Editor's welcome
Welcome to the Global Green Guide, the first and only single platform dedicated entirely to exploring the legal sectors’ contribution to a green transition. From ESG and sustainability to climate action and net-zero, here you will find private practice and in-house perspectives on the move towards a greener economy. Our Green Guide series features key firms advising on issues around climate change and sustainability, while also highlighting their internal green initiatives. The guides are organised into distinct regional editions but ultimately give a global overview for a truly universal topic. Check out our recently launched inaugural EMEA Green Guide. Research for the Latin America, US and Canada Green Guides are currently ongoing. On the hub page, you will additionally find our Green Guide blog and a range of other ESG content, including our Sustainable Conversations video series, and past and upcoming webinars and events.
Anna Baubock, Editor, Global Green Guide
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Podcast
With the launch of the EMEA edition of The Legal 500 Global Green Guide, Barnaby Merrill chats to Anna Baubock, editor of the Green Guide and The Legal 500 US about how the Green Guide came about, the findings from the inaugural edition, and how firms and in-house counsel can get involved, as well as plans for the Guide moving forward.
Sustainable Conversations
Sustainable Conversations is a new video series that explores the legal sector’s perspectives on finding a balance between business practices and the health of our planet. In short and to-the-point interviews, legal professionals share their crucial thoughts on net-zero, ESG and sustainability.
Michelle Becker – General counsel – Sphera Technologies
The Global Green Guide met Michelle Becker to discuss the evolving importance of ESG and the power of customers.
Katie Smart – General counsel and company secretary – Tarmac
Anna Bauböck speaks to Katie Smart about opportunity in corporations doing the right thing.
Kenny Robertson – Head of Outsourcing, Technology & IP Legal – RBS (Natwest Group)
Anna Bauböck speaks to Kenny Robertson about role modelling a learning culture around climate transition.
Alberto Ninio – General Counsel – Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank
Anna Bauböck speaks to Alberto Ninio about finding the fortitude to implement ESG policies.
Blog
Breaking the unsustainable chain
James Field takes a closer look at the proposed Directive on Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence
To B or not to B Corp – that is the question law firms may want to ask themselves
Anna Baubock looks at purpose-led business practice and why some firms seek B Corp status.
Navigating a greener future – The promise and challenge of maritime ETS
Clara Mozes examines how the shipping industry, a sector that has traditionally not earned a reputation for being very environmentally friendly, is navigating a greener future.
Navigating ESG issues – The ever-increasing need for ESG expertise
Laura Pollard examines the increasingly prominent need for law firms to have in-house ESG and sustainability expertise.
Do cryptocurrencies have a place in the sustainable investment movement?
Amy Ulliott looks at a somewhat inevitable collision course between cryptoassets and a more green-conscious approach.
Poland’s long journey towards a green transition
David Koehne investigates the positive developments Poland is taking to embrace esg policies.
Law Firm Carbon Footprints: What are firms doing to reach net zero?
With the race to reduce carbon emissions at the top of the global agenda, Barnaby Merrill looks at what law firms are doing to mitigate climate change.
Amnesia and supply chains: the German law that brings due diligence back into focus
Chris Vlachopoulos looks at the new "LkSG" German law that puts supply chains under scrutiny.
ESG Colourwashing – why leadership with integrity is necessary to combat corporate hypocrisy
The Legal 500 Deutschland and Global Green Guide editor Anna Bauböck talks to widely respected The Legal 500 Germany GC Powerlist alumnus and internationally acclaimed head of legal Timo Matthias Spitzer, LL.M. (Wellington) about the introduction of ESG principles in business strategies and a resulting potential proliferation of so-called “ESG colourwashing”.
Green is the new black
Amy Ulliott, The Legal 500's Caribbean and Nordics editor, discusses how Norway is standing out as a leader among nations in its dedication to renewable energy and sustainability.
ESG in the DACH region: from soft topic to hard fact
While ESG concerns climb higher on DACH region companies’ agendas, one of the main challenges continues to be the directive – or rather the lack thereof.
Webinars
Previous
More ESG Content
‘Holding yourself accountable’: Squire Patton Boggs commits to net zero by 2035 with new ESG strategy
Squire Patton Boggs (SPB) has become the latest firm to wade into the thorny environmental, social and governance debate, unveiling a UK ESG strategy with a pledge to hit net zero carbon emissions by 2035. The Cleveland-headquartered firm, which has UK offices in London, Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, is targeting a 15% reduction year on …
The post ‘Holding yourself accountable’: Squire Patton Boggs commits to net zero by 2035 with new ESG strategy appeared first on Legal Business.
New green heroes
This is the third time we have run a boardroom priorities survey and the responses are helping build a strong picture of evolving priorities as boards face unprecedented challenges. Thank you to all those who have participated to help create valuable insights. Last year’s survey explored how Covid had changed the direction of focus and …
Sponsored briefing: The impact of ESG on M&A transactions
In recent years, environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues have become increasingly important to shareholders and boards, as the regulatory landscape has developed quickly in multiple jurisdictions, and the financial and reputational risks of non-compliance with ESG regulation and best practice have increased. Listed companies, large corporates, private equity funds and financial institutions are all …
Continue reading "Sponsored briefing: The impact of ESG on M&A transactions"
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The ESG debate: Balancing growth and risk
As part of an ongoing series of thought leadership roundtables and webinars we have been hosting with Paul Hastings before, during and after lockdown, we were delighted to finally have an in-person debate at Paul Hastings’ London office in November. We gathered together leading general counsel (GCs) and Paul Hastings partners to discuss the role …
Continue reading "The ESG debate: Balancing growth and risk"
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Sponsored briefing: ESG, the regulatory battle is coming. Are the legal finance teams truly ready?
As the COP26 continues its doings, one of the talks of town in the legal finance world this autumn is that about sustainability. Newspapers open up with announcements about investment funds gone green, social or sustainable, about private equity firms deciding to raise new funds to exclusively invest into climate-related issues, and about companies and …
The post Sponsored briefing: ESG, the regulatory battle is coming. Are the legal finance teams truly ready? appeared first on Legal Business.
Climate change: boardroom heroes
If, as according to Ian Stewart, chief economist at Deloitte, CFO’s believe that climate transition will re-shape the business environment and more than two-thirds expect significant or wholesale change in their own business as a result of the move to net zero, what do CLOs or general counsel think? Earlier in 2021 DAC Beachcroft and …
Interview with… Lawrence S. Elbaum and Patrick Gadson, Co-Chairs of Vinson & Elkins’ Shareholder Activism Practice
Guest post: COP26 heats up and global temperature pledges spur optimism
As the 2021 United Nations Climate Change conference gathers momentum, Tim Baines, counsel in Mayer Brown’s environmental team, finds optimism beyond the platitudes. Now that heads of state have left the building, the COP gets into full business mode with delegates moving between meeting rooms and many having to juggle competing demands on their time. …
Continue reading "Guest post: COP26 heats up and global temperature pledges spur optimism"
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ESG Risk Research Survey Report: 2021
Guest post: Any COP? – mixed messages at UN climate summit as usual platitudes belie call for action
As the 2021 United Nations Climate Change conference enters full swing in Glasgow, Tim Baines, counsel in Mayer Brown’s environmental team, assesses the mood on the ground. Monday (1 November) marked the first day of COP26, also known as the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference. As usual, the conference started with the ritual display of …
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