Commentary

City firms turn up the heat on clients with weak climate change policies

Insiders at some leading firms say they are turning away more clients that do not meet their standards

Increasing numbers of firms are demanding detailed disclosures from potential clients and suppliers about their ESG policies
Increasing numbers of firms are demanding detailed disclosures from potential clients and suppliers about their ESG policies Photo: Getty Images

Two years ago, the senior partner of Clifford Chance, the largest UK law firm, made a remarkable statement.

Declaring that the firm would no longer work with clients that were not doing enough about climate change, Jeroen Ouwehand said: “We can choose what we support, and what we don’t support. We do not have to be neutral professional service providers. We must use the power of the law to deliver a sustainable future.”

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