Law firm Shoosmiths signs pledge committing to greener arbitration

Reading-based law firm Shoosmiths has signed the Green Pledge, a global initiative created by the Campaign for Greener Arbitrations to minimise the environmental impact of this area of law.

By pledging, the firm’s arbitration practice commits to reducing energy consumption and waste, avoiding unnecessary travel and using videoconferencing as an alternative, bypassing printing and using where possible suppliers and service providers who are committed to reducing their environmental footprints.

Dr Johanne Cox, who leads the international arbitration practice at Shoosmiths, said: “The Green Pledge is an important initiative which brings together the arbitration community in its efforts to practice arbitration in a more sustainable way.

"With the increased use of technology in arbitration during the pandemic, we know change is possible. We are proud to support this initiative and I’m delighted to sign the Green Pledge on behalf of the firm.”

Shoosmiths is committed to a net zero emissions future with a target for its operations to achieve this by 2025.

It also has near-term science-based emissions reduction targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) across the entire value chain that are consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels:

• Shoosmiths commits to reduce absolute scope 1, 2 and 3 Greenhouse Gas Emissions 50% by FY2030 from an FY2020 base year
• Shoosmiths commits to increase annual sourcing of renewable electricity from 74% in FY2020 to 100% by FY2025

In addition to the Green Pledge, Shoosmiths is a participant of the United Nations Global Compact, the world’s largest global sustainability initiative, and a signatory of the Legal Renewables Initiative co-ordinated by the Legal Sustainability Alliance.

A corporate member of Business in the Community (BITC) since 2000, Shoosmiths supports BITC’s climate campaign for every business to take climate action that delivers a just transition to a net zero, resilient future where people and nature thrive.

Peter Duff, Shoosmiths’s chairperson, is a member of the BITC Climate Action Leadership Team.

The firm is a supporter of the Terra Carta – a charter that puts sustainability at the heart of the private sector, launched by HRH The Prince of Wales as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.