Clifford Chance coordinates both its client-facing ESG work and its internal ESG strategies and initiatives via its Global ESG Board. In accordance with its climate change policy, the firm seeks to not take on matters which have an adverse environmental impact.

The Hong Kong team has been particularly active advising on green and sustainable bonds. Mark Chan recently advised Bank of China and HSBC on the Hong Kong government’s inaugural issuance of HKD 20bn retail green bonds, and assisted UBS with New World Development Company’s issuance of a $700m social and green dual tranche bond offering. Another client was China Merchants Bank regarding its issuance of $600m dual-tranche sustainability and green bonds on the Luxembourg stock exchange.

Also in Hong Kong, project finance expert Vicky Ma is experienced in the green energy space. She was part of the team acting for China Three Gorges in its €307m acquisition of 12 wind farms in Spain and its acquisition of Alcazar Energy Partners.

A UN Global Compact signatory, the firm partners with EcoVadis to monitor its suppliers’ environmental impacts as part of its targeting of scope 3 emissions, supporting the Environment Board’s target to achieve net zero by 2030. The firm is working to establish science-based targets with Carbon Intelligence to achieve this.

The firm is also a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, and in Hong Kong, the team collaborated with EcoDrive to establish the Legal Sector Environmental Roundtable.