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Sustainability
Supporting sustainable futures.
Freshfields is committed to sustainability. We see it as part of our role as trusted advisers to support our clients in their transition toward a sustainable and profitable future.
We are working with our clients’ senior leaders to help them develop a comprehensive, proactive approach to sustainable business that anticipates risks and regulatory change, but also supports the potential for revenue growth arising from climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure development.
Our sustainability focus falls into four broad categories:
- climate change, which presents our client both potentially existential risks but also commercial opportunities;
- human rights, which, alongside anti-bribery and corruption issues, are now a core part of corporate compliance;
- sustainable finance, which is helping identify hidden risks and opportunities; and
- corporate governance, which is putting corporate reputations under threat like never before.
Client successes
Representing RWE in a landmark climate case brought by Peruvian farmer Saúl Luciano Lliuya in the German courts.
The suit alleges that RWE bears some responsibility for the melting of mountain glaciers near Mr. Lliuya’s home town of Huaraz and is obliged to compensate him for the adaptation costs he has to incur.
Advising a major oil and gas consortium on its responses to a complaint by NGOs to the UK, US and Italian OECD national contact points.
The NGOs alleged the consortium violated environmental and human rights provisions in the OECD’s guidelines for multinational enterprises (incorporating the Ruggie principles).
Advising SSE on its €600m 0.875 per cent 'green bond', the largest-ever green bond issuance by a UK company.
The bond will support the development of an active UK market in environmentally friendly capital market products.
Working toward creating an ESG 'gold standard' for measuring social impact return for use by social impact investors.
To do so, we are collaborating with the University of Chicago and London School of Economics, as well as talking directly to asset managers at social impact investment funds, about the quantitative (not qualitative) social impact return valuation methodologies that they employ.
Our team
Paul Bowden Consultant
Manchester
Dr. Timo Elsner Partner
Frankfurt am Main
Natasha Good Partner
London
Deba Das Partner
London
Vanessa Jakovich Partner
London
Jerome Ranawake Partner
New York
Aaron Marcu Senior Counsel
New York
