Leeds Office Superstars help raise £80,000 for local causes

A team of trainee solicitors and assistant paralegals from the firm’s Leeds office had a fantastic opportunity to make a difference earlier this year at the 2018 ‘Crypt Factor’ event — a charity fundraiser sponsored by Pinsent Masons, Bruntwood and Gent Visick.

Based on the hit reality television show ‘The X Factor’, a number of acts performed for the audience and a panel of judges, including X Factor celebrities ‘Reggie ‘n’ Bollie’.

The team of eight Pinsent Masons employees played an integral role in making sure the event was a resounding success by collecting donations, helping to run the event and encouraging audience members to participate in the late-night karaoke. In total, £80,000 was raised by the Crypt Factor for its partner charities.

Over the last 11 years, the Crypt Factor has raised more than £580,000. The proceeds from this year’s event will be shared equally between St George’s Crypt and the Leeds Fund.

Pinsent Masons’ superstars Nikki Hosker and Jade Naylor took their volunteering to whole new heights. The two assistant paralegals from the Leeds Property team signed up as Crypt Factor performers and wowed the audience and judges with their rendition of Michael Jackson’s 1984 single ‘Thriller’, only narrowly missing out on reaching the Crypt Factor final.

The firm has a long-standing history with the Crypt Factor event—the coveted Crypt Factor trophy was won in 2017 by Pinsent Masons’ restructuring lawyer, Dawn Allen, for her rendition of ‘When Love Takes Over’ by Kelly Rowland.

The Crypt Factor is just a small part of Pinsent Masons’ involvement in charitable initiatives and giving back to the community, which forms an integral part of the firm’s culture. Staff members of all levels of seniority are supported and encouraged to get involved in a variety of opportunities provided by the firm, including helping children at local schools to develop their literacy and numeracy skills, assisting with development projects at local charity outdoor centre Nell Bank and providing pro bono legal advice to budding entrepreneurs.