LSA Climate Heroes – Highly Commended
Meet one of the LSA Climate Heroes of 2026 -2027. A group of inspiring individuals whose leadership, innovation and determination are driving meaningful climate and sustainability action across the legal sector. We are excited to be highlighting their work.
Mathew Swift
Senior Environment, Health and Safety Manager
Womble Bond Dickinson
By combining relationship building across the firm with a focus on rigorous data collection, Mat has put Womble Bond Dickinson on a solid path to reducing its carbon footprint. We were impressed by the thoughtful and collaborative approach Mat has taken that we feel sure will deliver significant sustainability returns in the coming months and years.
LSA Co-Chairs:
Becky Clissmann, Global Sustainability Expertise Counsel, Ashurst Perkins Coie
Paddy Linighan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Clyde & Co LLP
Mat has made a significant and sustained contribution to the progression of our environmental work, consistently working behind the scenes to strengthen Womble Bond Dickinson’s approach and never seeking the spotlight. His commitment, expertise and collaborative nature have helped establish a stronger foundation for environmental action across the organisation.
A key achievement has been Mat’s leadership in onboarding the Normative platform and rebaselining environmental data. This involved extensive data collection, validation and management, bringing greater consistency and rigour to how the firms measures and reports environmental performance. He also coordinated the submission of the organisation’s first Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) targets, engaging stakeholders across the business and presenting the rationale and proposed targets to the Board.
Alongside these significant projects, Mat has supported the development and growth of the environmental function and its management processes. He works closely with colleagues across multiple teams, building relationships, gathering information and helping to turn environmental priorities into practical action.
The impact of Mat’s work has been substantial. He has established a more formal and consistent approach to environmental data management and reporting, strengthened governance and accountability, and enabled the organisation to progress its environmental strategy through the SBTi target-setting process. His work has also increased awareness and engagement with environmental priorities across the business.
Mat’s contribution is particularly valuable because of the way he works: collaboratively, thoughtfully and without seeking recognition. He has quietly built the systems, relationships and processes that are enabling the organisation to make more credible, informed and ambitious progress on environmental sustainability.