Environmental, social and governance (ESG) and greenwashing dispute solicitors

We prevent and solve disputes involving:

• ‘Green’ advertising and ‘greenwashing’ (e.g. disputes you are facing about your environmental claims, or concerns a competitor is making questionable claims in order to increase market share);
• Supply chain and contract problems (e.g. arising due to non-compliance with various ESG rules/guidelines and environmental and ethical credentials of companies in the supply chain);
• Environmental compliance, including regulatory investigations and enforcement action;
• Discrimination and failure to implement adequate diversity and inclusion policies in an employment context;
• Breach of directors' duties and shareholder activism claims;
• Reputation risk management;
• Green and sustainable finance;
• Corporate sustainability due diligence, including horizon-scanning (e.g. EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive “CSDDD”) and associated training and risk management advice.

We differ from many law firms in that we are:

• Personable — We are approachable and available to assist you;
• Commercial — We understand you want a cost-effective solution first and foremost;
• Decisive — We do not sit on the fence, and will always recommend a course of action rather than just give you the options.

We also practice what we preach as demonstrated by Weightmans being members of the Greener Litigation Pledge steering committee, and also receiving the highest Gold rating by EcoVadis, a global sustainability rating provider. The ranking positions us in the top 5% of legal and accounting businesses for ESG/sustainability performance and processes assessed by Ecovadis.

Key cases

• Acting for a manufacturer in a Greenwashing dispute involving a competitor who was making unsubstantiated claims about their “green” product (medical care) which were impacting our client’s market share. Resolved by competitor withdrawing offending claims.
• Defence of investigations into environmental performance led by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
• Acting in a Supply chain dispute company outside the UK in client’s supply chain was not complying with modern slavery requirements. The client was under threat of being exposed and thus negative PR. Settled dispute and put protections in place to guard against future issues, and to demonstrate its commitment to customers and regulators.
• Gave presentation to national energy infrastructure body and global insurer on climate change litigation and greenwashing claims.