The firm’s Chicago office has been certified LEED Gold and is located in a building that is LEED Platinum. Our office features a design that uses recyclable materials and eliminates as much waste as possible. In addition, we use an energy efficient light harvesting system throughout the office.
ESG
Unquestionable commitment.
Purpose-led environment and sustainability dedication.
At Quarles, sustainability means thoughtful consideration of the environmental, economic and social impact of the firm’s business practices — both internally and externally — when making business decisions. We continuously commit to making a difference by mobilizing our resources and our people.
The firm actively supports building management practices to drive better sustainability outcomes, resulting in half of our office buildings earning LEED certification. We also develop and engage in internal efforts to reduce waste and energy consumption, increase our recycling efforts around consumable and non-consumable office resources, and raise awareness among our team.
Each office has:
- Formal shredding and recycling programs for paper, toners and other consumables
- High-efficiency equipment, including Energy Star appliances in kitchens
- Recycled paper for use in copiers and printers
- Incentives for commuters
- Warehouse file reduction programs
- Replaced disposable plates, bowls, glasses and flatware
- Programmed HVAC schedules for off-hours work
Good governance, empowering great people.
The Quarles leadership team includes an Executive Committee led by a managing partner, president, firm officers, office managing partners, practice group leaders and various committees. We are especially proud that our team is a DEI leader.
The firm is an egalitarian, partner-governed organization with an elected, nine-member Executive Committee that conducts strategic and business planning, defines policy, oversees admission of attorneys into the partnership and otherwise functions as a firmwide decision-making body. Candidates for the executive committee are nominated and elected by the equity partners, but all partners regularly meet to discuss the current state of the firm and to vote on firm policies and actions. Our open, participatory management system gives partners significant influence over operational issues — from compensation to policies — affecting our work life and our business. We’re all in this together. Good governance practices are among the things that unite us.
Office Spotlights
Chicago
Milwaukee
Over a three-year renovation program, the Milwaukee office not only integrated low energy fixtures and other green technologies, but it also donated more than six semi-truckloads of office furniture and equipment to 43 local nonprofits, shredded and recycled 12,000 boxes of files, and reused building materials whenever possible.
Washington, D.C.
Our Washington, D.C., office is leading the way with its completely paperless environment — in fact, there is no file room at all. It’s not just the removal of paper, but the enhancement of overall processes to optimize efficiency. In addition, all reduced-energy LED lights are on timers, sinks are automatic and bottled water has been eliminated in favor of a simple water dispenser.