Welcome to the LSA Bulletin, which as you will see, is packed with news and information, and exclusive resources and events for LSA members.
The LSA is proud to support The Climate Trunk – a stunning series of illustrations from John Lang, climate analyst and communicator. Launching on the 22nd of April and released weekly throughout the year, the resource will be available to LSA members to download for free from a new “members-only” section of the LSA website. The Climate Trunk offers a rare thing – a steady stream of engaging content supporting a practical, structured way to build climate literacy across your organisation. These infographics are designed to balance realism and rigour with optimism and agency – helping people see not only the scale of the challenge, but also where influence and progress are possible. Find out more below.
With increased scrutiny and transparency, businesses are expected to walk the walk, and from the number of LSA members shortlisted for Legal 500 ESG Awards, it is clear that the network is rising to the challenge. We were delighted to see such a strong representation and look forward to sweeping the board on the night.
Please keep connecting with the LSA – it is your network, and the more you can share – from best practice to sustainability challenges – the better we can support you. Do get in touch with Asia on manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com.
Best wishes, Amanda Carpenter
LSA Secretariat
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The Climate Trunk – an Exclusive Resource for LSA Members
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We are delighted to be supporting the Climate Trunk, a series of 52 engaging infographics designed to enhance understanding, educate, and upskill through visual literacy. The series aims to be the world’s clearest and most coherent visual guide to climate and the energy transition for policy makers, sustainability leaders, advisers and educators. They will be released to the public, one a week, throughout the year, building a bigger picture of knowledge for time-poor people who wish to gain a deeper understanding of the crisis facing the planet, what is at stake, and their potential role in the solution. See here for a sneak preview.
This series has been founded, researched, and designed by John Lang, a London-based climate analyst and communicator, working alongside a network of climate and energy experts. As well as the LSA, the project collaborates with, and draws on partners including the University of Oxford, UCL, Energy & Climate Intelligence Unit, Net Zero Tracker and Inter-Parliamentary Union. We have negotiated a copyright agreement exclusively for LSA member firms, who are licensed to download and use these images for internal educational purposes, including training, engaging and upskilling colleagues. They will be available to download from a new 'members-only' section on our website from 22 April. Please read the blog below for ideas on how you might make use of this resource, and email Asia on manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com for your password. |
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New IBA Report Presents Findings from Global Survey of 5,000 Women Lawyers on Barriers to Leadership |
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An International Bar Association (IBA) global survey of 5,000 women working in the legal profession across 100 jurisdictions, examining their experiences of working in law, has revealed persistent structural barriers to senior leadership, widespread burnout, and ongoing gender inequality, despite growing awareness and workplace initiatives aimed at improving diversity.
Based on the survey findings, the IBA has published the ‘Raising the Bar: Women in Law – Phase 2 Report’. Produced by the IBA Legal Policy & Research Unit (LPRU), with support from the IBA Diversity and Inclusion Council and the Women Lawyers Committee, the publication marks the next stage of the IBA’s long-term global project, examining women’s experiences in the legal profession. |
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In support of Blue Marine Foundation, the LSA is developing a communications campaign for World Ocean Day on 8 June to highlight how law firms can support ocean recovery. In the meantime, we encourage you to explore this new poetry anthology from Elemental Poetry Cambridge.
A celebration of water in all its forms, featuring poems about waterfalls, waterbirds and watercolour paintings, rising tides and threatened chalk streams, this anthology includes poems that praise the world’s rivers alongside the dishwater in a kitchen sink. What a pleasure to stretch out here and let these words of water wash over in a sitting. Water, its being and nature, its waterscapes and watermarks are all explored here within many themes, memories and poetic retelling. – Emma Montlake, Environmental Law Foundation This eye-opening anthology is a small wonder. Its imaginative reckonings of human interactions with the natural world can only help us to appreciate and value water, the matter of life, with increased sensitivity and awe. – Dr Tom Appleby, Blue Marine Foundation |
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Ask the Alliance – Network Support |
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On behalf of the LSA, we would like to thank all those who have generously given their time to help colleagues since our last bulletin. Please don't hesitate to send in your questions for the network to manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com, and we will ask members of the network for their help. During March we have had two new queries, which you might have also noticed we have shared on LinkedIn. Please help if you can – the LSA’s strength lies in the collective knowledge of our network, and by working together and sharing best practice, we can achieve even greater impact. Send any advice to manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com and we will pass on your comments or connect you, whichever is more appropriate. We will not share information publicly, or share your details without your consent. |
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Following the Law Society’s 2023 Guidance for Solicitors on advising clients about climate‑related risk, we are keen to understand how other LSA member firms have reflected this in their Statements of Work and Terms of Business.
We’ve seen a range of approaches across the sector, including some firms opting for a blanket exclusion of climate‑related advice. Before we finalise our own position, we’d really appreciate hearing how others have dealt with this point – particularly:
- whether you’ve included any specific wording or disclaimers;
- whether you reference the scope of climate‑related advice explicitly; and
- any considerations or challenges encountered during implementation
-------- Please may I ask the membership for advice on sustainability in event management. We would like to understand what the latest thinking is on challenges, such as how to avoid printing name cards. |
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Please get in touch via comms@legalsustainabilityalliance.com with your stories so that we can feature them here. |
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Weightmans has been named "ESG-Focused Legal Consultancy of the Year - England 2026" by Legal Insider. This recognition follows the firm's recent achievements, including - an EcoVadis Platinum rating and ISO 14001 and ISO 50001 certifications for the fifth consecutive year.
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| | Dentons published insights from its Real Estate ESG Task Force, covering key developments in EU energy renovation frameworks, the evolving EU deforestation regime, and practical implementation of ESG in real estate contracts. |
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| | Travers Smith published its quarterly ESG Circular, covering the UK government's decision to reduce indexation on longstanding renewable energy subsidies, the Shell/Odette litigation, new sustainability reporting standards, strategic reforms transforming infrastructure and data centre investment, and heightened scrutiny facing retail sectors. |
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The Future of Flying – Can Aviation Ever Be Sustainable? |
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Date: 20 April
Time: 12.30pm
Location: Online Postponed due to circumstances outside of our control, this event has been rescheduled and will take place online.
This exclusive event for LSA member firms will offer a focused overview of the aviation sector’s net zero roadmap, airline performance, and current market conditions – including the impact of conflict in the Middle East – as well as the future outlook, exploring the pathways toward decarbonisation, including the role of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and evolving policy frameworks.
Speaker:
Chris Truss – Global Sustainability Director, Reed & Mackay
Chris has over 20 years’ experience in the travel industry, spanning travel management, consulting, global account management, and sustainability development. As Global Sustainability Director at Reed & Mackay, he leads the company’s environmental strategy and supports clients in building and delivering sustainable travel programmes.
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The Future of Offsetting – Law Firms Collaborating for Social Impact |
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Date: 5 May
Time: 2pm
Location: Online In 2025, eight leading law firms collaborated with Save the Children Global Ventures to create a groundbreaking agroforestry project in Nandi, Kenya, where climate change is adversely affecting agriculture. The Nandi project unlocks climate finance to deliver improved outcomes for children and young people, increase income for the farmers through mixed farming and cash crops, and deliver greater climate resilience and biodiversity.
This approach unlocks high-integrity, low-cost offset credits for the firms over a ten-year period. The collaborative offsetting programme is based on a robust framework document, developed in partnership with the eight law firms involved, that underpins the 10-year commitment.
As we seek to scale the work in Nandi to include more farmers and go from 20,000 to 60,000 hectares, Legal Charter 1.5 and Save the Children Global Ventures are inviting other law firms and networks to get involved. The LSA is delighted to be able to convene this conversation and invite LSA members to join together to form a new collaboration. |
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Navigating the Changes in Strategic Reporting |
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Date: 21 May
Time: 12.30pm
Location: Online
Reporting frameworks are constantly evolving, and the planned consultations on SBTi, ISO, and GHG Protocol will mean changes for law firms and clients as they navigate their way through the standards landscape. This panel discussion and Q&A provide LSA members with a chance to come up to speed with the new frameworks and the proposed changes. |
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Sustainability Dates for Your Diary |
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Earth Day 2026 – 22.04.26
The world’s largest non-religious observance, Earth Day promotes environmental awareness and encourages immediate action.
Stop Food Waste Day – 29.04.26
A dedicated day to highlight the staggering economic, social, and environmental impacts of food waste. It encourages governments, businesses, and individuals to implement strategies to reduce waste from farm to fork.
No Mow May – May
Not mowing the lawn allows flowers to fully bloom, providing essential early-season nectar and pollen for vital pollinators like bees and butterflies.
International Day for Biological Diversity – 22.05.26
Serves as a global reminder to protect ecosystems that support human well-being and to align with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which aims to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030.
30 Days Wild – June
The UK's biggest nature challenge. This June, choose one wild thing a day (or a few each week) - from giving nature a helping hand to simply noticing the wild on your doorstep. From planting wildflowers for bees, to listening to bird song or letting a corner of your garden grow a little wilder, there’s endless ways to spend your wild month.
World Environment Day 2026 – 05.06.26
World Environment Day 2026 will rally the world around the urgency of climate action. With rising temperatures, collapsing ecosystems, and disruptive weather extremes, humanity stands at a tipping point.
World Ocean Day – 08.06.26
World Ocean Day unites millions – across the globe and throughout the year –to protect our blue planet. The LSA is planning a campaign with Blue Marine Foundation. Keep an eye on our socials to find out more.
Clean Air Day – 18.06.26
The UK's largest air pollution campaign.
World Rainforest Day – 22.06.26
World Rainforest Day aims to unite organisations, activists, and everyday people to celebrate rainforests and advance conservation together.
London Climate Action Week (LCAW) – 20-28.06.2026
One of the world’s largest independent climate festivals, London Climate Action Week brings together businesses, policymakers, and civil society to accelerate global climate action. The week features hundreds of in-person and virtual events across London, focusing on practical solutions, collaboration, and driving progress towards net zero. |
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Global Net Zero Needs You! |
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The Climate Policy Monitor, based at Oxford University, is currently looking for more law firms to take part in this year's climate policy survey. The groundbreaking analysis is expanding to cover three new topics this year: green buildings, trade measures, and sustainable aviation. The team at the University of Oxford is also looking for a UK-based law firm to cover the topic of methane, to analyse the UK's national policies on methane abatement.
Participating in the survey is an impactful way to meet your pro bono commitments, and there are exclusive benefits for participating firms, such as access to events and discounted executive education. If you are working on these topics and willing to take part in this year's annual survey, please do get in touch with the Net Zero Hub team at Oxford on: netzerohub@bsg.ox.ac.uk. |
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Wildlife and Countryside Link: 'Clean Water Now' Campaign |
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This year is make-or-break for England’s rivers, wetlands, and coastlines, with an upcoming water law providing a once-in-a-generation opportunity to finally clean up our waters. Supported by 40 leading conservation organisations, Wildlife and Countryside Link's Clean Water Now campaign was launched this month in the Houses of Parliament, calling for an ambitious Water Reform Bill that sets binding pollution limits at the regional level, establishes a regulator with the Environment Act and Climate Change Act targets as a core duty, and improves national targets. The campaign also calls for a Bill that holds polluters to account, bans harmful chemicals, tightens permitting restrictions for intensive agriculture, and establishes a legal requirement for water companies to act in the public interest to achieve environmental improvement. Where freshwater and marine wildlife has been allowed to dwindle, the Bill should improve access to wildlife corridors along England’s rivers, put nature-based solutions first wherever they can work, and strengthen powers to stop the destructive spread of non-native species. The accompanying report offers analysis of the evolving legal and policy landscape surrounding water protection and governance, outlining the urgent action needed to: - Stop the polluters − clamp down on sewage, restrict intensive agriculture, and ban toxic chemical pollution.
- Fix the system − stop water companies from putting profit before people and nature.
- Restore nature − create new natural habitats along rivers and coastlines.
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Sometimes we record our events, which you can watch via the resource library on our website.
- Understanding Ecocide Law – Why businesses and law firms should engage – A webinar taking a deep dive into Ecocide Law and what it means for law firms and their clients
- LSA’s Guide to Business Travel – A webinar launching the LSA’s new guide to business travel, with members of the working group who worked on the publication
- LSA’s Guide to TCFD – A webinar launching the LSA’s new guide to TCFD, with members of the working group who worked on the publication
- Introducing the LSA Academy – A webinar launching the LSA Academy – designed to meet the growing demand for sustainability skills across our membership organisations, while leveraging apprenticeship levy funding
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Please encourage everyone in your firm to sign up for this bulletin here. |
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