Elevating youth

Young people in all communities face barriers that can limit their ability to learn, fully participate in society and shape their own futures. Those barriers take different forms—unequal access to education, economic insecurity, a lack of support or limited exposure to professional pathways—but they share a common effect: fewer opportunities and limited choices at critical stages of life.

With the creation of the Responsible Business Committee in 2022, the Firm launched its inaugural two-year campaign, Elevate: Investing in the Next Generation, mobilizing our global resources—our people, skills, networks and funding—to support youth. Historically, our volunteering strategy had been largely grassroots, with offices leading initiatives tied to local priorities. This campaign marked a strategic shift to a unified, Firmwide approach—aligning our efforts under a shared goal while allowing each office flexibility to address local challenges in its own way.

"We have a great deal of untapped power among our people," explains New York partner Rob Bennett, who leads the Firm's Community Investment Team. "Elevate shows what's possible when we channel that energy toward a common purpose."

Elevate focused on three pillars: empower, educate and employ. Over two years, the campaign engaged volunteers from all 43 of the Firm's offices, partnering with 300 organizations and several commercial clients to support initiatives in more than 65 countries.

A shared focus, locally driven action

Rather than prescribe a single model, Elevate provided a unifying framework around its three interconnected pillars. Together, they reflect a simple idea: Lasting opportunity is created by combining dignity, knowledge and practical pathways in ways that respond to local needs.

That flexibility was key. Each office tailored its efforts based on local need and interests while contributing to a collective, Firmwide goal.

"Given our global footprint, we have a responsibility to give back in a way that reflects our scale and reach," says London partner and Chair of the Responsible Business Committee Melissa Butler. "Elevate allowed us to turn that responsibility into tangible, meaningful support for young people."

Empower

For many young people, unmet basic needs, instability or social exclusion can undermine progress. As a result, many Elevate initiatives focused on empowerment—helping young people build a foundation from which opportunity becomes possible.

Throughout the Firm, our people supported access to nutritious meals, essential goods, housing and social services. Additional initiatives emphasized confidence, resilience and self-worth—qualities that underpin success across education, work and civic life. Empowerment also makes room for joy and connection. Our people provided thousands of holiday gifts, took part in reading programs and helped expand access to youth sports.

Educate

Unequal access to quality education and learning resources limits opportunity at an early stage for many young people. Gaps in academic support, enrichment programs and inclusive learning environments constrain potential.

To help even the playing field, Elevate's initiatives ranged from strengthening community libraries in rural Bhutan and delivering schoolbooks in refugee settlements, to supporting adaptive learning for students with disabilities and expanding debate leagues in low-income neighborhoods across the United States. Together, these efforts reached more than 21,000 young people in over 100 countries.

The Firm also supported young people interested in law and justice. "From teaching legal ethics and arbitration skills to tutoring Ukrainian law students and supporting some of the world's largest moot court competitions, we take great pride in supporting the next generation of lawyers," notes London partner and Executive Committee Member Dipen Sabharwal KC.

Employ

The third pillar focused on employability—addressing the skills, exposure and networks that support young people transitioning into the workplace.

For many students, the gap between education and employment is not a lack of talent, but limited access to professional networks and real-world experience. Elevate sought to bridge that gap through mentoring, practical training and career pathways.

Examples include internship programs in Hong Kong, London, Seoul and Singapore, and career workshops with corporate clients in London. Elsewhere, initiatives included mentoring Afghan students at the Asian University for Women and supporting a Kenyan conservation initiative focused on creating long-term economic opportunities for women.

Strengthening local communities

Elevate achieved an impact that would not have been possible through isolated efforts. Equally important were the connections formed among offices, community partners and young people gaining exposure to new possibilities.

"Youth-focused work rarely delivers instant results," Butler reflects. "But when you help someone gain skills or direction, the impact extends far beyond one individual. It strengthens families, communities and, ultimately, the systems around them."

As White & Case looks ahead, Elevate serves as a model for what focused, collaborative responsible business efforts can achieve by aligning global ambition with local action, and investing in the next generation in ways that are meaningful, flexible and enduring.

Our two-year Elevate campaign united the Firm around youth education, empowerment and employability

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Silhouettes of children playing outside a hot air balloon.