Norton Rose Fulbright named ‘ESG Legal Advisor of the Year’ at inaugural IJGlobal ESG Awards

Global law firm Norton Rose Fulbright has been named ‘ESG Legal Advisor of the Year’ at the first IJGlobal ESG Awards. The Awards, hosted in London by the leading energy and infrastructure publication, seek to identify the organisations, transactions and individuals that have “truly turned the dial on the environmental, social and governance front”.

Norton Rose Fulbright was shortlisted for the award based upon its extensive breadth of ESG-related work and activity over the last year. In addition to its internal ESG strategies such as the 2021 Global Charitable Initiative to tackle systemic racism and champion social justice, key client matters included:

• Advising the Republic of Angola on the c. $1 billion financing of the Bita water project
• Advice on the United Nations Principles for Responsible Banking
• Advising the Equator Principles Association on Thematic Guidance Notes on implementing key components of Equator Principles 4. The Equator Principles are a global framework and a minimum standard for financial institutions to identify, assess and manage the environmental and social risks and impacts of projects, both prior to entering into project financing documentation and throughout the project lifetime.

Judges highlighted a number of factors that were instrumental in the recognition of the firm, with comments including:

“Norton Rose Fulbright demonstrated great breadth across ESG matters, ranging from sustainability finance in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa, to human rights matters in Australia, the UK and France. Furthermore, their pro bono work in matters regarding the scale-up of solar energy and a landmark gender discrimination case stood out.”

Another judge commented that the firm’s “…extensive pro-bono work in relation to environmental and human rights issues stood out and – from a personal perspective – I have been impressed over the last year by their notable efforts in fighting systemic racism.”

The firm’s global ESG team is multidisciplinary and cross-jurisdictional, with over 300 legal professionals advising on environmental law, human rights, risk management, compliance, regulatory and investigations, dispute resolution, climate change policy and regulation, decarbonisation, sustainable finance and infrastructure, renewable energy and technologies, and financial services.

Jane Caskey, global head of risk advisory at Norton Rose Fulbright, commented:

“We are thrilled to be named the first Legal Advisor of the Year at the IJGlobal ESG Awards. We believe actions speak louder than words. In all activity, we seek to behave in a way that consistently reinforces our business principles of quality, unity and integrity.

“Whether through internal initiatives such as our global CSR and pro bono activities, or in the work we do advising clients on everything from their transition towards renewable energies, on human rights matters, or on the latest developments in green and sustainable finance, we know that the businesses that will be best-placed to succeed in the future are those that are prioritising environmental, social and governance best practice. We want to be there to help them on that journey – now, and in the decades to come.”