South Africa is progressive in its approach to remedying past economic imbalances, by implementing legislation to tackle this sensitive area. The legislation is part of a long term initiative to build on the potential of all South Africans, and to provide economic empowerment of all black persons in South Africa.

Our country has adopted a broad based approach to black economic empowerment (BEE), by giving due consideration and weight to management of businesses, Employment Equity, Skills Development, investment, procurement, social upliftment, and achieving an equitable representation in all levels in the workforce.

Austen Smith are committed to giving effect to the objectives enunciated in the Black Economic Empowerment legislation, by creating an environment in which black South Africans are able to contribute to and participate in the South African economy. We believe that black empowerment is pivotal to economic growth in South Africa, and the most opportune way of investing in, and preserving the vast intellectual capital of our country.

The firm currently has a BEE plan in place, and is striving to meet the targets as set out by the Department of Trade and Industry, and at present have two black attorneys and two black articled clerks. Austen Smith acknowledges that these targets may change with the implementation of a Legal Sector Charter during the course of the next year, but remains committed to giving effect to the principles of BEE.

The firm's BEE plan is spearheaded by a BEE task team, comprising of a partner, Mike Forsyth, an attorney and a member of the support staff. As all of our staff are committed to the implementation of the firm's BEE strategy, we believe that all members of the support staff should play a role, and hence the this member of the task team shall be rotated on a regular basis.