The Legal 500 Green Guide: United Kingdom 2024
Market overview
UK law firms are also recognising their position in their clients’ supply chains as many embark on their net zero journeys. Beyond this, 2023 saw more lawyers acknowledging the advised emissions associated with their practice. More than 120 lawyers signed the ‘Declaration of Conscience’, refusing to act in the interests of new fossil fuel projects or prosecute peaceful climate protestors.
Greenwashing remains high on the agenda and accurate data is more important than ever as the Advertising Standards Authority clamps down on terminology used in marketing. Other areas including biodiversity continue to gain traction too.
In keeping with European trends, UK climate and environmental litigation are on the rise with citizens and NGO groups challenging the government on its inadequacy in dealing with the existential threat of the climate and ecological crisis. Concerns over the UK government falling behind on its climate commitments are legitimised by its granting hundreds of new oil and gas licenses to purportedly address energy security issues.
The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has catapulted the issue of energy security to the top of the agenda as governments worldwide push for homegrown power. In the UK, investment in North Sea oil and gas is also accompanied by expansion of its renewable capacity – June 2023 saw a record high of UK electricity being generated by renewables. Low-carbon solutions such as hydrogen are being championed as key to the country’s green revolution and will require legal support at all stages of roll-out.
Furthermore, many law firms are realising the competitive advantage of cross-practice ESG expertise; clients are increasingly drawn to multi-disciplinary teams with the ability to offer a ‘one-stop-shop’ solution to their ESG issues.
We hope you find this guide to some of the key firms engaging with sustainability within the UK useful, and we look forward to continually evolving our coverage as the market develops.
