" ESG Catches Fire: Can Law Firms Play a Role in Sustainability and Human Rights?", 19 February 2021

...[E]nvironmental, social and governance [ESG] practices...are proliferating at law firms around the globe. The momentum is driven by government regulations, institutional investors, and corporate clients.

Seyfarth Shaw announced it has formed an ESG group, co-led by attorneys based in London, Chicago and San Francisco. The same day, Hunton Andrews Kurth announced the formation of its ESG group. And Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe bolstered its ESG practice with the hire of Ashley Walter, an expert in corporate and social responsibility, who will head the firm’s ESG team. And earlier this month, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher announced its new ESG practice...

In Hong Kong, a former Jones Day partner launched a boutique law firm in Hong Kong last week that will focus entirely on sustainability.

A few firms have even committed to changes of their own. In December, Herbert Smith Freehills said it would cut its carbon emissions to net-zero by 2030...Back in April, Meganne Tillay wrote that CMS is aiming to become carbon neutral by 2025. And last month Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer announced it plans to dramatically cut its use of airplanes as part of a five-year environment strategy for the firm. It has set out formal targets to reduce carbon emissions from global business travel by 30%, which will largely be focused on flying less...

Lawyers told Anne that the ruling would almost certainly lead to an increase in environmental litigation, on top of an already brisk business in France providing advice on environmental impact to a wide range of corporate clients...

And if corporations truly acknowledge the need for change, law firms will jump through hoops to show their clients that they have the best team in the legal industry to help them navigate the road ahead.