Why ESG matters
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors have not only become more prevalent in today’s commercial world. They are now a critical component in the success of businesses in all sectors, of all shapes and sizes, and at all stages of their lifecycles.
Investors have been using ESG factors to make capital allocation decisions and to monitor asset performance for a while, often demanding that investee businesses have formal ESG policies in place. Regulations now require disclosure against these factors in corporate reporting. SMEs are also increasingly being held to account in terms of their ESG credentials as businesses assess their suppliers. In all cases, wider stakeholders are now looking at the ESG performance of businesses.
Quite simply, ESG makes good business sense. As the world changes rapidly, businesses that manage their ESG risks – and ready themselves to capitalise on the opportunities it presents – are much more likely to survive and thrive in the future.
And it is in managing those risks, while identifying the opportunities, that the help of an ESG legal specialist such as Burges Salmon can make all the difference.
ESG is an opportunity to succeed
For your business, ESG can represent opportunity. We are expert in helping you review, mitigate and manage the legal risks associated with ESG. But we can do more than that for you.
We will help you identify upcoming regulation, trends and market forces that could shape your product and service development – and work with you to define strategies to turn them to your advantage. We will also help with your knowledge planning, to ensure you are always ahead of the curve and proactive in your ESG methodology.
ESG is in our past, present and future
ESG is not just a trend or movement we are following. It is part of our heritage. A fundamental strand of our DNA. We were one of the first legal firms to set up a dedicated environment team, more than 25 years ago. Since then, we have broadened and deepened our expertise, moving way beyond transactional support to provide advisory and forward-thinking advice.
Alongside the legal services we provide, ESG sits at the heart of our business philosophy. As an organisation, we have the courage to care – for you and your business ambitions, for the people in our team, and for the world around us. ESG is about long-term perspective and we are ready to go on a long-term journey with you.
Sustainability and ESG at Burges Salmon
Sustainability and ESG is core to our purpose and our long-standing commitment to being a responsible business. We have strong ESG credentials as signatories to the UN Global Compact, members of Business in the Community, and having achieved various ISO certifications and other accreditations.
We have been independently assessed by EcoVadis, across a broad spectrum of ESG criteria, and achieved their Gold Sustainability Standard for ranking in the top 5% of participant organisations. We also participate in a variety of benchmarks, including CDP Climate, as part of our commitment to continuous improvement.
Areas of focus
Our services cover the full spectrum of ESG considerations, including:
Environment
Social
Governance