Happy New Year. We hope you have enjoyed a peaceful and restful break. While the challenges facing our work – and the world – remain significant, we start 2026 with renewed ambition, shared purpose, and hope, drawn from the positive change we have built together.
Throughout 2025, the LSA demonstrated how individual commitment and collaboration generate lasting impact, as reflected in our Annual Report. If you haven’t seen the report, or had a chance to share it with your colleagues, you can find it here. The LSA team remains committed to channelling and amplifying your work, supporting you as legal professionals to use your expertise to advocate for the protection of our planet and foster the collective action that is making a real difference.
With competition for talent continuing to intensify across the legal sector, creating space to explore and better understand what attracts, motivates, and retains people offers firms a critical strategic advantage. We are delighted to invite you to our next event What Talent Wants - How Responsible Business Shapes Engagement and Retention in partnership with Lamp House Strategy. More information and a link to register can be found below.
The legal sector is in a unique position to keep climate and nature in our boardrooms, at the centre of policy and at the heart of practice, and together we can tap into this superpower and make 2026 the most productive yet.
Best wishes, Amanda Carpenter
LSA Secretariat
Please allow 'downloaded images' to view this publication in its entirety.
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What Talent Wants – How Responsible Business Shapes Engagement and Retention 21st January 2026, 8.30–10am
Location: Bird & Bird, 12 New Fetter Ln, London EC4A 1JP |
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The Making of Ocean: A Podcast About Hope and Recovery – a new episode of the Sustainable Law Podcast |
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The Launch of the LSA's New Guide to Sustainable Procurement
Date: 5th February 2026, 12.30–1.30pm
Location: Online |
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A Note From the New LSA Manager
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As we begin the new year, I’m pleased to introduce myself in my new role as Network Manager supporting the LSA. I’m looking forward to working closely with members and contributing to the work already underway across the network.
My background is in recruitment and operations, and I’m currently undertaking a Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability Practitioner Apprenticeship with the LSA Academy.
While the year ahead will bring its share of challenges, the level of engagement across the membership is encouraging. Over the coming months, the secretariat will focus on delivering practical events, developing useful resources, and creating opportunities for collaboration. I look forward to working with you and welcome any questions.
Happy New Year,
Asia Mill
LSA Network Manager
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The Rights of Nature: Placing Nature's Interests at the Heart of Decision Making |
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Protecting nature and biodiversity is not only key to tackling climate change – it is fundamental to the resilience and prosperity of our economy.
In 2025, the inaugural Rights of Nature Symposium brought together diverse voices and perspectives to ensure nature remains at the core of business, law, policy, and practice. This report continues that work. |
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The Making of Ocean: A Podcast About Hope and Recovery
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Ocean with David Attenborough (2025) was a powerful and unflinching wake-up call, exploring the vital importance of Earth’s oceans and the growing threats they face, including shocking footage revealing the devastation caused by bottom trawling and scallop dredging.
For this podcast, Amanda Carpenter spoke to Olly Scholey, Field Producer on Ocean, and Dr Tom Appleby, Chief of Legal Affairs at Blue Marine Foundation, to gain insight into the making of the film and examine how the law can – and should – be used to better protect our seas.
Questions for this podcast were based on the audience participation at the LSA’s screening of Ocean and panel discussion, in partnership with Blue Marine Foundation. |
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In Case You Missed It – The LSA Annual Report
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From CSRD to AI, Ecocide Law to Ocean, the LSA has explored the topics that we think are relevant to law firms, supporting them in understanding their role in addressing the climate crisis. An overview of our activity offers the chance to reflect on the year and understand how we can deliver better value for money and maximise the impact of our work. Please read the report via the button below, and share it throughout your firms. We hope it will give colleagues insight into what is on offer and how they can engage. |
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Please take a few minutes to complete the short LSA survey, and encourage as many colleagues as possible to do the same. This will help us understand how we can best support our member firms in 2026. |
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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.
This month, we have a new query that you may be able to help with:
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TCFD – An LSA member firm is looking into conducting a quantitative scenario analysis as part of their alignment with IFRS S2, even though it is not mandatory at this stage. Have any other firms been through this process? How did you find it? What are the potential cost implications? Would you recommend your consultants? |
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And please consider this query from our last bulletin, any more advice gratefully received: |
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An LSA member firm includes the cost of Practising Certificates within their education spend. This falls under Scope 3 emissions, over which they have no direct ability to reduce emissions or influence the SRA.
If associated emissions are estimated (quite crudely) based on the cost of the certificates, it results in a relatively large figure (in both emissions and financial terms) – particularly for larger firms. Are other firms encountering similar challenges?
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Please share thoughts, recommendations or other advice via manager@legalsustainabilityalliance.com and keep these questions coming in – 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. |
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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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| | Irwin Mitchell has set a target to transition its entire partner vehicle fleet to hybrid or fully electric models by 2029 as part of their broader environmental programme, which supports their aim to reach net zero across the value chain by 2040. |
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Burges Salmon named Sustainable Business of the Year — Congratulations to Burges Salmon who were recognised at the Bristol Legal Awards for their environmental sustainability leadership, including carbon reduction efforts, biodiversity partnerships and a strong Responsible Business Strategy.
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What Talent Wants: How Responsible Business Shapes Engagement and Retention |
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Date: 21st January 2026
Time: 8.30–10am
Location: Bird & Bird, 12 New Fetter Ln, London EC4A 1JP
Drawing on research* from more than 2,000 UK trainees and associates, this session offers a fresh, data-rich perspective on what motivates the next generation of legal talent. We are joined by Lamp House Strategy to explore which levers law firms can pull to attract, engage, and retain their workforce, and the link to the responsible business agenda.
*Data sourced by Chambers & Partners Talent Research, Leading Teams
Speakers:
Jo Summers, Director of Client Engagement, Chambers and Partners
David Johnson, Director of Client Services, Chambers and Partners
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The Launch of the LSA's New Guide to Sustainable Procurement |
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Date: 5th February 2026
Time: 12.30–1.30pm
Location: Online
This session marks the launch of the LSA's new guide to sustainable procurement – Putting the Sustainable into Procurement – A Practical Guide for Law Firms.
Addressing one of the most significant sources of emissions and responsible business risks for law firms – the supply chain – the guide provides a clear, practical resource for firms seeking to embed sustainability into procurement decisions and supplier management.
Incorporating ESG into procurement helps to manage risk, meet stakeholder expectations, reduce Scope 3 emissions, stimulate innovation, support diverse and ethical suppliers, and create measurable value for clients and communities.
Members of the working group will lead a presentation, followed by a panel discussion and Q&A session facilitated by Amanda Carpenter, CEO of Achill Legal. The panel will feature:
Max Finney, Senior Sustainability Manager, Shoosmiths
Mary Lavin, Head of Responsible Business, Osborne Clarke
Dan Noakes, Head of Responsible Business, Bird & Bird |
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Your Carbon Impact: Measure It to Manage It
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Date: 27th January 2026
Time: 12.30–1.30pm
Location: Online
Brought to you by the Greener Litigation Pledge, which is supported by the Legal Sustainability Alliance, this practical session will cover: - Why counting your carbon matters – from client expectations to regulatory pressures and competitive advantage.
- Getting started – the core principles of carbon measurement for professional services and what a first-year footprint typically looks like.
- The data – understanding what you need, where to look for it, and how to gather it efficiently.
- Ways to measure your emissions – tools and methodologies.
- From insight to action – using your footprint to identify hotspots and prioritise reductions.
Whether you're starting out or refining your approach, this session will give you the clarity and confidence to begin managing your organisation’s carbon impact. Speakers:
Jim Haywood, Managing Director, Woodman Farrow Ltd.
Amanda Carpenter, CEO, Achill Legal |
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Sustainability Dates for Your Diary |
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Veganuary – 01.01.26 - 31.01.26
A month-long global campaign encouraging people to try a vegan diet, reducing their food-related carbon footprint. Big Schools Birdwatch – 06.01.26 - 13.02.26
UK-based survey engaging schools and communities in watching bird life and raising biodiversity awareness. Big Energy Saving Week – 17.01.26 - 22.01.26
UK campaign week dedicated to raising awareness about energy efficiency and reducing consumption. International Day of Clean Energy – 26.01.26
Celebrates the transition to renewable and low‑carbon energy sources, raising awareness of clean energy solutions and innovations worldwide. World Wetlands Day – 02.02.26
Global day to raise awareness of the vital role wetlands play for biodiversity, water filtration, climate resilience and human wellbeing. International Day of Forests – 21.03.26
A UN observance highlighting the importance of all types of forests for climate regulation, biodiversity, and ecosystem services. Global Recycling Day – 18.03.26
Focuses on the role of recycling in a circular economy, resource efficiency and carbon reduction. World Water Day – 22.03.26
Raises global awareness of freshwater resources, access to safe water and the sustainable management of water for people and planet. International Day of Zero Waste – 30.03.26
Highlights the importance of reducing waste and promoting sustainable waste management and circular economy initiatives. The Great British Spring Clean – 13.03.26 - 29.03.26
UK national campaign from Keep Britain Tidy encouraging litterpicks and community cleanup activity. |
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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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