by Beth Salt | Dec 9, 2024 | LSA Insights
An interview with Maria Nefeli Bernitsa, Partner at Bernitsas Law, about lawyering on the front lines of a climate crisis and climate-conscious lawyering.
Clara Douglas: How does being a Greece-based firm influence your choice to pursue sustainability?
Maria Nefeli: Greece comes face to face with the consequences of climate change every year. Several times this summer, people had to evacuate their loved ones or pets and check on their properties because a wildfire was approaching their homes. There were days when the sky around the office would be black and orange from particulates from the fires. Flash floods are also becoming a common phenomenon. So, I think that sustainability is more than an academic discussion for us and prioritising environmental considerations and actions is a necessity.
Athens at sunset
Clara: Why did you decide to join the LSA?
Maria Nefeli: The LSA is an organisation whose values align with many internal conversations we have had for many years. Managing our business responsibly is the foundation on which the firm has achieved sustainable growth over the years. Commercial success for our firm has always been contingent on the personal success of our clients, our people and the broader community. Therefore, our firm’s ethos naturally mapped onto emerging discussions about ESG. Membership of the LSA allows us to benchmark our ESG performance and initiatives with the international legal industry standards and to join a community of firms committed to being part of the solution.
Clara: What has Bernitsas Law been doing so far to become more sustainable?
Maria Nefeli: Like many firms, we first looked inward and identified the key environmental impacts of our business. We are continuously working towards minimising our environmental footprint. Initiatives have included making our building more environmentally sustainable, upgrading our waste management system and raising awareness. We have been running training programs on how to recycle effectively, with great results and immediate results in our recycling outcomes, as well as on first aid and CPR. Gathering information for our Sustainability Report has been very rewarding as it presents a consolidated view of everything we have been doing, from responsible business and governance practices, initiatives taken for our community made up of our people, the society in which we work and our clients, and of course our environmental commitments.
Clara: Has your sustainability journey impacted your client intake and work?
Maria Nefeli: As far as we know, we are the first firm in Greece to have a dedicated ESG department and lawyers across several departments advise on ESG issues in their areas of expertise. This means that throughout the firm, ESG principles are adopted and considered early on in new projects and consistently throughout. While it is difficult to measure whether client intake has grown as a result of our approach to sustainability alone, it is certainly true that clients are interested both in what we do as an organisation, but also how we can help them reach their ESG goals.
Clara: What are the main challenges you have faced on your sustainability journey, and how did you overcome them?
Maria Nefeli: One challenge we had is that we are based in a historic building in the center of Athens and making structural changes which would lead to it being more energy efficient is difficult due to strict building codes. We have made and continue to make significant investments in adaptations to improve the environmental performance of the building, including installing energy efficient lighting, air conditioning and windows. Our location is an advantage as we are in walking distance of many of our clients and very short trips to the courts and central government offices, which impacts our travel emissions positively. We also implement an almost complete power down every night and over the weekends, which benefits our neighborhood and is a significant win in terms of energy consumption. Rather than relocating to a new building, we are committed to being part of the effort to make historic buildings more sustainable and feel that in this way, we are working within our community to help improve energy efficiency on a city-wide level.
Clara: With many law firms opting to relocate their premises to be more energy efficient, I have yet to consider whether this does not necessarily reduce emissions on a systemic level. It is great to see how a firm approaches this challenge in a way that could benefit the city.
Maria Nefeli: Well, a key part of our approach and what is required for a just and fair transition is that people and businesses are “good neighbours”, so it feels right to consider community-wide changes.
Clara: How do clients feel about the firm taking a more sustainable approach?
Maria Nefeli: Many of our clients seek our advice in making their disclosures and we have a demonstrated expertise in structuring compliance models. I think that advising our clients on how best to achieve their sustainability goals must go hand in hand with a clear message on what our sustainability goals are and what we do to achieve them.
Clara: What do you wish lawyers knew about climate change?
Maria Nefeli: I think we are now at a stage where lawyers are aware of the importance of climate change and that environmental action is part of the agenda of the majority of law firms. Achieving sustainability goals is always a work in progress and I am not sure that I can provide any insight, other than to say that collective action and awareness through an organisation like the LSA is probably more impactful in the long run. Being part of the solution means playing the long-game and creating the structure for durable and resilient outcomes.
Clara: What do you wish lawyers would do?
Maria Nefeli: Again, I think that the legal profession in general has made huge strides in the right direction over the last years. Lawyers are in a position to really assist their clients in achieving their sustainability goals and to advise effectively on the fantastic and financially viable opportunities for transactions and projects in the green space.
Sustainability can be complex and challenging for lawyers and their clients, but I think we can contribute in a meaningful way to the goals which have been set for 2030 and beyond by approaching the advice we give our clients and the management of our own firms with integrity. The first wave of ESG regulation took the form of disclosures, but this mustn’t be where sustainability stops. Disclosures help make people accountable and force them to take action but are the first step to identifying the issue before setting goals to really address the problem.
Clara: What is next for Bernitsas?
Maria Nefeli: We have a number of exciting environmental initiatives coming up this year and are committed to enhancing our performance and ensuring that we measure our progress in a meaningful way.
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Maria Nefeli specialises in financial services and ESG law, with a focus on high impact legislative changes, capital markets transactions and corporate transactions for listed companies. Find out more about Bernitsas Law here. Maria Nefeli heads up the Firm’s Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) department, and advises extensively on ESG legislation with a focus on the laws affecting firms in the financial services sector.
by Beth Salt | Nov 13, 2024 | LSA Insights
COP 29 – what will ensure genuine commitment, specific action and measured progress?
By Kirsty Rogers, Chief Sustainability Officer, DWF
Expectations are set for COP29 and behind the detail surrounding the desired outcomes, what the negotiations are ultimately aiming to achieve is international progress on the legally binding commitments made by signatories to the 2015 Paris Agreement. This is to ensure alignment of global efforts to urgently limit global warming and significantly reduce carbon emissions by 2050 at the latest.
It is clear that unprecedented levels of collaboration are required in order to address urgent climate challenges. The key areas for collective action include accelerating net zero targets, strengthening resilience, mobilising equitable finance, putting nature into the centre of Climate Action, and advancing innovation for Resilience. There is also an increasing focus on the role of local actors, grassroot leaders, indigenous peoples and youth. The need to empower and work alongside these communities has never been so important.
These collaborative efforts are essential to drive meaningful progress.
Parallels can be drawn between the difficulties of negotiating through the COP process with the complexities for businesses as they develop and set out their own plans to deliver net zero targets. The common factors here include uncertainty, uncharted territory, complexity and the need to work together to find solutions to achieve positive outcomes.
DWF recognises the importance of collaboration in its own journey and is part of sector and industry-led collaborations and partnerships – in particular Legal Charter 1.5, Legal Sustainability Alliance and Net Zero Lawyers Alliance. Through these, we are grappling with a range of challenges and opportunities and importantly sharing our experiences, expertise and individual perspectives in a safe and supportive environment. This has enabled us to move forward.
Our investment in education, combined with existing legal expertise and working collectively means we can provide expertise and knowledge across a range of challenging subject areas both for ourselves and with our clients. These include:
- The development of educational resources to support behaviour change and improve understanding about climate change and how it impacts the legal sector
- Developing processes to help us to understand the impact of the work that we do and to put in place better practices for due diligence so that we can make more informed decisions and manage risk
- Supporting technical projects to set out mechanisms and a framework for understanding and quantifying the carbon impacts of the work that we do with our clients
- Advising clients on their regulatory requirements, assisting in explaining their compliance obligations and providing both legal and consultancy advice across the spectrum of sustainability
Despite the challenges that the world is facing I am constantly inspired by the commitment, dedication and drive of the businesses and individuals that provide their time and expertise in the spirit of collaboration, at COP29, within the business, legal and local communities and at DWF. There is still so much more to be done and many issues for us to consider, not least the urgent need to incorporate biodiversity and nature targets into our transition plans; a clear message coming from the ‘sister’ COP16 on biodiversity which concluded last week.
Through COP29, the world needs to continue to strive for collaboration so that we achieve international consensus and action on climate change. There is a role for us all to play in our own sectors to step up to the plate and provide leadership through collaboration and partnerships. This is crucial so that we can collectively solve challenges and exploit the opportunities that can be achieved as we transition our businesses to become net zero and nature positive.
by tess | Jul 26, 2024 | LSA Insights
World Environment Day graphics for LinkedIn and X/Twitter available to download here, including the LSA pledge. Download images are high res, please feel free to co-brand and resize as appropriate. Additionally find our blog detailing green hacks to make a dent in your carbon impact – “Green Hacks with a Big Impact” here.
LinkedIN Graphics
by tess | May 17, 2024 | LSA Insights
To mark World Environment Day on the 5th of June we are urging LSA members to take the following pledge by downloading these graphics and sharing them on your social media channels, or by creating your own version using this copy.
Please tag us in your posts so we can amplify the message.
The pledge:
We pledge a commitment to environmental protection and land restoration. We will stay informed about relevant legal developments and contribute to a sustainable future through our professional roles.
by tess | May 17, 2024 | LSA Insights
Some surprisingly small changes that will make a big difference to your carbon impact to mark World Environment Day 2024.
Click for trees
Switch your browser. It is easy. Ecosia is a not-for-profit search engine that has planted over 206 million trees to date, with high monitoring requirements for all projects. Germany’s first B-Corps allocates 100% of profits to fighting climate change and environmental injustice; with 80% dedicated to tree planting projects and the other 20% invested in renewable energy, regenerative agriculture and grassroots activism.
Ecosia is a steward-owned company, meaning shares can’t be sold at a profit or owned by people outside of the company and no profits can be taken out of the company.
The search engine is powered by the Our Google and Bing algorithm, so whilst your results might not be as numerous as Google, they will likely be good enough to get you where you want to go. And you don’t need to worry about privacy, Ecosia is more privacy conscious than Google. You easily switch through an add on in Google Chrome and Safari for iOS 14. Other browsers that include an option to search with Ecosia include Adblock Browser, Maxthon, and Brave, or just simply download the browser.
Another green hack is to book your trains with Trainhugger. Also a B-Corps, Trainhugger contribute approximately a quarter of revenue to restoring the UK’s natural world, aiming to double UK woodland cover from 13% to 26% by 2025. Working in partnership with the Royal Forestry Society, they promise to plant a tree for every booking.
Like other major platforms, they support split-ticketing to save your budget and have a clean and fast interface, however, Trainhugger charges a flat booking fee of £1.50, of which £0.50 will go towards tree planting, which can make it more expensive than other platforms. For example, Trainline’s fees, based on your chosen journey, the ticket price, and when you’re booking, will currently vary between a minimum of 59p and a maximum of £2.79.
Garden game changers
Ditch the rhododendrons for the foxgloves, lily of the valley and hellebores!
Plant native species to support biodiversity. Plants, animals and insects depend on each other, but most insects will not eat non-native plants, so replace them and you’ll literally be feeding an ecosystem.
Native species will be far more resilient and require less resources, being well-adapted to the local climate, soil and other environmental conditions – using less water, no pesticides and be more resistant to local diseases.
What’s more, many native plants have deep root systems that help to improve soil structure, prevent erosion, and promote water infiltration, adding organic matter to improve your soil quality.
And while we are on gardens, if you have to water your garden during hot spells, do it in the evening to minimise evaporation and make the most of your water!
Keep the planet in mind when queueing for your sandwich
All food needs to be grown and processed, transported, distributed, prepared, consumed, and sometimes disposed of and every step of that journey creates CO2. We know you have heard it all before, but about a third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions is linked to food. You don’t need to go vegan, but what you eat is much more important to your footprint than how far that food has travelled or how much packaging it has.
Transport and packaging typically account for only a small fraction of foods’ greenhouse gas emission, and although single use plastic is clearly to be avoided when possible, when it comes to CO2 the production of the food is key, with red meat and shellfish the biggest offenders.
So, if you are trying to choose between that bean burrito or a prawn mayo wrap, putting the planet into the mix will make all the difference.
Make your money matter 
Switch your pension to a fund that supports the planet. The UK has £3 trillion in pensions, some of which is invested in companies driving deforestation and funding fossil fuels. For every £10 you put in your pension, £2 is linked to deforestation. Check out Make My Money Matter, an organisation founded to help you green your money which has ranked the top 20 UK pension providers on their climate plans.
Tweak the heat
Two easy wins: make sure you turn the heating OFF in the summer, rather than just turning the thermostat down, or your central heating system’s pump will remain running, consuming energy. To avoid this, choose the ‘hot water only’ setting.
While you are at it, switch off all appliances, rather than leaving them on standby. Any why not, in the winter, turn that thermostat down by a degree and grab a nice knit to cosy up with.
Making sure your fridges at home and in the office are at the recommended temperatures, rather than too cold, will also reduce your energy consumption every second of every day. The greenest energy is the energy that we don’t use!
by Beth Salt | Apr 30, 2024 | LSA Insights
‘Antarctica sea ice reaches alarming low for third year in a row’
‘Public transport workers join climate activists for week of strikes across Germany’
‘Cholera: An overlooked outcome of climate change’
The headlines keep coming. And with them, inevitably, comes a spike in our climate anxiety. But when does normal concern tip towards thinking which can negatively impact our mental health, and how do we stop this from happening? And can eco-anxiety be framed as a positive force which brings people together and drives action?
We know that lawyers are under immense stress at work, with evidence suggesting legal professionals are at a higher risk of burnout than the general population. According to research carried out by LawCare, a mental health charity in the sector, over 60 per cent of lawyers reported suffering from anxiety ‘often, very often, or all of the time’ over the preceding 12 months. Despite workplace intervention, the problem is not getting better. The charity reported a 24 per cent increase in contacts in 2023.
So what about lawyers who are working on the front line of sustainability?
Climate anxiety is defined as how we respond psychologically to the climate crisis. Our responses may go beyond anxiety to include grief, anger, overwhelm, betrayal and guilt. It is not a mental health condition in its own right, in fact it could be argued it’s a normal response to an existential crisis. However, an excess of climate anxiety can lead to a range of secondary problems related to mental health, such as panic, insomnia or depression.
It’s an issue impacting a large, and growing, proportion of the population. Youth non-profit organisation Force of Nature found that more than 70 per cent of young people feel hopeless in the face of the climate crisis and as many as 56 per cent believe humanity is doomed. At the same time, only 26 per cent feel that they know how to contribute to solving the problem.
Research carried out by York University showed young people are more likely to feel anger than fear about the climate crisis. But Rowenna Davis, director of the Global Future think tank, says that can be positive: “Fear can make you risk-averse and sometimes it can make you go inwards, but anger is much closer to hope, it’s a motivating force, it forces you to confront, it’s more active.”
Meanwhile, work done by Yale University in the US shows that collective action can form a buffer against climate anxiety. Clinical psychologist Sarah Lowe says her work in this area suggests that engaging in collective action has a multitude of benefits, including social connectedness with people who share similar goals and values.
“We know from a large body of literature that social support is one of the strongest predictors of mental well-being” Sarah said. “We also thought that individuals who engaged in collective action – particularly if they saw those actions as having an impact – could have a stronger sense of self-efficacy and hope for the future. On the other hand, there’s some research that people who engage in activism can be at risk for burnout.”
Most research in this area points to one main principle: the best way to address climate anxiety is to take action. But it’s important to maintain a level of self-care while doing so. Dr Emma Lawrence, mental health innovations fellow at Imperial College London, said: “As individuals and communities, we can work towards a more positive vision of the future. There is a way to take action and create that positive future yourself. But we need to take care of ourselves in the process.”
Some thoughts from the experts:
- Take action – but be kind to yourself
It’s important to avoid burnout. If your job involves these issues allow yourself to step away and switch off in the evenings and at the weekends.
- Acknowledge the truth of the situation, while knowing you are having a positive input
In the face of the news about climate change, it’s understandable to feel anxious. But don’t get stuck in these feelings.
- Forge connections and support others who are taking action
Youth climate activists reported feeling positively connected to a global community.
- Do not hold yourself overly accountable
No one person should feel they have to carry the burden of the climate crisis on their shoulders. The real difference will be made by systemic change, do what you can to support that.
The creation of hope can be an active process, not a passive thing you have to wait for. If you are taking action you are part of the solution.
- Notice and celebrate the actions you are taking towards protecting the planet, however large or small
Everything counts.
This can be balancing and replenishing, helping you to work from the positive. This can help counter feelings of overwhelm.
Record how you are feeling and how you are responding to those feelings. This will give you more insight into knowing when you need to step away and give yourself space.
“We don’t want people to feel stuck in their sadness about the climate crisis,” says Emma. “What can be helpful is when people hold their anger and sadness about wider inaction, and about the losses we face, but alongside this hold that there is hope and a reason to take action.”
The LSA is here to support you in taking action. If you are facing a challenge at work in tackling the climate crisis, we can help. Contact us and we will explore solutions throughout our network. And we would like to celebrate your successes! Email [email protected], we would love to hear from you.
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Blog written by Rachel Millichip, Millichip Media.
