James Ford
Mayer Brown International LLP4
ESG
Mayer Brown International LLP‘s ’forward-looking’ practice assists clients with a wide range of matters spanning sustainable finance, ESG regulatory, supply chain governance and emissions trading. The unit’s five-fold membership team comprises environment specialist Tim Baines, human rights and governance expert Sam Eastwood, disputes and investigations partner Airlie Goodman, financial services regulatory lawyer Musonda Kapotwe and sustainable finance specialist Peter Pears. The ‘brilliant’ James Ford is another name to note.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The team demonstrates friendliness and attentiveness, coupled with a keen eye for detail and noteworthy expertise in ESG matters. Their guidance on environmental disclosures was very helpful, showcasing their technical proficiency. Compared to other firms, their technical expertise in ESG matters stands out.’
‘Mayer Brown has demonstrated extensive expertise in human rights (Sam Eastwood) and in EU regulatory ESG matters (Peter Pears and Tim Baines). ’
‘We are clients of Mayer Brown on a pro bono basis - having been recommended to them by the International Lawyers project. They have been extraordinarily helpful over the past three years - not only in giving advice but also in taking a lead on research.’
‘We have worked with Sam Eastwood and James Ford. Sam has been particularly helpful with advice and coordination assistance. He goes out of his way to help and is passionate about the work we do. James has been a source of stability and calmness - important as our work is often challenging and we can find ourselves in uncharted waters.’
‘Mayer Brown's ESG practice is forward-looking and very well informed on regulatory and other changes in what is a very dynamic and fast-moving space.’
‘James Ford is brilliant - he has fantastic convening skills and is a great reference point on all matters ESG.’
‘The firm's ability to provide insights on different aspects of ESG and join dots between financial crime compliance and new areas of ESG compliance has been instrumental for strengthening our understanding, as well as the outcome of our research.’
‘Mayer Brown lawyers' involvement in causes that they are passionate about, but are perhaps not of immediate commercial benefit to the firm, is something that really sets it apart. It also enables Mayer Brown to move beyond a purely corporate or legal lens to understand the civil society and a wider stakeholder perspective on issues like ESG.'
Key clients
- Cemex
- CDPQ
- Cummins
- Wells Fargo
- National Bank of Canada
- Cooperativa De Ahorro Y Crédito Coopeuch
- The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
- The International Finance Corporation (IFC)
- The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
- Islandsbanki
- Türkiye Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O. (Vakifbank)
- TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ ZİRAAT BANKASI A.Ş. (Ziraat)
- Sunfire GmBH
- Gemcorp Capital Management Limited
- Velocys plc
Work highlights
- Represented United States International Development Finance Corporation on the issue of U.S.$150,000,000 Fixed Rate Resettable Gender Tier 2 Notes due 2033. The net proceeds from the offering of the Notes are intended to be used towards extending consumer finance loans to individual women and women-owned or women-led SMEs in Turkey.
- Defending Salic (UK) Limited in a group litigation claim in the High Court of England & Wales brought by c.18,000 claimants in respect of alleged environmental damage and alleging that our client has an exposure through its investment in the Brazilian company that owned the assets that are the subject-matter of the case.
- Advised the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania on the project development of five green hydrogen projects with an aggregate capacity of 85 GW.
Lawyers
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Tim Baines, Sam Eastwood, Airlie Goodman, Musonda Kapotwe, Peter Pears