Karina Furga-Dabrowska, Dentons

Dentons has appointed tax partner Karina Furga-Dabrowska as its first-ever European chief mindfulness officer.

Should the move prove successful, the firm may consider expanding the role across its global offices, according to a person at the firm.

Late last year, Furga-Dabrowska launched the firm's NextMind programme, which aims to improve staff and lawyer wellbeing, as well as reduce workplace stress through mindfulness techniques.

In her new role, Furga-Dabrowska will work alongside the firm's talent team and a group of trained in-house ambassadors to roll out NextMind as well as other mindfulness initiatives across the firm.

She said: "I want to nurture a culture in which high performance is founded on compassionate leadership, authenticity, honesty and respect. I will also strive to promote a growth mindset and greater team cohesion to drive productivity and innovation."

Furga-Dabrowska first joined Dentons in 2006 and made partner in its tax and life sciences practice in 2008. She also completed mindfulness-based cognitive therapy teacher training in the U.S.

Mindfulness and wellbeing have come into focus for a number of law firms recently. Earlier this year, Linklaters completed a three-month trial of health and wellbeing AI platform BetterSpace, which aims to transform the way people look after their mental health by offering users wellbeing solutions, mindfulness apps and digital coaches for fitness activities.

Meanwhile, as part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer unveiled a training programme for its management, to help them identify poor mental health indicators in both themselves and others.