HSF appoints Sydney-based senior associate to global ESG practice leadership

Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has appointed Australian governance star and Sydney-based senior associate Timothy Stutt to the leadership team of its global environmental, social and governance (ESG) practice.

Stutt is one of a group of ESG experts selected from across the firm’s international offices to take the reins of a practice that the firm said has been restructured to “meet client demand and build on the firm’s 30 years of experience advising in this area.” He serves as the regional leader for Australia.

“ESG is no longer a buzzword, but is critical to everyone’s future. In business, a welcome seismic shift is underway in ESG awareness, regulation and enforcement that affects every company, investor and lender, and we need to support them,” HSF CEO Justin D’Agostino said. “In forming the new ESG leadership team, we wanted our knowledgeable and ambitious young leaders to take charge, fully backed by the firm’s management team.”

Joining Stutt on the global ESG leadership team are London-based senior associate Rebecca Perlman, who will be the UK, US and EMEA regional leader, and Hong Kong-based senior consultant Antony Crockett, who will take charge in Asia. These lawyers specialise in areas like responsible investment and business and human rights.

The team is helmed by London energy partner Silke Goldberg, who said that the restructured ESG practice “delivers all of the firm’s expertise in this area to our clients through a dedicated team of cross-disciplinary specialists.”

“It breaks down traditional law firm structures to better mobilise our skills across disciplines, particularly for global clients,” she said.

With the establishment of the global ESG leadership team, clients gain access to HSF’s expertise and specialist capabilities in all practice areas, sectors and offices, the firm said. Multidisciplinary teams can then be put together in line with clients’ ESG needs.

HSF said that the team will also take point on training and educating the firm’s next generation of talent, “particularly through the business sector specialist teams.”

“Each of these leaders has deep experience in ESG and individual specialist expertise; they reflect our track record in this area, and will build the practice for the future with our clients,” D’Agostino said. “As a firm, we’ve taken big steps this year to accelerate our own approach in this area too. Matching this emphasis in our legal advisory work is complementary and will benefit the firm and clients alike.”