Traditionally, law firms are heavy paper users. In 2019, we set a three-year target to reduce usage to 33% below the industry average.

Last year we reduced usage by 87% vs the industry average, driven by our investments in technology and supported by the COVID-19 lockdowns.

We are proud that we have been able to maintain low paper usage as colleagues have returned to our offices this year, with usage in FY22 80% lower than the industry average.

Knights’ ‘one team’ culture and ability to provide a premium service to clients is reliant on building relationships with colleagues and clients. Therefore, the way in which we use our office space is important, and it represents our biggest use of energy and carbon emissions.

The Group has a two-fold strategy to achieve a further reduction in the footprint of our office space:

1. Maximise efficiency of space by consolidating operations into fewer, larger offices, making the best use of space via open plan layouts, and minimising paper use to reduce the need for filing cabinets and printers, plus flexible working to increase occupancy. For example, in York we have consolidated from two offices into one, reducing energy consumption whilst providing a dramatically improved working environment.

2. Maximise energy efficiency by relocating to grade A space with more efficient heating, cooling, lighting systems and superior insulation. This has resulted in a circa 9% energy reduction.

Knights rapidly modernises the businesses it acquires, investing significantly in improving their digital infrastructure and ensuring the office environment is reflective of our premium office spaces.

The Group recently acquired Langleys and immediately migrated the business onto Knights’ operating platform, making improvements to the efficiency of colleagues’ ways of working in an electronic and paper-light fashion.

Our Data Management team quickly mobilised to digitise all paperwork in the office onto Knights’ platform working alongside our Learning and Development team to equip all fee earners with technology and training on paper-light ways of working.