. 3. This thesis also illustrates various innovative initiatives that could help to jump-start and sustain CSR programs in international law firms and allow the local branch/subsidiary to feedback its local CSR initiatives to its global headquarter. 4. This thesis allows businesses and the society a glimpse of the special constraints law firms and lawyers face in CSR, and how they can overcome or neutralize the constraints.