Green Guide Profile: DLA Piper
DLA Piper’s ESG task force, led by Austin-based Americas managing partner John Gilluly, supports clients in implementing integrated ESG solutions across disciplines. A UN Global Compact signatory, the firm has also taken internal sustainability measures: It has achieved ISO 14001 certification and has an SBTi-validated commitment to reducing emissions by 50% by 2030. Part of this reduction is to be achieved through transitioning from data centres to renewable-powered cloud services, as well as through green procurement.
The firm’s Washington DC team is highly knowledgeable in the field of green energy, and the firm promotes a green transition to its existing clients, including fossil fuel companies. US energy and natural resources sector co-chair Vanessa Wilson represented Shell New Energies in the purchase of solar and energy storage developer Savion. She is also advising SG H2 Energy Global on the development and finance of a green hydrogen production facility.
Sanjay Shirodkar, a former special counsel to the SEC, regularly assists companies with ESG disclosures. Other key contacts include New York-based Jon Venick, who represented W.P. Carey in its $350m inaugural issuance of green bonds, and DC and Atlanta-based co-chair of the environmental practice group and former EPA Chief of Staff Gwen Keyes Fleming, who has particular expertise in environmental enforcement, compliance and policy matters.
The firm is a member of Business Ambition for 1.5°C and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, and regularly provides pro bono legal advice to The Nature Conservancy. Of note is also its provision of legal services at successive COP conferences.
John J. Gilluly III, PartnerUS Vice Chair, Chair of Transactional Practice
Member, Global Board
Member, Executive Committee
Ann K. Ford, PartnerExecutive Director, Clients and Sectors
Vanessa Wilson, PartnerUS Chair, Energy and Natural Resources Sector
Embracing the sustainable transition is fundamental to our clients’ futures and the future of our planet. Using integrated, global processes and knowledge, DLA Piper helps clients plot their journey ahead – identifying and overcoming challenges with them every step of the way.
ESG is increasingly important to businesses – to shareholders, employees, regulators, customers, suppliers and communities. Companies need to keep up with the quickly changing ESG landscape, from disclosure and reporting requirements and the increase in ESG-related litigation, to accessing sustainable finance and investment. Companies want to hit goals, whether that means decarbonizing, diversifying your leadership, or engaging differently to address the needs of your employees and communities. We help them do that and more. We understand that each company’s needs differ enormously, depending on sector, strategy and specific context. We address those challenges and provide tailored advice in the variety of areas that fall under ESG.
We assist companies of all sizes, from fledgling start-ups to global giants, wherever they are in their ESG journey Our integrated legal and business offering helps clients move from a culture of compliance to a culture of environmental performance. We accompany our clients as they transition to, and thrive in, a more sustainable future, across nearly every sector and location. Our global team supports organizations as they shift to new strategies and business models that are better for planet, people and purpose. We support clients at all stages of their sustainability transition – in the early stages, we can help develop roadmaps and review reporting and disclosure regulations. Ongoing, we help support the implementation of policies and ensure that transactional, supply chain and human rights due diligence is conducted with an ESG lens.
ESG doesn’t exist in a silo, so we don’t treat it that way. Across sectors we have dedicated teams that focus on specific ESG services: climate change; human capital and human rights; cybersecurity and data privacy; deforestation; value chain integrity; sustainable investments and insurance; governance and reporting; esg disputes and investigations.
Our clients benefit from our own energy transition – we’re walking this path, too. We’re one of the first law firms to receive ISO 14001 certification for environmental management and we are signatories to Business Ambition for 1.5 degrees. Our international offices have reduced total carbon emissions by more than 45 percent in the past two years. In 2022, we were the first law firm in the world to sign a virtual power purchase agreement as an offtaker.
We’re committed to the United Nations Race to Zero Campaign and were appointed as provider of legal services for COP26, the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties. In addition, we’re a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, committed to climate action, promoting sustainability reporting and sharing best practices in the legal sector.
To learn more about our ESG services and thought leadership, please visit our website here.