WLG | impact '24: Giving Back in Buenos Aires
Bruchou & Funes de Rioja’s Ongoing ESG Initiatives
A member of WLG since 2016, Bruchou & Funes de Rioja has taken significant steps in advancing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards within Argentina and globally. The firm's ESG practice group actively implements sustainable business practices and has a track record of supporting impactful causes aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This commitment is evident in their innovative initiatives each year for WLG | impact, a corporate social responsibility (CSR) effort driven by the WLG CSR Forum.
Each year since the program's inception, Bruchou & Funes de Rioja has shared inspiring local projects for WLG | impact. In 2024, the firm launched "Plastic-Free June: Plastic with a Purpose," a five-month-long initiative beginning in June, encouraging employees and their families to collect hard-to-recycle plastics. These were then repurposed by Botella de Amor to create durable plastic lumber for furniture, benefiting schools and public spaces in need. Previous years saw projects such as Sustainability Week, where firm members embraced eco-friendly practices, to a tech recycling drive in partnership with Equidad Foundation, which refurbished electronic waste for schools and community centers, addressing environmental and digital inclusion goals.
Partnering with Fundación BisBlick
In line with its focus on social impact, Bruchou & Funes de Rioja is partnered with Fundación BisBlick, an organization that supports high-potential, low-income youth aspiring to become first-generation professionals. Through mentorship, educational programs, and access to higher education, Fundación BisBlick transforms the lives of young people facing economic hardship, fostering inclusion and upward mobility. This year, Bruchou welcomed Micaela Villa, a young law student from BisBlick, as part of the firm's commitment to supporting the next generation of Argentine professionals, and will welcome another student very soon. The firm is proud to be the first law firm in Argentina to establish this partnership, reinforcing its role as a community leader in CSR and ESG practices.
WLG | summit Buenos Aires '24: An In-Person Impact Activity
Bruchou & Funes de Rioja recently hosted WLG | summit Buenos Aires '24, welcoming 97 delegates and 32 guests to Buenos Aires in late October.
The summit included a memorable in-person WLG | impact activity that brought together global legal professionals supporting Fundación BisBlick's mission. The activity provided a unique opportunity for attendees to offer personal encouragement to Fundación BisBlick students on their academic and career journeys.
The activity began with a presentation from key figures, including WLG's CSR Forum Chair Janet Pahima of Herzog Fox & Neeman and Fundación BisBlick Founding Partner Daphnee Mc Grath, who shared insights into the critical role education plays in fostering socioeconomic mobility. Daphnee described the challenges and aspirations of the foundation's young participants, highlighting the foundation's transformative impact on their lives. Delegates then heard a firsthand account from Solana Acosta, a lawyer and previous program participant, on how her involvement with the foundation has impacted her journey.
Energized and inspired, participants then engaged in a heartfelt hands-on exercise designed to inspire and uplift young students. Each delegate wrote personalized notes, sharing their professional challenges, successes, and lessons learned. These notes, filled with encouragement and advice, were placed in pencil cases crafted from recycled materials to be gifted to Fundación BisBlick students. The activity was a reminder of the network's collective strength in fostering social impact through personal connection and support.