Chadwick Lawrence Supports Team GB’s Ultimate Frisbee Team and Their Coach (Our Partner), Jonathan Moore to The Championships

In a sporting landscape often dominated by headlines about multi-million-pound contracts and corporate sponsorships, it’s easy to forget the grassroots efforts that fuel the future of any sport. 

That’s why a commitment to sport, and investments from businesses, stands out as a symbol of hope for young athletes and a template for how the corporate world can make a meaningful difference in their local communities.

We hear a lot of acronyms in today’s corporate world, predominantly, CSR (corporate social responsibility) and ESG (environmental, social, governance). 

ESG is a broad framework used to assess a company’s sustainability and ethical impact, considering a company’s carbon footprint, pollution levels, and efforts to mitigate climate change, as well as how the company treats its employees, engages with the community, and the company’s leadership and ethical business conduct.

CSR focuses specifically on a company’s voluntary contributions to society and the environment. CSR initiatives often involve charitable giving, community involvement, and efforts to address social issues. 

It’s easy to get cynical when hearing these ‘alphabet soup’ terms, with many criticising ‘corporate responsibility’ as nothing more than a PR move that isn’t delivering tangible results. There is also a growing movement of ‘greenhushing,’ where firms downplay their sustainability efforts so as not to be perceived as ‘woke’ and attract criticism. I feel strongly, however, that the pressure to stay quiet hinders the broader adoption of sustainable practices. Your customers, employees, and other stakeholders are watching what you say and what you do. They’re asking themselves whether you genuinely believe in your statements and have a sincere interest in addressing issues and enhancing society’s well-being. Or are you just hoping for more profit?

When driven by a genuine desire, ESG initiatives not only contribute to a thriving world but build better, more resilient businesses, leading to tangible results that impact the bottom line, and attracting clients and staff members who share the same values.  

Investing in the communities we work and live in builds stronger relationships with clients, staff and other stakeholders and creates a sense of loyalty beyond individual cases. There’s much evidence supporting the notion that the younger generations rank a company’s social and environmental policies highly, with LinkedIn finding that 71% of professionals would be willing to take a pay cut to work for a company whose values align with their own.

Ultimately, our ESG efforts contribute to our bottom-line growth, as a positive reputation and strong community ties open doors to new opportunities.

Why sports sponsorships?

As a Yorkshire law firm deeply rooted in the community, we support local sports where we can and spotted an opportunity to make a real difference with a lesser-known sport in the UK– Ultimate Frisbee. For the past year, we have been sponsoring the talented young players of Team GB’s under-20 Ultimate Frisbee team, but our involvement goes beyond financial assistance; it’s about enabling them to achieve their dreams and compete at the highest level possible.

This sponsorship, like our other Yorkshire sporting partnerships across football and Rugby League, isn’t just about writing a cheque. It’s about nurturing talent at all levels, from the grassroots up and helping self-funded athletes realise their potential. It’s a testament to our company’s values, our commitment to sport and the people we work with. Having coached in adult and junior football, I have been able to share experience and expertise to contribute towards the team’s strength and well-being programme with approximately 100 hours a month and training, planning and athlete support. It held a particularly special place in our hearts as a Partner within our Commercial Property team, Jonathan Moore is also the team’s coach!

The impact of Chadwick Lawrence’s support is undeniable. It has enabled the team to hire Charlie Binns, a nutritionist for the England Cricket team, and to invest in training and recovery equipment. This has given us a real boost in our focus on injury prevention and athlete nutrition and well-being.  In a sport where many of our international competitors have significant financial advantages, this sponsorship has been vital in getting our players “tournament-ready”.

This truly national squad now has a significant representation from Yorkshire, due in no small part to the dedication of head coach, Matt Carson, who has brought the sport to the juniors of the region. Chadwick Lawrence understands and wholeheartedly supports the important work of these volunteer coaches who are bringing to the region’s young athletes to compete at an elite level against the best in the World and are delighted to provide financial assistance for essential equipment and access to professional nutritional performance advice.   

The Chadwick Lawrence Way

This commitment to sport reflects our core values, which are at the heart of everything we do. The ‘Chadwick Lawrence Way’ emphasises respect, integrity, and teamwork—qualities that are mirrored in the sporting world. By sponsoring Yorkshire teams including Leeds Rhinos, Huddersfield Town, Barnsley FC and Bradford Bulls, we’re actively supporting athletic excellence at all levels, creating a sense of community pride, and embodying the values that have fuelled our business for nearly 200 years. This dedication to sportsmanship and community development aligns with our vision to be the best at what we do, both in law and in their contributions to society.

By investing in local sporting talent, businesses can be a force for good in their communities. It’s an investment that pays dividends in the form of enhanced reputation, employee engagement, client loyalty, and ultimately, bottom-line growth.

More on our sponsorship here.