Simmons & Simmons has been a member of the UN Global Compact since 2011. It stands out for its ESG work with a focus on sustainable finance.

A recent highlight was the firm’s advice to the Bank of New York Mellon on the structuring of the Liquidity and Sustainability Facility (LSF), which was designed by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa to improve the liquidity of African Sovereign Eurobonds and incentivise SDG-related investments such as green bonds.

In an ongoing matter, the firm is assisting BP with its entry to a joint venture with Iberdola; the JV is set to invest €1 billion in electric charging infrastructure across Spain and Portugal.

The team is also acting for a major fund manager regarding implementation and ongoing compliance with EU and UK sustainability-related regulations.

Internally, the firm set up an environmental sustainability network (the Green Room), which aims to improve the sustainability of the firm’s operations. In June 2023, it announced a new set of science-based targets that aim to reduce its scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030.

It has also developed innovative tools that promote sustainability, including its ESG Trackers, which track and monitor relevant ESG legislative and regulatory developments across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions.

The firm’s London office supported the Chancery Lane project in creating a new template clause relating to procurement of renewable energy by landlords and tenants in corporate tenancy agreements. Additionally, the firm’s Simmons GreenTech Fund supports start-ups that are focused on using technology to mitigate the climate and biodiversity emergencies.

Global head of ESG Sonali Siriwardena in London serves as the sole legal representative on the UK FCA’s ESG Advisory Committee and has been recently appointed to the Board of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF).