ESG in Switzerland: Schellenberg Wittmer Q&A

ESG in Switzerland: Schellenberg Wittmer Q&A

In the last two years, how has the ESG practice group grown at the firm?

Anya George: One notable characteristic of our group now is that it is truly multidisciplinary. We possess expertise in both transactional matters and disputes. In recent years, we have placed increased emphasis on financial market regulation, greenwashing, and carbon credits—areas where many of our competitors lack expertise. In Switzerland, there has been a noticeable rise in requests for advice on ESG matters across the board, although understanding due diligence and reporting requirements remains a primary concern for our clients. Continue reading “ESG in Switzerland: Schellenberg Wittmer Q&A”

‘Clients are not only seeking legal expertise but also looking for firms that practice what they preach’ – ESG Q&A: Herbert Smith Freehills

‘Clients are not only seeking legal expertise but also looking for firms that practice what they preach’ – ESG Q&A: Herbert Smith Freehills

Could you share some examples of innovative ways Herbert Smith Freehills is working with clients in the ESG space?

Silke Goldberg: At Herbert Smith Freehills, we are actively engaging with our clients in the ESG space through innovative tools like our Global ESG Tracker and ESRS Navigator. Continue reading “‘Clients are not only seeking legal expertise but also looking for firms that practice what they preach’ – ESG Q&A: Herbert Smith Freehills”

ESG: Evolution or revolution?

ESG: Evolution or revolution?

Jonathan Bower, partner, planning and infrastructure team leader and partner lead for net zero by 2030 strategy at Womble Bond Dickinson, sets out the case for a clear ESG vision with a focus on inspiring behavioural change

Historical events have often led to transformative changes. The Industrial Revolution was one such moment and, today, we’re on the brink of another significant shift – an environmental, social and governance revolution. Although centuries apart, there are clear parallels between the two, not least the considerable cultural and social change needed to create a revolution. Continue reading “ESG: Evolution or revolution?”

Beyond ‘nice to have’ – ESG goes business fundamental

Beyond ‘nice to have’ – ESG goes business fundamental

‘In the old days, it was about having a nice brochure with some green pictures, but then getting on with the serious matter of running our business. We’ve moved way beyond that now – it’s a business fundamental now.’

Norton Rose Fulbright head of environment, health and safety, Europe, Middle East and Asia, Caroline May neatly sums up the transformative shift in attitudes in recent years, with law firms now more attuned than ever to the importance of ESG, both in their capacity as commercial advisers and in terms of their reputation as progressive employers. Continue reading “Beyond ‘nice to have’ – ESG goes business fundamental”

What Gen Z lawyers really want from their careers

What Gen Z lawyers really want from their careers

Gen Z – including its lawyers – are often characterised as being overly concerned about the social and political issues that come under the ESG umbrella. It’s an issue that was discussed at Legal Business’s April Enterprise GC event in a panel called: ‘The ideal employer for an idealistic lawyer’, during which one audience member dismissed concerns in the somewhat facetious terms: ‘Everybody’s gone woke!’

The truth is – as always – more nuanced. While Gen Z lawyers do care about ESG issues, this does not mean there is a cultural clash between the generations, even if they are more vocal about their expectations than older generations may have been. Continue reading “What Gen Z lawyers really want from their careers”

Enterprise winners

Enterprise winners

On 29-30 April, more than 200 senior in-house counsel gathered at the Hilton London Wembley for the seventh annual Enterprise GC event.

The event – which was sponsored by Walker Morris, Luminance, Lex Mundi, SSQ, EY, Taylor Wessing, Trowers & Hamlins, Cilex, Flex Legal, Winston & Strawn, Thomson Reuters and LexisNexis – saw two packed days of dynamic sessions, panel discussions and networking, bringing together top in-house professionals and speakers from broader business and academic communities to discuss the evolving role of GCs. Continue reading “Enterprise winners”

ESG Award winner Ranajoy Basu on leveraging structured finance expertise to support ESG causes in emerging economies

ESG Award winner Ranajoy Basu on leveraging structured finance expertise to support ESG causes in emerging economies

McDermott Will & Emery partner Ranajoy Basu, recently named Environmental/Sustainability: Private Practice Champion of the Year at the Legal 500 ESG Awards, discusses how he learned to leverage his structured finance expertise to support ESG causes in emerging economies

Continue reading “ESG Award winner Ranajoy Basu on leveraging structured finance expertise to support ESG causes in emerging economies”

The Last Word: ESG to the fore

The Last Word: ESG to the fore

‘Flexible working is something I hope to see the legal profession increasingly support. I’m a single parent of two five-year-old girls. I couldn’t do this job unless I was more often than not taking them to school.’ Lisa O’Neill, Milbank

As part of our annual ESG report, management at top law firms give their views on ESG’s importance to both lawyers and clients

Continue reading “The Last Word: ESG to the fore”