Mello Jones & Martin · Barristers and Attorneys

Corporate Social Responsibility

Making A Difference

age concern

Mello Jones & Martin is involved in community supporting charities and other non-profit endeavours. The firm tends to attract and hire caring people who are cognizant of the needs of others and who willingly take action to meet those needs. Mello Jones & Martin consistently produces high staff participation rates in the charitable events it sponsors. In reciprocal fashion the firm is a willing to assist individual staff members who choose to support worthwhile community activities on their own.

The firm has an ongoing commitment to support Bermuda’s Age Concern organization by offering a volunteer legal clinic for Bermuda’s senior citizens. Age Concern’s mission is to create the conditions that make the best of the lives of older citizens through information, advocacy and education in partnership with community organizations. So successful was the first event in October 2006 that Age Concern invited MJM back to handle those who were turned away because of over-subscription. The second legal clinic event was held in May 2007 at Charities House in Paget and benefited over 100 of our country's seniors. The programme is now delivered twice annually. Our relationship with Age Concern has developed to the point where MJM is a Link Partner with the charity in which we provide both financial and in-kind support to the organization.

MJM also supports on a regular basis Bermuda's annual ‘End to End Walk’ event. This is an island-long fund raising walk with thousands of people participating. The walk is Bermuda's largest and most successful community wide fund raising event. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised over the last 20 years. Financial support is provided to many of Bermuda charities through the End to End Walk. Those who participate know that Mello Jones & Martin contributes walkers to the event and is a Principal Sponsor, including the ‘last water stop’ before arriving at the Dockyard destination.

Charitable Donations Policy

The firm has a charitable donations policy which helps guide its philanthropic decision-making. Excerpts from the firm’s policy document follow.

  • Mello Jones & Martin will make charitable donations on an annual basis.
  • The total amount to be donated will be budgeted in April of each year and will be based on a review of the firm’s recent financial results and its forecast performance for the following year.
  • Donations will be made to organizations which have “significant local presence”.
  • Requests for charitable donations received throughout the year will be retained and handled by a philanthropy committee. The committee will consider the request in light of the charities’ ‘business cases’ submitted. All charities must be “properly registered”. Preference will be shown to those charities which are able to supply current financial statements.
  • Preference will be given to organizations which clearly support “those who have not”.
  • The firm will make an annual contribution to organizations raising money for the treatment of, and search for a cure for, any form of cancer.
  • With the exception of donations to fight cancer, it is expected that the philanthropy committee will vary its support for charitable donations one year to the next.
  • The philanthropy committee will consist of two partners, the Practice Director, the Financial Controller and, on a rotational basis, two attorneys and one support staff member appointed by the partners.