Editor's welcome
Welcome to the Green Hub, the first and only single platform dedicated entirely to exploring the legal sector’s engagement with 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.
If you’d like to contribute to the content on our hub or would like to provide any feedback, please do get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.
Anna Baubock, Editor, Global Green Guide
Blogs
Navigating Post-Brexit Environmental Legislation in the UK: Challenges and Opportunities
Maya Sainani looks at the future of environmental law and protection in the UK
Sustainable finance hub Singapore
David Koehne speaks to Allen & Gledhill about Singapore’s efforts to position itself as green finance hub in the region
The Devil Wears (Sustainable) Prada – all eyes on fashion’s sustainability claims
Amy Ulliott takes a closer look at moves to legislate sustainable fashion.
Can lawyers make dispute resolution greener?
Laura Pollard examines law firms’ pledges to greener litigation and arbitration, and the path to greener dispute resolution.
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.
Sustainable Conversations
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.
Drag to scroll through more Sustainable Conversations
Kirsty Green-Mann
Olivia Hart talks to Kirsty Green-Mann about how law firms can really ‘walk the talk’ and become more sustainable.
Michael Barlow
Olivia Hart speaks to Michael Barlow about how law firms can support clients in their Net Zero and ESG journeys.
Rajesh Sreenivasan
Olivia Hart speaks to Rajesh Sreenivasan from Rajah & Tann about the interplay between technology, data and ESG in Asean.
Loh Yong Hui
Olivia Hart speaks to Loh Yong Hui from Rajah & Tann about the drivers and challenges associated with the energy transition in the ASEAN region.
Lee Weilin
Olivia Hart speaks to Lee Weilin, on sustainable finance trends and challenges in the ASEAN region
Dr Tada Zukas
Olivia Hart speaks to Dr. Tadas Zukas, Global Lead Senior Legal Counsel Sustainability/ESG at Vontobel, Switzerland.
Emma Jelley
Olivia Hart speaks to Emma Jelley on maintaining momentum and stamina in ESG work.
Samuli Tarkiainen
Samuli Tarkiainen, partner at Castrén & Snellman, speaks to Nora Steiner-Forsberg, GC at Fortum Corporation, about the Nordic energy transition and what role lawyers should play.
Thomas Jelley
Olivia Hart speaks to Thomas Jelley on ‘Getting to Grips with ESG, without the OMG’ discussing the changing regulatory landscape from a consultancy perspective.
Katie Smart
Anna Bauböck speaks to Katie Smart about the opportunity in corporations doing the right thing.
Kenny Robertson
Anna Baubock speaks to Kenny Robertson about role modelling a learning culture around climate transition.
Alberto Ninio
Anna Baubock speaks to Alberto Ninio about finding the fortitude to implement ESG policies.
Michelle Beckers
The Global Green Guide met Michelle Beckers to discuss the evolving importance of ESG and the power of customers.
More ESG Content
ESG: Building an Effective Governance Programme
Continue reading "ESG: Building an Effective Governance Programme"
The ESG report
Overview Turning on a greenback Our second annual ESG report finds fewer global law firms interested in demonstrating responsible conduct. Will the war in Ukraine and the energy crisis push ESG to the back burner in the same way CSR fell by the wayside? Russia All bite, no bark Russia’s invasion of Ukraine saw international firms take …
Continue reading "The ESG report"
The post The ESG report appeared first on Legal Business.
The ESG report – Overview: Turning on a greenback
‘Two years ago, if you asked top firms about their ESG credentials they would tell you about the beach clean-up they organised or how they don’t use plastic bags. Now everyone’s got an ESG website and I’m sure many have made statements they wish they hadn’t.’ The words of Ben McQuhae, founder of specialist sustainability …
Continue reading "The ESG report – Overview: Turning on a greenback"
The post The ESG report – Overview: Turning on a greenback appeared first on Legal Business.
The ESG report – Russia: All bite, no bark
It was uncharacteristically decisive. Rapidly after Russia did the unthinkable and invaded Ukraine on 24 February, many international law firms with Moscow operations hurried out strongly-worded statements at the behest of a hysterical legal press. Linklaters was the first of the major players to react, announcing on 4 March that it would ‘wind down’ its …
Continue reading "The ESG report – Russia: All bite, no bark"
The post The ESG report – Russia: All bite, no bark appeared first on Legal Business.
‘I’ve acted for every villain you can name’: Lessons in ESG from its trailblazers – and how to dodge the greenwashing bullet
Big Law came late to the ESG party compared to regulated financial services industries, with many law firms only getting the memo as recently as the pandemic. At the forefront of this movement for approaching 20 years are professor Paul Watchman, senior UN legal adviser and former Freshfields partner, and Paul Clements-Hunt, founder of The …
The post ‘I’ve acted for every villain you can name’: Lessons in ESG from its trailblazers – and how to dodge the greenwashing bullet appeared first on Legal Business.
The ESG report – Event: Advising and acting for clients on ESG-related risks
ESG imperatives have never been more at the fore for partners, general counsel (GCs), or indeed any professional with exposure to related reputational risk. A webinar, hosted by Legal Business and sponsored by Travers Smith brought together partners, experts from in-house, the Bar and a crisis-management guru for a diverse and challenging debate on the …
Continue reading "The ESG report – Event: Advising and acting for clients on ESG-related risks"
The post The ESG report – Event: Advising and acting for clients on ESG-related risks appeared first on Legal Business.
Gerrard revelations and Ince restaurant-gate pose ethical quandaries for profession
If the Ukraine invasion and its ensuing debates around right to representation inflicted a bruise on the legal profession’s reputation, recent professional misconduct episodes have surely left a greater wound. In early May, a Twitter post authored by a Cardiff restaurant owner went viral, containing claims that a group of Ince lawyers had behaved inappropriately …
The post Gerrard revelations and Ince restaurant-gate pose ethical quandaries for profession appeared first on Legal Business.
‘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"
The post Sponsored briefing: The impact of ESG on M&A transactions appeared first on Legal Business.