We can help you enhance environmental practices, develop inclusive working methods, and maintain rigorous governance, drawing on our experience with top global companies and our own ESG initiatives.
Environmental, social & governance (ESG)
Helping you enhance environmental practices, develop inclusive working methods and maintain rigorous governance.
Embedding strong ESG values boosts brand value, innovation, and talent retention – because good ESG practices are considered to be crucial by many investors, customers, and employees.
Our services
Environmental
Climate change has become a key global issue, prompting organisations to respond to increased scrutiny from society, governments, and consumers. Organisations are now expected to consider the environmental impact of their operations, with legal claims arising from unmet green promises.
Developing sustainable policies, workplaces, projects, and supply chains is increasingly vital. Balancing stakeholder expectations with environmental standards and regulations can be challenging, making it crucial to stay informed about evolving legislation and guidance.
Our team can assist with:
- Environmental claims in advertising and defending regulatory investigations
- Whistleblowing policies and employee claims regarding environmental practices
- Environmental Impact Assessments and Sustainability Appraisals
- Compliance training under the Green Claims Code
- Advising on green credential claims, including shareholder and derivative claims
- Green lease provisions for tenants and landlords
- Employee activism and time off for protests
- Contractual disputes over environmental standards
- Reputation management and media issues
- Supply chain disruptions due to extreme weather
- Environmentally sustainable travel, expenses, and remuneration policies
- Legal requirements for sustainability in construction and meeting Carbon Net Zero targets
Related areas
Social
Businesses are expected to act responsibly towards their employees, customers, suppliers, and the broader community – and these expectations are rising. In response, companies need to continuously adapt their offerings and approach.
Good working practices that meet evolving employee needs and reflect a diverse world are essential for attracting and retaining talent and maintaining a competitive edge.
Our team can assist with:
- Drafting and training on diversity and inclusion policies
- Investigating workplace concerns and whistleblowing
- Implementing innovative whistleblowing policies
- Advising on diversity in advertising and avoiding stereotypes
- Managing conflicts over employee beliefs and activism
- Addressing global issues affecting supply chains and contracts
- Developing safe work environments and investigating misconduct
- Handling breach of contract or misrepresentation claims
- Creating policies for diverse family leave and menopause
- Attracting and retaining talent through flexible work policies
- Managing post-transaction claims on social standards compliance
- Supporting pay gap reporting and wage law compliance
- Advising on working time, flexibility, and disconnect rights
- Guiding on remuneration, benefits, and executive pay
- Supporting employee forums and union engagement
Related areas
Governance
Public scrutiny of Board and Management actions underscores the importance of good corporate governance. Leaders must uphold company values and social responsibility practices, and need to demonstrate how they are positively impacting employees, investors, and communities. There is an increasing emphasis on directors' duties to consider environmental impacts, so this is an evolving legal area.
Our team can assist with:
- Supplier codes of conduct, modern slavery, Bribery Act compliance, and anti-tax avoidance
- Drafting ethics policies and anti-money laundering issues
- Governance in procurement and contracts with government bodies and corporations
- Reputational management for companies under criminal or regulatory investigation
- Investigating whistleblowing and management misconduct
- Disputes among directors, business owners, and shareholders
- Secure and compliant use of data
- Misrepresentation and breach of contract claims related to ethical standards
- Contract termination rights due to counterparty scandals
- Corporate governance, secretarial matters, diversity, and executive pay ratio reporting
- Marketing and trading standards issues (IPSO, Ofcom, ASA, CMA)
- Legal aspects of partnerships and LLPs
Related areas
