Governance

The law, the rules on professional conduct and our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct are our rules of coexistence and guarantee the best service for our clients. We are firmly committed to democratic principles and principles of participation in the firm’s governance.

Ethics and good governance

Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Anti-money laundering policies Anti-Harassment Code Code of conduct for users of IT systems and digital devices Information Security Policy Accountability Policy on relations with public sector entities Anti-Corruption Policy Purchasing Policy

Regulatory compliance is defined in our Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and in our rules of conduct, which apply to all the firm’s partners, lawyers and support staff, and to everyone in the Cuatrecasas group.

Every three months, everyone at the firm must subscribe to the firm’s Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and to the Anti-Money Laundering Policy, confirming that they are aware of the guidelines in them. Also, the firm and its lawyers are subject to the codes of professional conduct governing the profession and to the bar associations’ whistleblowing channels.

Approval of the Anti-Harassment Code strengthens the rules and mechanisms used to date to resolve internal issues, in line with the higher standards that the firm has decided to impose on itself in the prevention and resolution of these behaviors. The Anti-Harassment Committee prevents, investigates and resolves situations potentially involving harassment.

Our Code of Conduct for users of IT systems and digital devices informs staff of the rules on using the firm's different IT systems and digital devices, so they know how to protect and safeguard the firm’s information. It applies to equipment at and outside the Cuatrecasas premises. We also have a Data Protection Committee whose objective is to submit the work carried out to adapt the firm’s policies to current compliance regulations, submit improvement proposals, and discuss incidents detected and action plans.

Our Information Security Policy is aimed at enabling the firm to (i) guarantee the confidentiality, integrity, availability and privacy of the information; and (ii) meet the applicable regulations and standards at all times, while keeping a balance between the risk levels and the efficient use of the resources by applying proportionality criteria. In 2019, we obtained ISO 27001 certification, which certifies the information system management system ("ISMS") we have implemented in our Spanish and Portuguese offices for all our business and support processes relating to our legal advisory services to clients.

We measure our progress and results in financial terms, as well as in terms of our corporate responsibility. We regularly report, keep an open mind and apply critical thinking to improve and respond to our stakeholders' expectations:

The purpose of our Policy on relations with public sector entities is to establish the rules and procedures that the firm has defined for relationships and hiring services with government administration, companies and other public institutions under the general concept of public sector companies.

Our Anti-Corruption Policy, which applies to all our staff, establishes the principles of action, commitment and duty of care for ensuring correct practice, including the principles of accepting and offering gifts and invitations that are mere acts of hospitality or courtesy.

Our purchasing policy establishes the principles behind our purchasing decisions and our relationships with our suppliers to ensure that both they and us, and their supply chain, act responsibly in the four areas of the Global Compact (i) human rights, (ii) labor, (iii) environment, and (iv) anti-corruption.

Firm values

EXCELLENCE

We have a permanent commitment to learning, updating and adapting to offer the highest standards of quality on legal matters and create the optimal experience for clients and our teams.

MERITOCRACY

We recognize the value of individual effort and reward contribution to the team.

EFFICIENCY

Flexible and innovative, we use all our resources to ensure that all tasks add direct value for clients and our teams.

COHESION

Our team is diverse and combines the best talent to work on a common project in the client's interest; we work together in a spirit of generosity and respect.