The appointment “represents an additional environmental milestone for the firm”
The UK government has named DLA Piper the legal services provider for the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).
“This achievement represents an additional environmental milestone for the firm and further highlights its commitment to the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign,” DLA Piper said.
International co-head of sustainability and ESG and global co-chair of litigation and regulation Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry will helm the project alongside partners Dr Sharon Fitzgerald and Sarah Bell. The conference is set to take place in Glasgow this November.
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“With COP26 starting in less than 100 days, all eyes are now turning to Glasgow, and it is an absolute honour to be selected as the provider of legal services to COP26,” Douglas-Henry said. “Our team is excited to be able to support such a monumental event, one that has the ability to make a positive global change to the climate crisis.”
DLA Piper said that the team would provide general commercial support to the conference, including in relation to sponsorship agreements.
“We look forward to making a valuable contribution to COP26 and carrying its message beyond the summit itself. Being appointed further emphasises the importance of the approach we are taking as a business on our own sustainability journey and it’s wonderful to be able to offer our colleagues the chance to work on matters that will support making COP26 a success,” said Natasha Luther-Jones, international co-head of sustainability and ESG.
DLA Piper also confirmed that global co-CEO managing partner and executive Simon Levine fully backs the firm’s role in COP26.
“Our mandate is to embed sustainability into the fabric of the firm and this appointment is yet another example of how we are doing just that. All our lawyers and clients will be impacted by the outcome of COP26 and it’s an honour to help our clients transition to a sustainable future, as well as our own business,” Levine said.
DLA Piper has made solid strides in its efforts to champion climate action. The firm is one of the founders of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.
The firm also committed to reducing its carbon emissions in accordance with science based targets, and was among the first firms in the industry to obtain an ISO 14001 certification for environmental management.