Dominique Chantale Alepin’s Post

More law firms are considering sustainability when buying new legal technology. Why? Prioritizing sustainability demonstrates social responsibility and commitment to caring about the planet — it also keeps firms aligned with the values and expectations of their eco-conscious clients. But what should you look for when purchasing sustainable tech? Here are questions to ask suppliers — along with tips on how to spot "greenwashing” when researching sustainability claims. Read: Sustainable Legal Technology: Why It’s Important for Lawyers and a Guide to Purchasing https://lnkd.in/gG37_7fS Written by Smriti Sinha, General Counsel, Opus2 #EarthDay #legalTech #socialresponsibility #ESG

If compliance and litigation risks are the sticks, and innovation is the carrot, how is corporate sustainability changing? #CorporateSustainability is becoming increasingly more mainstream with the prominence of the Chief Sustainability Office (CSO) in large corporations. Investing in innovative solutions presents a double win for corporates, with improved efficiency and competitive advantage. However, while sustainability teams look for innovators, they should also be thinking beyond unmet sustainability needs including solutions that reduce risk and increase resilience, and consider potential new business and growth opportunities. Also, oncoming mandatory disclosure regulations, such as EFRAG and the U.S. SEC, and mandatory emissions reporting are prompting companies to seek legal advice for compliance. As more data becomes available from these disclosures, there's a growing risk of increased litigation related to corporate emissions from customers, investors, and the public. Holly Stower reviews the state of corporate responsibility in the UK and Europe as professionalizing and innovating, but still moving too slow, in her latest perspective: https://hubs.li/Q0281Wf60

Curious about how law firms are addressing sustainability challenges in their industry? Our latest reader unveils the hurdles and opportunities as law firms forge a more sustainable and socially responsible business model. Find out how to navigate key challenges like: ➡️Balancing client expectations and ethical obligations. ➡️Navigating financial constraints in the pursuit of sustainability.  ➡️Embracing technology and reducing paper usage.  ➡️Reimagining business travel for a sustainable future. As the climate crisis intensifies, so does the call for ethical business conduct – and the legal sector is no exception. Read full insights here, https://bit.ly/45pQavX These insights stem from our roundtable discussion with fellow Planet Mark members in the legal sector. A big shoutout to Acuity Law, Dentons, Farrer & Co, Sharpe Pritchard Solicitors & Parliamentary Agents, Withersworldwide and Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP for their valuable support and input! #Sustainability #LegalIndustry #ESG #ClimateAction #EthicalBusiness

In an increasingly complex and convoluted ESG and sustainability landscape, it is important for firms, and their boards of directors, to engage with sustainability concerns in a thoughtful and informed manner. #ESG #GreenBuildings #NetZero

💡 In a chat with a friend yesterday, I had an opportunity to articulate for the first time what I see as a long-term aim of all the sustainability regulations we see popping up around the world…   ➡️ Systems thinking.   💡 Think about it for a second.   ➡️ In the EU, the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive is set to require companies to look into their value chains for their human rights and environmental impacts. You read right, both the people AND the planet.   ➡️ In doing so, companies will uncover various skeletons in their corporate closets – modern slavery, dangerous working conditions, depletion and pollution of nature – you name it. Many of these will be related to one another in a way that simple environmental due diligence could never uncover (and it goes without saying that numbers on financial statements are miles away from uncovering any such issues).      ➡️ All these issues present substantial risks to the companies – today and tomorrow. Yet one of the biggest obstacle to taking action on sustainability issues is costs – we are told it costs too much to act.   💡 But what if I told you that when several issues you have uncovered are related to one another, you can use one to solve another? What if I told you that the cost of inaction therefore outweighs the cost of action?   💡 This is the premise of systems thinking. It allows you to see links between seemingly unrelated issues and find mutually reinforcing solutions you would otherwise be blind to. How encouraging that the current sustainability legislation is prompting businesses to move in that direction!   Make no mistake though – I am not saying that action on sustainability issues will cost you nothing. That is a narrative we should abandon given the state of our planet, the only life-sustaining source we have. We have overused her resources and it is a simple math that we now have to give back more.   The below graphics is more for an illustration rather than endorsement. The message is clear - systems thinking is complex but necessary to uncover dependencies between seemingly unrelated issues.   Image credit: systemswiki.org   #ESG #CR3D #climatechange #biodiversityloss #lawyers #law #legalprofession #legal Gabi Gershuny

I invite all to have a careful look at this post by Allan Lerberg Jørgensen, head of the OECD Centre for Responsible Business Conduct, with respect to what is expected by companies in terms of responsible business conduct and due diligence. The future adoption of the EU CSDDD should be on opportunity to go back to the basics as illustrated by Allan.

🌳 🖥️ Sustainability has emerged as a transformative force across industries, reshaping business practices and driving innovation toward a greener future. From energy and transportation to manufacturing and finance, sectors worldwide are embracing eco-friendly initiatives and investing in sustainable technologies. The legal tech industry, including the eDiscovery sector, is no exception to this global trend. ⚖️ 💻 As sustainable practices have revolutionized other industries, they have the same potential to transform the legal tech and eDiscovery landscape. By adopting environmentally responsible approaches and leveraging sustainable financing, legal tech companies can reduce their carbon footprint and unlock new opportunities for growth and innovation. 📰💡 In this article, we explore how sustainable financing has the potential to drive this eco-friendly revolution within the legal tech industry. We delve into the transformative potential of green investments in shaping the future of eDiscovery and examine how these practices are setting a new standard for responsible and future-oriented business operations. 🔎🔗 Read the complete article from Complex Discovery OÜ's sustainable development beat at https://buff.ly/4aLJMCx. #SustainableDevelopment #Sustainability #LegalTech #eDiscovery

Calling all Board members - This recent research report published by Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and DLA Piper raises some key points about the evolving role of board members. ✔"Corporate boards are facing growing pressure and scrutiny from investors, regulators and markets from new disclosure requirements, as well as performance expectations around managing both climate and nature-related risks, and their impact on society." ✔"In this context, it is becoming clear that the traditional one-dimensional goal of maximising returns for shareholders is increasingly at odds with the continuation of a viable future for people and planet, or the ability of a business to thrive long term." ✔"As a result, we identified four key characteristics of the board that is fit for the future: 1. Operates proactively in a dynamic and complex context with a clear sense of its roles and responsibilities. 2. Anticipates and helps shape the rapidly changing legal and regulatory landscape around sustainability. 3. Ensures that its composition, capability, culture and dynamics are fit for purpose. 4. Aligns its purpose with its strategic decision-making, supported by effective materiality assessments, use of appropriate data and engagement with stakeholders." ✔"Based on the trends identified and their potential implications, we provide a set of 20 pivotal questions for boards to use as a tool to help them prepare for a sustainable future." Lawyers - Are your clients ready?? Is your law firm ready? #esg #sustainability #law https://lnkd.in/g3tW5HEH

🌟 🏆 We are pleased to announce that our firm is recommended in The Legal 500’s EMEA Green Guide 2024 edition.  The Green Guide highlights leading legal practices and individuals, recognising a firm's contribution to 'Green Change' and ESG, as well as their own sustainability initiatives. #jalsovszky #legal500 #greenguide #esg

Unfortunately the previous era of often well intentioned ESG maximalism by CSOs without legal training has exposed a number of companies to unnecessary legal, reputational, greenwashing, and other risks (i.e., responding to pressure from stakeholders by making virtuous statements or commitments they have no current plan to accomplish and/or have not undergone the same rigor a commitment for a “material” topic discussed in an earnings call or written about in a 10-K would have). Thanks to Association of Corporate Counsel for publishing our article on this important topic. #esg #sustainability #inhousecounsel #generalcounsel