Eversheds Sutherland has offered professional counselling services to lawyers and staff in its Hong Kong offices, as the city continues to be engulfed by the largest political crisis in recent memory.

What started in June as a series of mass protests against a change in law that could lead to surrendering criminals in Hong Kong to mainland China has since become a massive anti-government political movement demanding universal suffrage for elections, among other things. Parts of the movement also turned violent as responding to the police's use of force, arson and vandalism became quotidian.

The movement, started and supported mostly by the younger generation, also creates deep division in Hong Kong, particularly between Hong Kong's youth and their parents' generation. Stephen Kitts, Eversheds Sutherland's Hong Kong-based Asia managing partner, said shortly after the protests began that he was approached by partners raising concerns about the impact the protests were having on associates and their family lives.

The firm soon hired a professional counsellor and ran a seminar a few days later, covering a range of topics, including dealing with stress and how to manage personal relationships in tense situations. That seminar, which was open to all staff, was followed by confidential one-to-one sessions that were designed to allow team members to discuss their individual circumstances and concerns.

"These sessions clearly met a need and we held follow-on meetings," said Kitts. "I gather colleagues had wide-ranging discussions about a diverse range of subjects, including the challenges of working in a high-performance global law firm," he added.

Kitts expects the firm to hold counselling sessions on a regular basis as part of the firm's wellness programme.

"These recent experiences have brought into sharp focus the importance of being a responsible employer and looking out for all of our people," said Kitts, adding that mental health is an important part of the firm's focus on work-life balance.