Shoosmiths creates Sustainability Steering Committee in latest strategy launch

Law firm Shoosmiths has just 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.

The new strategy has seen the firm hire a dedicated sustainable procurement professional to address our supply chain impact, appoint the Sustainability Steering Committee to hold us accountable for our progress, and include a requirement for lawyers to engage with pro bono or volunteering to be eligible for our new performance bonus.

The strategy is designed to halve emissions by 2030 and support clients and our supply chain in their own decarbonisation efforts. Our Sustainability Vision is to become a low-carbon law firm, delivering for our clients and communities to enable a sustainable future. Sustainability underpins Shoosmiths 2030 strategy by enabling our clients, empowering our people, and operating efficiently.

Other significant milestones the firm has hit in recent years have included:

• installing Solar PV at our Northampton Office to source 98% of our electricity from renewable sources, with an SBTi target for 100% for 2025-2030.
• charging an internal carbon price on flights, with the proceeds used to fund carbon reduction activity across the business.
• providing grants through the Shoosmiths Foundation to charities that act on social mobility, net zero and access to justice – including EveryYouth, The Chancery Lane project and Energy Sparks.
• reducing our emissions by 19% since 2019, in line with our Science-Based Targets.

Our new approach

As we look to 2030 and beyond, the impacts of our own operations are significantly lower than those in our supply chain and from our advice to clients. As such we will address environmental and social risks and opportunities by embedding sustainability into how we do business, how we engage with suppliers and clients and how we address our social impact.

We will do this through 3 core pillars of Environment, Society and Governance, each with objectives underneath them to operationalise our vision.

We will also focus on how we can enable clients in their own sustainability journey, leveraging our expertise in areas such as renewable energy, ESG regulations and charity to provide a full suite of support on environmental and social topics.

Max Finney, Senior Sustainability Manager said: “The impact that businesses have on the environment and society has always been seen as a risk. While it is important for us as a firm to continue thinking about our own environmental impact, our new strategy will also ensure we are creating positive opportunities for our clients who are looking to work with advisers equipped to support them in their own sustainability journeys.”

Shoosmiths Chair Kirsten Hewson said: “Having a concrete sustainability strategy in place directly supports the ambitions set in our 2030 strategy. By delivering our services as a low carbon law firm, we are able to not only, make a difference for our colleague and clients, but our community as a whole.”