Team size: Seven lawyers and three ESG professionals 

Can you discuss your or your company’s efforts relating to renewability, sustainability, or other environmentally friendly activities?  

As a company we have a strong commitment towards sustainability and environmentally friendly practices. Our sustainability strategy began in 2019 with an overall assessment of our environmental, social and governance practices, resulting in a strategic plan that has matured over time. During 2020, we conducted our first materiality analysis and published our first ESG report and we have been working hard and improving ever since year by year. 

It is important to note that personally, as general counsel, I had the opportunity and the mandate to initiate and lead the company’s sustainability efforts, and today we have a dedicated sustainability department for which I am responsible for and lead. 

Among other policies and initiatives in place, we have a sustainability policy, a climate change strategy, and a 2023-2025 strategic sustainability plan, which are publicly available on our website and in our 2022 sustainability report. 

In addition, is important to mention that for the third consecutive year, our company Fibra Mty, is among the Mexican Fibras participating and being evaluated in the Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) by S&P Global, and obtained the highest rating in the corporate governance criteria and also, for the first time, received the highest rating in the entire economic and governance criteria. Moreover, the 2023 edition of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) awarded Fibra Mty the “Green Star” level, placing us in the top quartile compared to our peers, and acknowledging our global leadership in integrating sustainability criteria throughout the entire real estate investment cycle. 

The following are some of the initiatives and sustainability frameworks that we are participating in or observing: Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) by S&P Global; Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB); Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD); Science Based targets (SBTi); Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI); and UN Global Compact. 

In addition, as of 2023, 19 of our real estate portfolio properties have obtained LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) granted by the US Green Building Council, which distinguishes existing buildings whose operation demonstrates best practices in favour of sustainability, focusing on energy performance and low environmental impact. We have also obtained the Green Lease Leader award (Gold level) from the Institute for Market Transformation and the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance. Our headquarters have received the EDGE (Excellence in Design for Greater Efficiencies) Advanced Certificate. 

Why are in-house lawyers well-placed to drive change in their organisations?  

In-house lawyers typically have a general overview and perspective of the organisation and its strategy, objectives, and day-to-day operations. Depending on the level at which the in-house lawyer is positioned in the organisation, the in-house lawyer typically interacts with, and has access to, senior officials and decision-makers. The collaboration and intervention of the in-house lawyer is cross-functioning throughout the organisation, functioning as a pivotal area well positioned to properly identify risks and opportunities to drive the achievement of objectives in different areas of the business, always mitigating risks and ensuring compliance. 

It can be challenging to measure a company’s track record in environmentally friendly behaviour. What, in your opinion, has mostly been missed in discussions about how green a company is?  

Robust and uniform reporting, supply chain sustainability, and the impact of implementing sustainability practices on the financial results of the company.