Work takes up a large part of our lives – and in the legal world, those hours can be especially long and intense. So it stands to reason that feeling good about the work you do matters.
Increasingly, lawyers are looking for more than billable targets or prestigious mandates; they’re seeking purpose. Among the next generation in particular, there’s a clear shift from simply working hard to working meaningfully. And when lawyers find that sense of purpose – when their values and their work align – arguably, they don’t just feel better about what they do, they often do it better, too.
That spirit of purpose is exactly what defines our UK Green Ambassadors. Each of them demonstrates that sustainability leadership doesn’t stop at the client brief or the courtroom door. Whether through pro bono projects, mentoring, community initiatives, or driving change within their firms or the industry at large, these lawyers are using their skills and influence to make a tangible difference.
Their work reminds us that meaningful impact often happens not just through the law, but around it – in the choices, conversations, and commitments that shape a more sustainable profession.
Purpose in practice
For many of our UK Green Ambassadors, sustainability isn’t a side interest or an extracurricular – it’s integral to how they define their role as lawyers. Purpose isn’t an afterthought; it’s a catalyst.
David Hunter, senior counsel at Bates Wells, sees the law as a powerful lever for tackling the climate and biodiversity crises, and as a lawyer, he is able to use his influence to drive progress: ‘I want to make a positive contribution through my work and seeking to address the climate and biodiversity crises through the influence I have as a lawyer seems to me the most effective way to do that.’
This mindset is shared by others, including Alexandra Holsgrove Jones, ESG lead at TLT, who describes her sustainability work as transforming law from a rulebook into a force for change: ‘My engagement with sustainability has really helped me to see law not just as a resource but as a catalyst for and a driver of change.’
Eleanor Maciver, partner and patent attorney at Mewburn, brings a scientific perspective to her legal work. ‘As a scientist before I was a lawyer, I’ve always had a personal interest in sustainability,’ she explains. ‘By embedding sustainability into our operations and culture, I can influence not just our own footprint but also inspire clients and peers to take meaningful action.’ For Maciver, aligning professional expertise with environmental responsibility demonstrates how even specialist practices can drive real change across industries.
When lawyers lead with their values, they don’t just advise clients on what the law is, but they help shape what a better future could look like.
Leadership beyond the legal brief
Demonstrating leadership beyond the legal brief often means hands-on action for the Green Ambassadors, as they step outside typical legal boundaries to create tangible, real-world impact.
‘Real impact comes when we go beyond advice and actively lead positive change’, says Maria Connolly, head of TLT’s future energy team. She points to her firm becoming the first corporate partner of Belmont Estate, supporting nature restoration while embedding sustainability into corporate culture, and funding inclusive access to nature.
Connolly’s work as one of the founding members of the EWiRE network (Entrepreneurial Women in Renewable Energy) is another proof of that principle in action. Speaking about this, she stresses the importance of building communities: ‘Lead by example, build connections with like-minded individuals and organisations, and speak out to make a difference!’
As Maciver notes, ‘Lawyers are trusted advisors, and that trust gives us influence. If we only talk about sustainability in theory, we miss the chance to show what leadership looks like in practice. By walking the talk, we set an example that others can follow.’
Across the board, these Ambassadors lead not only with legal expertise but with advocacy, energy, and willingness to take responsibility for shaping the green transition.
Influencing the profession
Part of this responsibility is the recognition that lasting sustainability requires the legal profession itself to evolve.
Hunter is vocal about the need for law firms to ‘stop pretending we can continue with business as usual’ while claiming sustainability leadership. His efforts to challenge business-as-usual thinking are evident in his co-founding of the Legal Charter 1.5 and his push for discussions around advised emissions – a clear call for collective accountability and ambition, and an example of how legal professionals can use their platforms and be catalysts for industry-wide change.
Holsgrove Jones is also focused on embedding sustainability into the legal infrastructure: She has worked with the Chancery Lane Project on developing practical tools such as built environment climate clauses and sustainability solutions that can be applied throughout the entire building lifecycle.
Championing greener ways of working, she points out how robust tracking and reporting of emissions is essential to drive sustainability at scale, emphasizing, ‘You cannot reduce what you do not measure, and transparency about both your emissions and your mitigation strategies is key.’
At Mewburn, Maciver takes a similar view – that sustainability must be built into the very fabric of how firms operate. Leading her firm’s Net Zero Transition Plan, she has turned commitment into measurable results. ‘It wasn’t just a statement,’ she says. ‘It was a commitment backed by science, and seeing tangible reductions in our emissions has been incredibly rewarding.’ She also integrates sustainability into IP strategy, helping clients future-proof their innovations in line with evolving regulation and business models.
Meanwhile, at Shoosmiths, co-head of energy and infrastructure Chris Pritchett encourages lawyers to step up and be bold: ‘Challenge misinformation. Support those who regularly do. Step outside the echo chamber once in a while and speak truth to power.’
Our Green Ambassadors are shifting norms, shaping expectations and ensuring sustainability becomes the standard, not the exception. And they make it abundantly clear: innovation from within is essential for real change.
Inspiring the next generation
A powerful thread running through our Ambassadors’ stories is the desire to open doors for others. Sustainability isn’t just about protecting the planet – it’s about shaping a fairer, more inclusive future, and that starts with people.
‘If you develop a perspective that is climate and nature positive, that opens up a mindset which is also aligned with thinking more about justice and equality’, says Hunter.
For Pritchett, the motivation begins with his own children: ‘It really does start at home for me. We have this enormous responsibility to them and subsequent generations and, for often perfectly good reasons, this gets put second behind problems that are more immediate.’
He channels his personal commitment to future generations into mentoring women in sustainability and lending his voice to positive climate dialogue. ‘We must be aware we have a platform, whether it’s on our websites, LinkedIn, at conferences or in our personal lives.’
His work on REGEN’s ReWire mentoring scheme shows how encouragement and confidence-building can accelerate careers – and he admits the learning is mutual. ‘In truth, I think it’s likely I’ve learned far more from them than they have from me.’
Connolly’s advocacy for women in renewable energy reflects a similar purpose: positive conversations, mentoring and visibility that help talented people rise and stay in the sector.
Our Green Ambassadors are not only driving change themselves but they are empowering others to carry it forward.
Collective action, not perfection
A shared message among our Green Ambassadors is that progress is built together and built now. Sustainability isn’t a grand gesture or a flawless plan; it’s the everyday decisions that, when multiplied across an industry, create real scale.
Holsgrove Jones reminds us, ‘Collective action through simple measures can drive substantial change.’
While the work is urgent, Pritchett adds, ‘There’s always more to do, but perfect shouldn’t get in the way of better.’
Maciver also highlights the importance of open dialogue within the profession: ‘Our voice carries weight beyond our client work. Sharing ideas, joining industry initiatives, and speaking openly about what works – and what doesn’t – can shift mindsets. Sometimes, the most powerful change starts with a conversation.’
Leadership happens in everyday choices, and our Green Ambassadors are showing what’s possible. Their leadership is not abstract – it shows up in how they advise clients, mentor colleagues, challenge assumptions, and champion bold new ideas. They reject business-as-usual in favour of something braver, fairer and more future-focused. And in doing so, they demonstrate what’s possible when lawyers use their influence not just to interpret the world, but to help change it.
More Green Ambassadors:
United Kingdom 2026 Green Ambassadors
Submissions are open for our Europe and United States Green Ambassadors:
