A message of support from the Senior Partner and Managing Partner of Spencer West LLP

Colleagues and friends

The killing of George Floyd in Minnesota at the hands of police a few weeks ago has been one of the most despicable acts to have been witnessed by the global community and is profoundly tragic and totally unacceptable.  Our deep condolences go to his family and friends.

It is also deeply concerning that this is not an isolated incident and that longstanding racist oppression and discrimination remain rife in America and in the developed world such as ours. Further, that at a systemic level we continue to permit this to happen. This is continuing to result in untold suffering for substantial parts of humanity on a local, national and global level.

The issue is one of human rights and, perhaps even more fundamentally, how we regard one another. The moment we regard people of different colour skin or ethnicity as “other” then the conditions for discrimination and racism are present.

We at Spencer West share in solidarity with all Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic people and condemn all forms of racism, whether outright, covert, unconscious, systemic or tragically fatal. We must be intolerant of any acts of prejudice and ever more aware of the pain, suffering and humiliation caused by its prevalence. 

We must actively work to oppose racism in all its manifestations and continue to listen to one another; not just be accepting of, but celebrate, diversity and difference and the contributions each makes for the benefit of all. Collectively, it is in being truly respectful and open to one another, regardless of race, that we intrinsically excel in our humanity.