PLMJ is the legal partner of NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment

PLMJ has signed a protocol with NOVA School of Law to be the university's partner in the NOVA Knowledge Centre for Business, Human Rights and the Environment (NOVA-BHRE). NOVA-BHRE is an innovative multidisciplinary academic centre within the Faculty of Law of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa that brings together a team of Portuguese specialists and well-known international names.

The mission of NOVA-BHRE, which has PLMJ as its a legal partner, is to place Portugal at the forefront of the European commitment to make its business fabric an example of responsible and sustainable business conduct, with companies playing a central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals identified by the United Nations.

PLMJ managing partner Bruno Ferreira: “This partnership is particularly special and significant for PLMJ. As a firm, this issue has been one our main points of focus for the decade. We want responsible business to be the common thread running through the strategy of companies in Portugal and we want to stand side by side with our clients with the right tools, to pave the way for them to be in a position to face the challenges of the future. With this partnership, we can support companies beyond legal advice, from a 360º perspective. We can also act as a meeting point for the most innovative practices in Portugal on this subject, which is central to the present and future strategy of our companies”.

Claire Bright, director of NOVA - BHRE: 2NOVA - BHRE is very excited about this partnership with PLMJ, a collaboration that will support the centre's objectives of fostering sustainable business conduct in Portugal and abroad. Our joint work will be based on empowering companies to create mechanisms that ensure respect for human rights, including employment rights and environmental standards, throughout their value chains, on a national and international scale. This will contribute to the affirmation of the Sustainable Development Goals defined by the United Nations.”

NOVA-BHRE is based on two pillars:

(i)           To conduct and disseminate innovative and high quality research, capable of transforming and accelerating the commitment of Portuguese and European companies, and on a global scale, to conducting business in a sustainable way that respects human rights, including employment rights and adequate working conditions. In this field, NOVA-BHRE will foster the practical application, by companies, of the most recent research in this area and clarify the role and contribution of the law to the sustainability agenda of the business world.

(ii)          To increase the visibility of this issue and build the capacity of organisations to foster the sustainability agenda, by holding events and creating a platform for sharing good practices and collaboration between academia, companies, legal advisers, members of Governments, trade unions, NGOs and investors.