Slaughter and May is sponsoring eXXpedition Round the World 2019-2021, a pioneering sailing voyage and scientific research mission aimed at tackling the growing ocean plastics problem.

All-female voyage

eXXpedition Round the World is an all-female sailing voyage that will travel over 38,000 nautical miles over two years and 30 voyage legs starting and ending in the UK. Its crews will explore the devastating effects of plastics and toxics in our oceans, via four of the five oceanic gyres and the Arctic. Led by Emily Penn, the eXXpedition crews will be made up of 300 women from diverse multidisciplinary and cultural backgrounds. As an all-female voyage it will also celebrate women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) roles and female leadership, raising awareness of the effects of toxics on women’s health. The voyage’s purpose reflects the firm’s broad responsible business agenda, especially in key areas such as community, environment, inclusion and pro bono. Slaughter and May is currently providing pro bono advice to eXXpedition across a number of areas including structuring, contracting and project governance. The firm has also provided over 40 charities with pro bono legal advice over the last year leveraging its legal skills for increased sustainable social impact. Jeff Twentyman, partner at Slaughter and May, said “We decided to support eXXpedition as it reflects, in what we hope is an imaginative way, our values and aspirations and is a brilliant long-term project to complement our responsible business strategy.”

Education programme

As part of its support for eXXpedition, Slaughter and May will partner with a number of schools on a unique education programme. The firm aims to help inspire the next generation to be active citizens and play their part in addressing one of the greatest environmental issues of our time. The sponsorship of eXXpedition also aims to provide a platform to evolve the conversation on issues affecting women today and stories about female empowerment and leadership through focussed client and staff events. Mr Twentyman added, “We hope our support for eXXpedition will contribute to its long-term impact and to its important mission to increase knowledge about the causes and sources of ocean plastic pollution.” Emily Penn, eXXpedition co-Founder and ocean advocate, said “eXXpedition is a radical mix of adventure, science, advocacy and action to help understand the nature of a complex problem; the contamination of our bodies and our seas. Each voyage is designed to be a platform for ambassadors to take forward projects tackling plastics and toxics, and raise the profile of the issues to create change at a personal and organisational level, and influence national and international policy makers.