Dubai,UAE: DLA Piper’s commitment to sustainability in the region was recognised at the facilities management Middle East Awards, where the leading international legal practice was given the Sustainable Initiative Award for its efforts to reduce its carbon footprint across the Middle East.  The award was given in recognition of DLA Piper’s efforts to reduce its environmental impacts across each of its offices in the region.

DLA Piper has a global commitment to sustainability across all its offices which includes programmes designed to reduce business travel and offset emissions, purchase items manufactured from sustainable sources, and recycle plastic, paper, glass and cartridges.  In addition, DLA Piper is the first international legal practice to achieve certification in the globally recognised environmental standard ISO 14001 across all its offices worldwide.

Accepting the award on behalf of DLA Piper, Elaine Kelly, DLA Piper Regional Facilities Manager in Dubai, said:

“DLA Piper’s corporate responsibility programme focuses on creating sustainable, empowering initiatives throughout the Middle East.  We are committed to reduce our environmental impact and conduct our business in a responsible manner.”

The Sustainable Initiative Award win follows a week-long internal campaign – EnergySMART – to reduce energy output in all regional offices at DLA Piper.  The campaign concluded in early May.

Organised by ITP business publishing, the award ceremony gathered more than 200 of the region’s leading facilities management professionals including developers, service providers, contractors and building owners.

The facilities management Middle East awards aim to raise the profile of the industry and reward and recognise those who have made significant contributions to the progression and development of the region’s facilities management (FM) industry.  The awards acknowledge the leaders as well as the  newcomers who have invested in technology, implemented winning strategies and invested both time and resources to ensure the local industry not only meets international standards but often exceeds them.

David Church, DLA Piper Regional Managing Partner for the Middle East, commented:

“This award recognises the enormous effort DLA Piper has undertaken to create a sustainability programme which distinguishes us as an environmentally responsible company.  We will continue to invest in sustainability and expand our current initiatives even further.”

Walid Akawi, CEO of ITP publishing group, said:

“We are proud to hold the second facilities management Middle East awards and are delighted with the level of interest and participation that the industry has shown this year.  The winners were well deserved and our congratulations go to them all.”

Fourteen awards were presented at the ceremony in categories that covered a number of fields, from innovative IT in FM to landscaping contractor, training and development.  The winners were judged by a prestigious panel of industry figureheads, selected from within the Middle East facilities management industry.  DLA Piper was one of six businesses shortlisted for the Sustainable Initiative Award.