Benjamin Halperin had never visited Dubai before arriving in February 2007 to start the fourth seat of his contract. But he felt at home right away

“The opportunity of working in this start-up office with world-renowned experts on oil & gas and Islamic finance was just too good to miss,” he says. “Also, while we work hard during the week, the social scene is great here – there’s a very active ex-pat community. And this is a place where nothing ever stands still. Even the skyline changes every day, as the latest skyscraper appears.”

But something that hasn’t changed for Benjamin in Dubai is his commitment to corporate responsibility (CR). “One of the first things that pleased me when I joined was that we were really encouraged to volunteer for community projects,” he says. “When we don’t have a pressing client matter, the firm definitely wants us to use our time to support our local communities.”

Benjamin didn’t need to be asked twice, and quickly volunteered to mentor a sixth form student at Bishop Challoner School. However, this didn’t go quite as he expected, when his mentee decided not to apply to university as previously planned, but instead joined the thriving family business. “That taught me a lot,” says Benjamin. “There’s a temptation to steamroller teenagers into taking the traditional route through university. This guy was very bright, had his own views and aspirations – and acted on them.”

Benjamin also joined 80 of his colleagues taking part in the firm’s annual Christmas party for mothers and children who have been victims of domestic violence, which is organised as part of the firm’s ongoing support of the charity, Refuge.

In addition, Benjamin has been involved in one-off community projects, such as spending time at Spitalfields Farm, helping to paint the buildings and do some potting and planting with the local children. In Dubai, he has helped the office raise £800 for Médecins sans Frontières in the “vertical marathon” running up the stairs in Dubai’s tallest building.

Like the marathon, Benjamin’s in for the long haul. “With the amount we are paid and the lifestyle we enjoy at Herbert Smith, we should all be getting involved in community work,” he says. It’s a view that the firm supports wholeheartedly.