Our Environment, Social and Corporate Governance Services

Businesses with robust ESG strategies are able to identify and mitigate the regulatory, reputational and economic risks that ESG issues can present. They can also assess and capitalise on the significant opportunities that ESG compliance can bring, including strengthened corporate governance, enhanced top-line growth, lower costs, improved employee productivity and greater stakeholder engagement.

Our approach is simple.  We provide practical and commercial advice, focussed on finding risk-based solutions that are aligned with our clients' needs.  Our key areas of focus include:

Environmental

• Regulatory compliance (e.g. environmental, REACH, chemicals, packaging waste, energy)
• Crisis management (e.g. product liability and health and safety)
• Environmental claims and labelling
• Natural resources (e.g. trade in endangered goods)
• Contamination and waste
• Renewables
• Energy regulation

Social

• Human rights and working conditions
• Inclusiveness and diversity
• Consumer protection
• Equal pay requirements, reporting and training
• Supply chain management and due diligence
• Investor and stakeholder engagement
• Social impact investment (e.g. sustainable finance)

Governance

• ESG risk audits, corporate strategy and governance
• Investigations and enforcement
• Directors' duties and reporting
• Disclosure requirements
• Data protection
• Financial crime
• Disputes and litigation
  
  

Notable deals and highlights

• Assisting clients across a range of sectors in developing their ESG strategies
• Advising a range of food, beverage and retail businesses in relation to packaging waste compliance under the plastics packaging tax, extended producer responsibility regime and deposit return scheme
• Advising businesses active in the manufacture of sustainable packaging on environmental labelling and recyclability claims
• Advising a manufacturing client in relation to an investigation under EU chemical labelling and registration rules
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• Advising a number of clients on conducting and responding to private investigations into alleged breaches of contractual provisions, including complex environmental indemnities
• Advising a chemical client on its engagement with regulatory authorities in response to potential contamination at a manufacturing site
• Advising a manufacturing client on its response to a health and safety investigation following the findings of an official health and safety audit
• Advising clients in relation to investigations by Trading Standards and/or the Office for Product Safety and Standards into allegedly unsafe products
• Advising a global gaming company in relation to alleged breaches of consumer protection law 
• Advising a global sports brand on consumer safety, online sales and product labelling issues
• Advised a major UK food agency on the data privacy aspects of a bid for a grant to provide food to those struggling during the COVID-19 lockdown
• Advising a group of activist shareholders on potential ESG litigation relating to improper reporting of ESG credentials
• Advising a European software company on developing compliance solutions for customers in response to the EU Conflict Minerals Regulation
• Advising international management companies in relation to new Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AMF) regulations requiring minimum reporting standards for ESG investments
• Advising businesses on the implementation of whistleblowing programs and hotlines to reflect proper accountability and effective reporting lines
• Advising on anti-money laundering and anti-bribery and corruption investigations, including disciplinary and accountability reviews of senior staff

Fieldfisher's approach to responsible business

Our advice and support is underpinned by our commitment to conducting our own business ethically and responsibly. In 2021 we published our first ESG report and plan to publish running and annual updates on our ESG performance.

At Fieldfisher, we have worked hard to create a diverse, supportive and inclusive culture in which we minimise our impact on the environment, give back to society and make ourselves accountable to our clients and colleagues.