Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)

Understanding your risks and opportunities arising from ESG obligations is key to future-proofing your business.

Companies in all sectors are facing increasing pressure from clients, shareholders, regulators and employees to manage their business risks with an Environmental Social and Governance (ESG) lens in every area of their business operations. Robust, commercial and best practice ESG policies and procedures are critical to commercial, operational and reputational success.

How we can help

We help businesses understand and implement processes to better manage ESG risk and make the most of new opportunities, by bringing together expertise and experience across practice areas to provide seamless, collaborative advice.

As businesses implement ESG policies and innovate, the issues our clients are dealing with are evolving and becoming more complex. As such, keeping up to date with current and emerging trends is integral to the work our team does for clients. We have deep connections within industries, government and with our clients and therefore have a good understanding of the issues faced by businesses and are able to identify opportunities, benefits and risks.

Environmental

We have experience advising clients on:

Climate litigation
Carbon emissions, offsets, trading and reporting
Greenwashing investigations and claims
Greenwashing training and compliance reviews
Renewable energy projects
ESG reporting
ESG policy drafting
ESG due diligence

Governance

We assist clients with matters impacting how they are internally governed to make effective decisions on environmental and social issues, including:

Workplace policies and procedures, including whistleblower policies
Leadership and corporate governance
Bribery, sanctions and financial crime
Executive remuneration

Our environmental social and governance expertise

Our multi-disciplinary team works collaboratively to assist our clients. Our experience includes:

Working with a number of superannuation trustees and fund managers on ESG policy drafting, disclosure and reporting, implementing risk management and investment governance strategies, and advising on mitigation of greenwashing risks.
Advising philanthropic entities and advisers on governance and administration of philanthropic trusts and development of ESG investment programs.
Advising on the establishment of Australia’s first climate-focused growth private equity fund.
Acting for several clients in ASIC investigations and enforcement proceedings relating to greenwashing allegations
Acting for various NSW local councils in the ICAC hearings.
Acting in Victorian IBAC hearings for public servants, ministerial advisors and private sector entities.
Advising a Commonwealth corporation on the introduction of the National Anti-Corruption Commission and reviewing and updating policies.
Advising a State Parliament on governance and anti-corruption, fraud and losses.
Advising a coal mining company on climate change litigation, energy transition issues and project approval challenges.
Advising a number of clients in the retail/FMCG sector on modern slavery and human rights due diligence processes and training.
Advising the social and affordable housing sector in relation to energy poverty and programs to allow social housing clients to access renewable power.
Advising numerous renewable energy companies on the permitting and approval and delivery of onshore and offshore wind farms, solar and battery projects.

Key contacts