From collaborations to climate litigation, biodiversity to climate conscious pro bono – we asked our sustainability consultant colleagues to predict what trends might affect law firms committed to sustainability in 2025.

Sustainability trends affecting the sector:

• Sustainability Disclosure Standards (SDS): UK Sustainability Disclosure Standards are expected to impact businesses and potentially law firms themselves. Law firms will need to stay ahead of these to support clients and comply internally
• ESG reporting obligations: With enhanced ESG regulations, firms will need to guide clients on compliance with stricter supply chain rules, emissions disclosures and due diligence frameworks
• Advised Emissions: An emerging issue for law firms, linked to the growing risk of activist pressure on firms for their role in enabling high-carbon projects
• Increased spotlight on Carbon Markets: Voluntary carbon markets are here to stay, but expect greater transparency and a push to increase buyer confidence and market credibility

What might matter to your clients in 2025?

• Net-Zero mandates: UK law firms may develop a pathway and align with both client and the legal sector commitments to net-zero emissions, including operational carbon neutrality
• Sustainability regulations and compliance: Supporting clients as they comply with regulatory requirements including ISO, ESOS, SECR, TCFD and CSRD. Check out the LSA’s podcasts on these frameworks
• Biodiversity protection: Supporting businesses in compliance with biodiversity and ecosystem preservation regulations
• Climate adaptation policies: Advising clients on mitigating physical climate risks and risks to human health (e.g., extreme weather, resource scarcity, flood risk)
• Green finance: Advising clients on structuring green bonds, sustainability-linked loans and navigating ESG-related financing requirements
• Climate litigation: The rise of climate-related litigation opens new practice areas, both in prosecuting and defending cases tied to environmental impacts
• Rise in Greenwashing litigation: Lawyers will need to counsel clients on transparent ESG communications to mitigate the risk of such lawsuits

Sustainable operations within firms:

• Reducing carbon footprints: Matching client expectations that law firms are implementing sustainable practices within their own offices, such as energy-efficient and paperless workflows
• Sustainable procurement: Procurement that scrutinises the social, ethical and environmental products and services to achieve an overall level of best value
• Sustainable supply chains: Enlisting eco-friendly vendors and services for operations to support reducing scope 3 emissions in line net zero targets
• Pro bono climate action: Exploring opportunities to provide legal support for NGOs or climate initiatives working towards mitigating the climate crisis and ensuring climate justice
• SDGs: Embedding sustainable development goals with polices to support change
• Circular economy: Whereby the design and use of products are carefully planned to be adaptable for reused and repair

How law firms can position themselves as thought leaders in 2025?

• Walk the Walk: Strive for even more robust, transparent and comprehensive carbon reporting (especially scope 3) to avoid claims of greenwashing and demonstrate commitment to a transparency
• Green guide listings: Recognition in publications like The Legal 500 Green Guide for sustainability efforts could attract clients committed to ESG values
• Client collaboration: Partnering with like-minded clients on sustainability initiatives to build long-term, value-aligned relationships
• Hosting events and panels: Organising forums on sustainability topics to reinforce expertise and engage with the business community
• Communicating your sustainability successes: Use groups (like the LSA!) to amplify and share your sustainability stories on social media and in other comms. The LSA shares sustainability news via our website, our socials and our regular bulletin

How to communicate to colleagues why these trends are important?

• Attracting talent: ESG matters when recruiting. Offering meaningful sustainability policies will attract employees who value corporate responsibility
• Employee initiatives: Encouraging staff participation in green programs, like volunteering for climate action groups or leading internal sustainability initiatives, can improve wellbeing and support retention, as will robust and transparent policies designed to mitigate climate change