Clifford Chance

Global law firm Clifford Chance has been named Best Law Firm Advisory Team in the Environmental Protection category at the Legal 500 ESG Awards. This category recognises the best law firm advisory team working on environmental protection matters with evidence outlining involvement in the most innovative or complex environmental protection work, including across the whole spectrum of practice areas, including environmental litigation. The team led by Nigel Howorth and Adam Hedley advised the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) on the development of their Paris Agreement/ITMO programme for CfRN countries.

In its first year running, the Legal 500 UK ESG Awards celebrate the very best ESG initiatives across the UK legal market – private practice, in-house and the Bar. The ceremony took place in London on Wednesday 24 April 2024, and saw organisations and individuals recognised for their efforts to bring about change across all aspects of ESG; including diversity & inclusion and environmental and sustainability strategy.

Nigel Howorth, Partner and Head of the Global Environment Group comments: "This award highlights and recognises our innovative first-of-a-kind work in the Paris Agreement, carbon and greenhouse gas reduction space. We are proud to be working with pioneering organisations such as the Coalition for Rainforest Nations on mandates with immediate and real-world impact which will go on to affect and help direct the future of global net zero goals and ambitions."

The firm's long established Global Environment Group is a specialised group of lawyers from across a broad international network working on all aspects of environmental and associated areas including climate change, carbon projects and trading, ESG, and Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) governance. The Group supports a diversified client base who face challenges posed by ever stricter national, and international environmental and ESG regulation and requirements, as well as dealing with the opportunities and risks of the transition to a low carbon economy.

Clifford Chance was also awarded DE&I In-house Initiative of the Year for its innovative Risk & Resilience Global Virtual Internship initiative in collaboration with its client Swiss Re.