Clifford Chance LLP’s ESG team demonstrates broad expertise across ESG regulation, business and human rights matters, and international carbon and sustainability projects. Jessica Gladstone acts for public and private sector clients in developing climate strategies, reviewing sustainability disclosures, and responding to contentious matters regarding climate and human rights impacts. Adam Hedley assists multinational corporations regarding compliance with the EU corporate sustainability regulatory suite and in navigating the requirements and mechanisms of the CBAM. An environmental and climate change expert, Nigel Howorth demonstrates strength on corporate sustainability reporting and emissions trading matters. Business and human rights specialist Rae Lindsay leads on contentious and risk management mandates concerning human rights programmes and due diligence. Jeroen Ouwehand, who is active across London and Amsterdam, heads the practice.

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer LLP offers a standout team across the ESG segment. Silke Goldberg, a specialist regarding ESG and carbon-related regulatory risk within the energy, natural resources, and commodities space, leads the global ESG team; Jannis Bille, who brings a wealth of knowledge regarding climate change risk management and corporate sustainability reporting obligations, helms the UK ESG team. On mandates concerning ESG regulatory disclosure, risk management, governance, and implementation, Sarah Ries-Coward is a key contact. Gareth Sykes stands out for his ‘exemplary support on legal and regulatory matters’ regarding sustainability reporting requirements and corporate governance issues. Joanne Holbrook is acclaimed for her ‘ability to find practical solutions to complex legislative problems’ and serves as a particular expert on deforestation and water regulation.

Latham & Watkins draws upon longstanding expertise in the ESG space, serving as a trusted advisor to leading global corporates in navigating critical and complex risk issues. Noted for its ‘highly collaborative approach’ in developing ESG solutions and best practice, the firm is regularly entrusted to provide focused and tailored ESG regulatory advice within transactions, IPOs, and project mandates. Heading the team, Paul Davies focuses his practice on the ESG aspects of M&A, joint ventures, and private equity transactions. Michael Green assists major companies in navigating ESG reporting and disclosure requirements, policy implementation, and climate and human rights risk management. James Bee provides strategic and regulatory ESG advice concerning energy and environmental projects and corporate transactions. Toon Dictus possesses further corporate sustainability expertise.

Combining ‘deep legal and regulatory expertise, strong technical understanding, and a highly collaborative approach’, Linklaters LLP is a key port of call for leading global clients across sectors including energy and resources, consumer goods, and banking and finance. Rachel Barrett heads the team and regularly acts for financial institutions and energy and natural resources sector clients in navigating ESG and sustainability regulation, risks, and disclosure requirements. On ESG regulatory scope, obligations, and strategy matters within the banking and finance space, Raza Naeem is a key contact. Pairing ‘sound judgment with a calm, solutions-focused approach’, Iyesogie Igiehon brings significant knowledge regarding ESG strategies and compliance obligations. ESG and climate doyenne Vanessa Havard-Williams departed her role as a consultant in May 2025.

The environmental and climate law group at A&O Shearman brings together a diversity of expertise across the sustainability landscape, acting for major sovereigns, corporates, energy and industrial companies, financial institutions, and civil society organisations on forward-thinking mandates. Noted for his ‘timely and valuable advice’, Matthew Townsend heads the practice. Bringing longstanding regulatory expertise, Townsend acts for corporate, industrial, and financial sector clients in navigating CSRD strategy and reporting, mitigating green claims issues, and advising on supply chain human rights and deforestation risks. Danae Wheeler is an expert on corporate and financial ESG advisory and reporting, while Ming Zee Tee specialises in navigating carbon and climate risks and projects.

Norton Rose Fulbright stands out for its ‘future-looking engagement’ and ‘clear and concise’ advice on ESG matters. The ‘very experienced’ Caroline May heads the ESG risk team and is a key contact among multinational corporations and financial institutions regarding CSRD and the EU Taxonomy, sustainability reporting requirements, and environmental liabilities. Noted for his ‘breadth and depth of knowledge’ regarding business and human rights risk and due diligence as well as responsible business conduct, Stuart Neely is highly sought-after among leading financial institutions, corporates, and energy and resource companies. Lise Smit is a further expert on business and human rights mandates.

Slaughter and May is regularly entrusted for its deep, commercial advice across the ESG spectrum. David Watkins, who heads the sustainability practice, is a key contact on risk, governance, and compliance matters concerning net zero and transition planning. Harry Hecht is highly sought-after for strategic and commercial advice regarding sustainability, human rights, and climate change regulation and strategies. On critical human rights governance and risk management matters, Moira Thompson Oliver is a key contact. Repeatedly instructed by clients for her ‘in-depth expertise and excellence’, Samantha Brady is a notable contact within the energy and infrastructure space on risk management, reporting, and disclosure obligations.

At Baker McKenzie, the sustainability practice, helmed by Jo Hewitt and Francesca Richmond, boasts a strong engagement across sustainability compliance and reporting, corporate governance, and business and human rights issues. Hewitt is a key advisor to leading global companies on critical corporate governance matters. Acclaimed by clients for her ‘great skill and attention to detail’, Richmond assists in navigating human rights issues and modern slavery disclosures. On matters relating to ESG risk, green claims compliance, and sustainability reporting, Graham Stuart is a key contact.

CMS’ ESG group offers notable expertise across the environmental and sustainability regulatory landscape. Alongside acting for global corporates in navigating the EU regulatory space, Laura Houët regularly assists asset managers regarding the UK SDR, sustainability labelling, and anti-greenwashing rules. Sinéad Oryszczuk assists clients across diverse industry sectors in devising ESG policies and strategies, navigating the impact of the EU ESG regulatory suite, and interpreting environmental and sustainability regimes. Olivia Jamison is an expert on the EU Green Deal, environmental product laws, and low-carbon energy regulation.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP is highly sought-after by major global corporates, public bodies, and civil society organisations on innovative and pathfinding contentious and non-contentious ESG matters. Patricia Volhard and Samantha Rowe regularly act for investment funds, professional services companies, private equity investors, and global corporates on the applicability, impact, and implementation of the EU corporate and financial ESG regulatory suite. In the private equity and investment space, Geoffrey Burgess is a leading authority on sustainable investment strategies and ESG policies and issues. Conway Blake is an expert on ESG- and climate-related public law and disputes mandates.

The ‘very professional’ and ‘knowledgeable’ sustainability and ESG practice at Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP is particularly sought-after for its advice within the energy, environment, and sustainable finance spaces. Drawing upon longstanding litigation management expertise, Louise Howarth is regularly sought-after to advise on ESG regulatory risk and green claims issues. Acting for large multinationals and financial services firms, Philip Spyropoulos and Michaela Walker assist in navigating the impact of the UK and EU sustainable finance regulation and charting the EU ESG regulatory suite. Diane Gilhooley heads the practice.

Standing out for its ‘extensive experience’ and ‘commercial acumen’, the climate and sustainability practice at Pinsent Masons LLP is highly sought-after among major global corporates and investment managers. Michael Watson leads the team and is an expert in CSRD compliance obligations. Laura Ayre acts for leading domestic and international clients in charting the impact of ESG regulation throughout their supply chains. Hayden Morgan stands out for his expertise regarding ESG due diligence and sustainable finance standards. Euan McVicar brings experience assisting major global corporates in developing and implementing ESG and human rights programmes.

At Squire Patton Boggs, the cross-practice ESG group is regularly entrusted by major multinationals to assist in navigating ESG reporting, corporate governance, and risk management concerns. Corporate sustainability practice head Begonia Filgueira counts leading technology and environmental sector players among her clients and is a notable authority on the impact and disclosure obligations of the EU ESG regulatory suite. Hannah Kendrick, a particular expert on fundraisings concerning sustainability- and carbon-focused technologies and companies, leads the firm’s ESG offering. Nicola Smith and Lucy Webster are of note on environmental regulatory mandates.

Travers Smith LLP’s ESG and impact team offers diverse expertise across the environment, climate, and human rights risk landscapes. Longstanding dispute resolution expert Heather Gagen co-heads the team and is a leading contact regarding parent company liability claims and corporate governance issues concerning ESG and business and human rights. Also co-leading the practice, John Buttanshaw advises major global corporates on supply chain sustainability regulations, environmental and climate regulation, and EU reporting obligations. Sarah-Jane Denton is a further key contact regarding the regulatory regimes impacting corporate and financial sector clients.

Burges Salmon LLP’s ESG practice brings expertise across the environment and climate law landscape. Heading the team, Michael Barlow assists in devising ESG clauses, interpreting transition and decarbonisation plan requirements, and navigating reporting processes. In the funds and financial regulation space, Tom Dunn is a particular expert regarding fund naming and labelling guidelines and SDR compliance. Pensions expert Kate Granville Smith advises scheme trustees in navigating ESG and climate change reporting obligations.

Standing out for its ‘responsive, commercial advice’, the ESG team at Dentons acts for leading global clients regarding their sustainability reporting and compliance requirements. Alongside maintaining a deep practice regarding regulatory and commercial issues in the voluntary carbon markets, practice head Helen Bowdren regularly assists major technology, manufacturing, and consumer goods companies in navigating the scope, application, and reporting requirements of the EU ESG regulatory suite. Katy MacAskill is a further ESG regulation specialist.

Macfarlanes LLP‘s ‘helpful, knowledgeable and pragmatic’ practice is regularly entrusted by major players in the asset management space to support with the full gamut of ESG requirements. Standing out for her ‘solution-oriented and practical advice’, Rachel Richardson leads the team and acts for funds and asset management clients regarding TCFD and SFDR reporting and disclosure requirements as well as fund naming and anti-greenwashing rules. Lora Froud is a notable authority on the requirements and applications of the UK SDR.

Mayer Brown International LLP’s ESG team offers diverse expertise across the financial services and manufacturing spaces. Environment practice lead Tim Baines is a notable contact on ESG and human rights regulatory requirements, particularly in the energy and materials segments. A compliance expert, Sam Eastwood regularly assists clients in devising global sustainability and human rights programmes. Alongside a deep green and sustainable finance practice, Peter Pears assists major financial institutions in navigating sustainability reporting and disclosure obligations. James Ford brings business and human rights knowledge.

Highly sought-after among corporate, private equity, and investment funds clients, Paul Hastings LLP offers tailored advice on financial and non-financial ESG issues. Ruth Knox serves as global chair of the firm’s ESG and sustainable finance practice and applies expertise regarding SFDR, naming guidelines, and green investment strategies in the fund formation space; conducts SFDR and EU Taxonomy due diligence within transactions; and assists in navigating EU regulatory scope and reporting requirements.

Well-regarded among clients for its ‘concise and commercial’ approach, the ESG practice at Proskauer Rose LLP offers skilled advice from private funds and transactional perspectives. The team is led by ESG risk and sustainable finance regulation expert Rachel Lowe, who stands out for her ‘strong grasp of the technical nuances of SFDR and the EU Taxonomy’. Alongside a particular specialism in funds compliance mandates, Lowe assists in navigating CSRD, SFDR, and TCFD reporting requirements.

Combining ESG regulatory expertise with deep competence concerning green projects and sustainable finance, Reed Smith LLP is highly sought-after among major corporate, energy, financial services, and public sector clients. Climate risk and sustainable finance specialist Claude Brown co-leads the ESG group alongside Tallat Hussain, who is notable for his ESG regulatory expertise in the energy and transport sectors. Andrzej Janiszewski brings social impact finance expertise. Julie Vaughan left the firm.

Acclaimed for being ‘very experienced with a practical approach’, the sustainability, ESG and impact practice at Watson Farley & Williams LLP is highly sought-after in the energy, infrastructure, and transport spaces. Sarah Ellington is a key contact on ESG strategy and reporting, modern slavery act obligations and reporting, and OECD guidelines issues. Nick Walker is regularly entrusted to advise on decarbonisation regulations, emissions trading schemes, the EU Deforestation Regulation, and ESG disclosures.