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The LSA has been leading the way in sustainability for UK based law firms since its inception in 2007. During that time firms have moved from measuring and managing their carbon emissions to committing to Net Zero by putting sustainability at the heart of their businesses. It is now a strategic imperative for all law firms to be working on their transition to a low carbon business model and the LSA is here to help. We aim to inform, equip and empower lawyers to take effective action on the climate and nature crises at home, at work and through their practice.
Our executive board is chaired by Caroline May and Matt Sparkes and includes representatives from 15 leading law firms and The Law Society. If you would like to become a member of the Executive Board please do contact Camilla Haycock on [email protected]
Caroline May
Co-Chair LSA and Partner, Norton Rose Fulbright
Caroline May is specialist environment and health and safety lawyer and head of Norton Rose environment, planning and health and safety practice for Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Caroline has extensive experience of both contentious and non-contentious environmental law. In particular, she has great experience in urban regeneration and brownfield site projects. She has been involved in two of the largest pieces of toxic tort litigation in the UK involving dioxin emissions from chemical waste incineration and methane emissions from landfill waste sites.
Caroline advises trade and industry groups on larger projects and has been involved in a number of harbourside and city centre regeneration projects. Her work has involved liaison with government, relevant regulatory authorities, NGOs and lobby groups. She has a specialism in environmental indemnity insurance and all aspects of health and safety law.
Caroline sat on National Council for the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and Noise Consultative Committee for 6 years. She is a Freeman of the City of London and holds National Institute for Trial Advocacy Diploma (NITA).
Matt Sparkes
Co-Chair LSA and Sustainability Director, Linklaters
Matt leads Linklaters’ work on responsible business globally, ensuring that the firm’s own ESG performance reflects all stakeholder expectations and the advice provided to clients on many related themes.
Matt is active in a range of sustainability networks including as EMEA Chair of Business for Societal Impact and as co-chair of the Legal Sustainability Alliance. He is also a Board Member and Trustee of the UNGC-UK Network, is vice-chair of the Living Wage Foundation and, in his spare time, was until recently proud to act as chair of an East London employability charity.
Paddy Linighan
Director LSA and Chief Sustainability Officer, Clyde & Co
Paddy is an experienced and skilled operations and finance professional, with over 35 years’ experience of operational and financial control, defining strategy and managing major business transformation programmes for large global organisations in the Legal Services sector.
Since 2020, initially in his role as Chief Operating Officer, he has led the development of Clyde & Co’s Environmental Social & Governance Strategy which has seen their strategic positioning leapfrog from being an approach which was precautionary to one which is ambitious and market leading.
Paddy was appointed the Firm’s first Chief Sustainability Officer in 2023. In addition to being a member of the ICAEW, he is an alumnus of Oxford Said Business School’s Scenarios Programme, an IEMA Associate and is recognised as an ESG Ambassador.
The LSA is managed and hosted by Achill Management sustainability consultancy, who provide advice support and strategic interventions on all aspects of sustainability for private public and not for profit sectors. We base our interventions on ensuring we deliver people-focused, planet-conscious, profit-making sustainable solutions for our clients. So, whether you need help with strategy or carbon measurement, with staff engagement or target setting, the experienced team at Achill Management can advise and support you. For more information contact Amanda Carpenter, CEO Achill Management on [email protected]
The LSA Carbon Calculator is a free to use online platform that members can use to measure all your emissions – across scopes 1 2 and 3. Compliant with SECR and SBTi this online tool has been designed especially for law firms. Use it as many times as you want for as many locations as you want.
Simply collect your emissions data for energy, water, waste, travel, procurement and scope 3 supply chain – and the tool does the rest. Using the latest DEFRA emissions factors the Carbon Calculator gives you an accurate picture of your annual CO2e emissions.
Set targets for reduction. Your carbon footprint is the starting point to set targets for emissions reduction. You don’t have to be an SBTi firm to be on a net zero journey – set a target to reduce year on year and start your journey today.
