Pictured above are Managing Partner, Michael Jackson and HR Director, Lorraine Roche
Matheson has today announced an Agile Working Programme designed to complement excellence and responsiveness in client services while at the same time creating opportunities for enhanced work-life blend at the firm. Matheson Agile has been developed following significant research, consultation and piloting across the business. It focuses on adapting to the changing needs of the firm’s clients, lawyers and business professionals. The new programme allows eligible employees the opportunity to avail of flexibility and to accommodate individual arrangements around the starting and finishing hours and location of work - empowering those participating in Matheson Agile to manage how they work whilst continuing to deliver at the highest levels for the firm’s international and domestic client base. The launch of this new initiative at the firm has been made possible through significant investment in IT systems, infrastructure, and devices in order to enable off-site agile working to be as efficient, connected and collaborative as possible.
Commenting on this new initiative for the firm, Managing Partner Michael Jackson said:
“We believe that excellence in client service is measured by reference to the quality and timeliness of advice. As a firm which operates in multi-disciplinary teams from six different offices globally we recognise that not everyone needs to be in the same place, or even in the same time zone, to deliver that level of service. Our lawyers and senior business professionals value agile working arrangements, including the option of not having to travel to the office every day and the ability to work from different secure locations when possible. As a large Irish employer we are pleased to confirm our commitment to facilitating agile working and believe that it will enable us to deliver our people strategy of attracting, developing and retaining the top legal and professional services talent. I would like to thank all of the partners and business professionals who participated in our consultation process and in the design and delivery of our Matheson Agile programme”
Supporting a workplace which aligns with Matheson’s values of diversity and inclusion is a top priority for the firm. Speaking from the firm’s Dublin HQ, Lorraine Roche, HR Director at Matheson, highlighted the importance of initiatives such as Matheson Agile in this context:
“Recognising that not everybody works in the same way and to the same schedule is fundamental to achieving real workplace diversity - and in driving innovation and entrepreneurship”, she said.
“As part of Matheson’s commitment to empower diverse talent and inclusive teams delivering excellence in legal services at Matheson, the firm’s agile working programme is one of the demonstrable elements in delivering on its D&I commitment . Whilst some roles which require supervision and training will still need to be office-based, I am delighted to see the success of this programme already, with so many colleagues from our legal practice areas to our business services teams availing of it across the firm.”
We believe that Matheson Agile represents a leading and innovative approach in the Irish legal market. For us, agile working is a working philosophy rather than a rigid policy, which is based on accommodating working remotely, together with appropriate flexibility around start and finish times as and when required. In this way, it enables us to work in the same way that our clients work”, she noted.
Mr Jackson said: “At Matheson, we are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where all of our colleagues, their contributions and perspectives are valued and respected; and where diversity and inclusion is reflected in all that we do as a law firm – initiatives such as our agile programme put this commitment into action.”
“Furthermore, in recognition of D&I at the firm, the Matheson team is pleased to receive the news that we are the first law firm in Ireland to achieve the Silver Standard award from the Irish Centre for Diversity for our Matheson D&I programmes, policies and practices.”
For further information on Matheson Agile, or on any of the Matheson D&I programmes, please contact our HR Director, Lorraine Roche.
