At the LSA we are encouraged by our members' continued commitment to sustainability, their work to decarbonise operations and their vital support of clients as they do the same. However we realise that we need to do more to empower and inspire our colleagues to take action to reduce emissions and prevent biodiversity and habitat loss.
The LSA is here to help you, by offering resources and sharing best practice on how to engage and upskill, and supporting the sector to tackle the urgent issue of climate change.
Bulletin highlights:
- Meet our new co-chairs
- Launch of the Climate Change Legal Knowledge Hub
- World Environment Day - a pledge for LSA members
- News from the LSA membership
- London Climate Action Week update
- LSA schedule of events with registration links
- Sustainability dates for your diary
Please encourage everyone to sign up to this bulletin here. |
|
|
|
We are delighted to announce the appointment of new co-chairs Becky Clissmann, Counsel at Ashurst and Paddy Linighan, Chief Sustainability Officer at Clyde & Co. We look forward to Becky and Paddy building on the strong foundations put in place by Matt Sparkes and Caroline May, our former chairs, who remain connected to the LSA via their new roles as honorary presidents.
Huge thanks to Caroline and Matt for their hard work up to this point. They have taken the network from strength to strength and their passion and commitment has been of significant benefit to the entire sector. |
|
|
|
| | Becky has over 19 years’ experience of climate change and ESG law and regulation from her roles in private practice and industry. Becky is also a co-convenor of the UK Environmental Law Association’s Climate Change and Energy Working Party and a member of The Law Society and the Bar Council’s Climate Change Working Groups. Listen to Becky's reasons for taking on this role here. |
|
|
|
| | Paddy is an experienced and skilled operations and finance professional, with over 35 years’ experience of operational and financial control, defining strategy and managing major business transformation programmes for large global organisations in the legal services sector. Since 2020 Paddy has led the development of Clyde & Co’s Environmental Social & Governance Strategy. Find out what inspires Paddy's work here. |
|
|
|
Launch of the Climate Change
Legal Knowledge Hub |
|
Over the last few years, there has been a growing call for resources to build the climate capability of the legal profession. In response, in collaboration with Legal Charter 1.5 and NZLA, the LSA has mapped and collated best practice climate training for the legal sector. Free and accessible to all, the Climate Change Legal Knowledge Hub will empower legal professionals to upskill and take practical steps to tackle climate change and mitigate climate risk.
|
|
|
|
This year's World Environment Day focuses on ending global plastic pollution. It seems incredible after all the progress we made (inspired by David Attenborough's 'Blue Planet II' in 2017) that we are still talking about plastic, but now more then ever, plastic is an existential threat to our wildlife, our oceans and our human health. Microbeads of plastic are now at the bottom of the deepest oceans and appearing in our food chains.
In two months countries across the world meet in Geneva, Switzerland at the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution to end this pervasive problem. But we can take action today.
Individual actions truly matter, but when we collaborate with colleagues to drive systemic change in our workplaces and across our supply chains, our impact is supercharged. By choosing to work with and buy from businesses that prioritise sustainability, we can help shift the entire sector towards smarter, plastic-free practices.
To mark World Environment Day on 5 June we are urging LSA members to take the following pledge by downloading selected graphics from our website and sharing them on your social media channels, or by creating your own version using this copy.
The pledge:
We commit to tackling plastic pollution by reducing our plastic footprint and supporting businesses who minimise theirs.
|
|
|
|
Why take action on plastic? - If you don't, you will be left behind and risk looking outdated and out of touch
- Reducing single-use plastic cuts costs
- It's the right thing to do - ethically, socially and environmentally
Find out more about World Environment Day here. |
|
|
|
LSA drives impact with new partners |
|
Our partnership with Law Society Scotland has allowed us to offer Scottish law firms, of all sizes, a chance to measure, manage and reduce their emissions and benefit from the resources and experience of the LSA network.
Building on the success of this relationship, we are looking to collaborate with law societies in major cities, including Newcastle, Manchester, Bristol and Birmingham. If you are involved with these organisations and can assist us in building these relationships, please get in touch. With your help, we can support the legal sector in your city to reduce its carbon impact.
Susan Murray, President of the Law Society of Scotland, said: “Two years ago we committed in our climate change resolution to supporting the profession in taking action to address the challenges we face from the climate crisis. Ever since, the Legal Sustainability Alliance has been kind enough to share its knowledge and time, to support us with that goal.
I am delighted that we can formalise our collaboration. The climate crisis is the most pressing issue of our time and it is vital that our members understand how we as a profession can contribute to the legal sector reaching net zero and help ensure that they have knowledge on how to take effective action.”
|
|
|
|
London Climate Action Week
|
|
London Climate Action Week takes place from 21-29 June. We are looking forward to an impactful schedule of events, including the Rights of Nature Symposium, which explores how we can build on the growing Rights of Nature discussion with key stakeholders and decision makers, creating clear actions for change. And why not register your interest for the LSA LCAW event - Why CSRD still matters in the face of Omnibus turmoil?
See the events section at end of this bulletin for more details and links to register interest. |
|
|
|
Please get in touch with your stories so we can feature them here. |
|
|
|
| | Shoosmiths has refreshed its approach to ESG with the launch of its first sustainability strategy in line with the firm’s aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, with fresh initiatives including the development of a Sustainability Steering Committee and new sustainability-centred role. |
|
|
|
| | Mills & Reeve have announced a long-term biodiversity partnership with Small Woods Association that invests in woodland management and social forestry programmes. Watch the video here. |
|
|
|
Upcoming events and webinars |
|
Please click the links to find out more and register, we look forward to seeing you! |
|
|
|
| | Embedding environmental training in law firms – an insider’s guide
5 June 2025, 12.00pm - 1pm
Online
Law firms put environmental policies in place to help them measure and reduce their emissions – but how and why should you train staff about them?
Michael Bloxham, Environment Manager at Freshfields, has been working on mandatory education for roll out throughout Freshfields; a global training module that is compulsory for all staff, partners and new joiners, followed by a requirement to update knowledge annually.
Mikey will talk through his learnings, followed by a chance for attendees to ask questions. |
|
|
|
| | The Rights of Nature Symposium London Climate Action Week
24 June 2025, 10am - 12pm
In person, Central London
Invitation only, please register interest below.
Can a river have rights? Legal personhood is a key aspect of the Rights of Nature, a rapidly evolving area in environmental law, policy and green finance. Giving legal personality to trees or rivers might sound strange, but it is becoming a legal reality in some parts of the world including Latin America, New Zealand and Europe. This collaborative event for LCAW supported by Achill Legal, the Environmental Law Foundation and Fleet Street Quarter, will explore how we can build on the growing Rights of Nature discussion and create a movement for change that includes the key stakeholders and decision makers. Our participative symposium brings together key stakeholders; from law, government, finance, business and the arts, to exchange ideas and create an action agenda for the future. We will be inviting all participants back in 6 months' time to discuss progress and action. This is an invitation only event, Please email events@achill-legal.com to express an interest and we will be in touch soon. |
|
|
|
| | Why CSRD still matters in the face of Omnibus turmoil
London Climate Action Week
26 June 2025, 11am - 1.30pm
Radley Yeldar, 24 Charlotte Road, London, EC2A 3PB
Exclusive in-person event for LSA members only.
As the Omnibus threatens to pause progress, we explore how to keep eyes on the transformation prize. The Omnibus has dominated the discourse, threatening to pause progress and causing widespread uncertainty. But in the face of extreme weather events, raging wildfires and widespread human rights abuses, ‘stopping the clock’ is not an option. Amidst increasing adversity and political tensions, we must ask ourselves: what is driving us, the regulation or the need for transformation? We will explore the power of collective action and cross-functional expertise to drive transformational change in line with the original intent outlined within CSRD: business transformation towards a more sustainable economy.
Places are limited. Please email Camilla or click on the button below to express your interest in this event. |
|
|
|
Interested in joining these events but not yet an LSA member? Sign up here. |
|
If you missed our event launching the new LSA academy, catch up on the video here.
This was a special webinar launching an exciting new skills initiative built specifically for LSA members – the LSA Sustainability Academy. Working in partnership with LDN Apprenticeships, an Ofsted Outstanding and B Corp-certified training provider, the LSA team is proud to champion this new programme – designed to meet the growing demand for sustainability skills across our membership organisations, while leveraging apprenticeship levy funding.
|
|
Sustainability dates for your diary |
|
This isn't a comprehensive list, but these are the dates that have caught our attention. Walk To School Week - 19 - 23 May
This year’s challenge will see pupils take on The Great Space Walk, encouraging them to travel actively to school every day of the week. Why not join the younger generation, show your firm is engaged and tweak this to Walk (even some of the way) to Work week?
International Day for Biological Diversity - 22 May
Raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity and to promote the conservation and sustainable use of the planet’s biological diversity.
World Environment Day - 5 June
Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and held annually on 5 June since 1973. In 2025, World Environment Day aims to raise global awareness of plastic pollution as a problem that can be fixed and to showcase solutions. This year’s observance comes as negotiators work towards finalising a global treaty to end plastic pollution. Check out our WED pledge for LSA members above.
World Ocean Day - 8 June
Highlighting the importance of the oceans for sustaining life on Earth, as well as the threats facing the oceans and the need for action to protect them.
London Climate Action Week - 21 - 29 June
LCAW aims to mobilise London’s unparalleled ecosystem of climate and non-climate organisations to accelerate global climate action and support action in London to ensure it acts as a global climate leader. See website for schedule of events held all across the capital.
|
|
|
|
|
|
