In 2023, DTM Legal celebrated another successful year, earning recognition in 15 Legal 500 categories with mentions of 53 individual lawyers. Founded on the principles of Legal Excellence, Outstanding Service, and Trusted Partner our commitment extends beyond our clients to the community in which we operate. Focusing on promoting ESG policy implementation and supporting FinTech growth, our team has taken meaningful action over the past 12 months to have a lasting impact on our region.
FinTech and Digital Start-Ups in the Liverpool City Region (LCR)
The DTM team has a wealth of knowledge that can help businesses grow and overcome the obstacles they are challenged with. This Year, DTM Legal was provided with the opportunity to support the growth of Fintech within the LCR by sponsoring the Liverpool City Region FinTech Report. The report provided several recommendations to grow the FinTech sector and identified 42 FinTech Firms in the region, the vast majority of which are start-ups and scale-ups.
Since the publication of the report, DTM Legal along with other partners across the city has been leading on taking forward the report’s recommendations and helping bring together and grow the FinTech community. We have organised, sponsored and attended tech events in the region, helped to establish the LCR FinTech Growth Group and organised the inaugural Liverpool FinTech Social event.
The challenges faced by FinTechs are shared with many businesses including those within the Digital, Technology, and Innovation sector and the DTM Legal team is proud to play our part in supporting businesses through those challenges and assisting the wider ecosystem.
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy
DTM Legal has made the heightened awareness of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) policy a central goal. The firm’s principal values not only guide our interactions with clients but also are a broader commitment to our community. By championing ESG policy, DTM Legal is proactively aligning itself with sustainable practices and ethical considerations, aiming to make a positive and enduring contribution to the well-being of the regions we serve.
DTM Legal has hosted two ESG events in Liverpool this year intending to increase understanding of the benefits of implementing ESG Policy for businesses of all sizes. Our Business Not as Usual Event which took place at the Museum of Liverpool was organised in collaboration with MHA Moore & Smalley and included speakers from Liverpool One, Liverpool Chamber, National Museums Liverpool, Carbon Happy World and the University of Liverpool. Hosted by Richard Harris and with DTM Legals Kate Roberts on the panel, Business Not as Usual was attended by over 200 members of the local business community and demonstrated the opportunity for Liverpool to be at the forefront of ESG policy thanks to the engagement of the region’s business leaders.
DTM Legal’s internal ESG policy aims to promote issues of sustainability and the environment, employee well-being, charitable giving and equality, diversity and Inclusion. We have found that when discussing ESG there is a tendency to gravitate towards environmental concerns and that our voice can have a significant impact on topics related to society and governance in the workplace, which can easily be overlooked.
Community outreach for the DTM Legal team has included Corporate and Commercial Solicitor, Phil Whitehurst joining Liverpool Hope University as part of a ‘Dragons Den’ panel allowing business students the opportunity to gain experience presenting and pitching business ideas. Most recently Kate Roberts, Partner and Head of Liverpool at DTM Legal attended Oakdene Primary School to meet with year 6 students to discuss a career in law and the potential opportunities for students looking to pursue a legal profession.
ESG and FinTech, The Year Ahead for DTM Legal
Looking ahead to the coming year, DTM Legal is enthusiastic about continuing its work in both the ESG and FinTech realms.
We are dedicated to fostering the growth of the FinTech sector in the Liverpool City Region (LCR). In collaboration with The LCR FinTech Growth Group, DTM Legal is committed to implementing the recommendations outlined in the Liverpool City Region FinTech Report. We will be hosting several FinTech events in 2024 and aim to continue developing the LCR FinTech community. 2024 will also see the return of the FinTech North Liverpool conference, hosted by FinTech North – a member of the LCR FinTech Growth Group. This event provides an opportunity for industry leaders to converge, fostering collaboration and sharing insights to drive the sector forward and we eagerly look forward to attending.
On the ESG front, DTM Legal is currently in the planning stages for future events aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of ESG policy benefits. We are eager to announce these initiatives in due course, as we strive to further engage the business community in Liverpool and beyond. We intend to work more collaboratively with local chambers and local businesses as we have done in the FinTech sector, fostering a more coordinated effort to build upon the communities’ engagement with ESG policy. January 2024 will also see the launch of DTM Legal’s partnership with Carbon Happy World, allowing our firm to track our carbon footprint and identify opportunities which will limit our impact on the environment.
By building partnerships and continuing to champion change, DTM Legal aims to contribute to the region’s reputation in both ESG practices and FinTech innovation. As we approach the year ahead, DTM Legal remains steadfast in its commitment to making a positive impact on both the legal landscape and the communities it serves.
