Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG)

We recognise the importance of addressing today’s significant challenges—reducing inequality, combating climate change, and fostering sustainability. To this end, we are dedicated to investing in the future, supporting our people, and building a resilient and sustainable business.

We strive to create a coherent and impactful ESG strategy that not only meets regulatory requirements but also contributes to a fairer society and a healthier planet.

We continuously review our strategy, ensuring it evolves to meet new challenges, adheres to relevant reporting standards, and identifies areas for improvement across all pillars of ESG.

Understanding and mitigating our environmental impact is central to our efforts in reducing carbon emissions, conserving water, and minimising pollution and waste.

Our office building, which uses a ground source heating and cooling system, saves over 21 tonnes of CO2 annually and exceeds the Building Regulations Part L 2010 target emission by 32%. The building holds a BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating. Additionally, 100% of waste from the office has been diverted from landfill and the building utilises rainwater harvesting technology to enhance water efficiency.

As a law firm, robust governance is at the core of our operations. We maintain the highest standards through our comprehensive policies and procedures, including those related to anti-bribery, anti-money laundering, anti-slavery, conflict of interest, and relations with third parties.

Internally, our policies on health and safety, diversity and inclusion, and shared parental leave are reinforced by regular training, ensuring a safe and supportive workplace for all.

Our commitment to governance extends to our supply chain. We rigorously assess all third-party suppliers to ensure they meet our stringent standards for quality, reputation, financial stability, and compliance with our core policies.

• Advised a SaaS start-up on its template contracts and first partnership agreements for the provision of its ESG-goals tracking platform for financial services.
• Conducting an independent investigation for the CBI concerning allegations of sexual harassment, which led to governance reforms aimed at preventing further misconduct and promoting diversity and inclusion.
• Advising a European insurer on its UK ESG obligations, focusing on risk management, product governance, sustainability disclosures, and diversity and inclusion, in line with the Bank of England’s guidance on climate-related financial risks.
• Assisting two North American alternative investment fund managers with compliance under the Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR), ensuring they meet mandatory ESG disclosure obligations.
• Provided advice in connection with a deed of variation to make a hotel lease, a “Green Lease”. The landlord of the premises is the Grosvenor Estate, which is looking to grant new leases on the basis of “Green Leases” and vary existing leases where they can. The variation completed in February 2023 and demonstrates the emerging trend in the commercial property market for both landlords and tenants to collaborate in achieving more environmentally friendly leases and ESG objectives.
• Drafting a sustainability policy for a UK-based silk supplier, addressing critical issues in contract, tort, and employment law to align with ESG commitments.
• We work with a family office owner of prime London real estate and have advised on the green provisions in their leases granted to commercial occupiers.