ESG Law and Advice
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Helping businesses navigate ESG requirements with confidence
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are now part of how every organisation is judged – by investors, regulators, customers and employees alike. The expectations are growing, and many businesses are working out how best to meet them while still focusing on growth.
We help boards, leadership teams and in-house lawyers understand what’s required and put in place steps that are realistic, proportionate and commercially sound. Our advice is tailored to your sector and designed to turn ESG from a challenge into an opportunity.
We cover the full ESG landscape:
- Environmental – climate goals, resource management, low-carbon energy, transport and sustainable development.
- Social – workplace wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, responsible supply chains and digital resilience.
- Governance – board structures, reporting requirements and transparent decision-making.
Our work ranges from green finance and biodiversity net gain to anti-slavery compliance, cyber resilience and board training. ESG touches every part of a business, and our role is to make it manageable while adding real value.
The legal and regulatory picture is moving fast. So whether you are at the start of your ESG journey or building on existing commitments, we can help you stay on the front foot and create long-term value for your organisation and stakeholders.
Andrew Whitehead
Partner & Head of Energy
Specialising in environmental social governance law
Helping you manage risks and meet environmental obligations
We help businesses understand and respond to their environmental responsibilities, whether driven by regulation, investor expectations or values. Our advice is practical, proportionate and commercially focused.
We support clean energy, low carbon transport, land, water and waste projects, guiding organisations through legal, regulatory and commercial challenges to keep projects on track and meet obligations.
We also advise on sustainable development, ESG risk and disputes, environmental claims and regulatory investigations. Our green finance expertise helps structure deals that deliver both financial results and sustainability goals.
Supporting ethical, inclusive, and resilient operations
We help organisations embed responsible business practices, manage supply chain and human rights risks, and promote transparency, accountability, and fairness.
Our team advises on employee welfare, health and safety, and diversity, equity and inclusion, ensuring HR policies meet legal obligations and support positive workplace culture. We also guide organisations on supply chain compliance, anti-bribery, modern slavery, and fraud prevention to strengthen ethical operations.
We support privacy, cybersecurity, and online safety, helping protect data and digital systems. For charities and social enterprises, we provide tailored guidance and social litigation support to safeguard missions and reputations.
Building strong, responsible governance
We help boards, leadership teams and in-house legal teams establish clear, robust and legally sound governance. Our guidance covers director duties, regulatory compliance, corporate reporting and stakeholder accountability, ensuring businesses are prepared to meet expectations and respond to challenges confidently.
We support corporate transparency, SECR and CSDR/CSDDD reporting, pay gap disclosures and annual report preparation. Our board training, governance reviews and advisory services keep directors informed, strategically aligned and compliant. We also provide employment law and governance audits, helping strengthen internal procedures and ensure alignment with the UK Corporate Governance Code and QCA framework.
Specialising in environmental, social and governance law
Our ESG expertise spans the full spectrum of environmental, social and governance issues. Whether it’s managing climate and resource responsibilities, building ethical and inclusive operations, or strengthening governance and compliance, we provide clear, practical legal advice. Explore how we can support you across each area.
Helping you manage risks and meet obligations on climate, resource use and environmental impact
We support businesses to understand and respond to their environmental responsibilities, whether driven by regulation, investor expectations or their own values. Our advice is grounded in what’s practical, proportionate and commercially aware.
Clean Energy and Infrastructure
We work alongside developers, landowners and operators to help bring low-carbon energy projects to life. Whether it’s renewable power, heat networks, hydrogen or grid infrastructure, we help you tackle the legal, commercial and regulatory hurdles - so you can deliver practical projects that support the energy transition and keep the lights on.
Our experience covers:
- Green power and renewable energy projects
- Heat networks and energy efficiency schemes
- Hydrogen production, carbon capture and storage
- Electricity, gas and water infrastructure upgrades
Low Carbon Transport
Cleaner, greener transport is gathering speed, but it brings complex legal challenges. We help businesses roll out electric vehicle infrastructure, develop new technologies, and understand the regulations around sustainable fuels and battery production. Our team works across legal disciplines to support you as transport continues to evolve.
Land, Water and the Natural Environment
Making the best use of land and natural resources has never been more important, or more closely scrutinised. We work with developers, landowners and operators to understand the rules, protect biodiversity, manage water supplies and keep projects on track.
We regularly advise on:
- Biodiversity net gain and sustainable land use
- Water regulation, pollution and supply
- Land management for developers and landowners
Waste and Resource Management
We help organisations deal with the realities of waste — from recycling and energy recovery to emissions reporting and compliance. Our team offers clear legal advice to help you manage risks, meet your obligations and play your part in the shift towards a circular economy.
Sustainable Development
We work with commercial developers, housebuilders and local authorities to get the right balance between growth and environmental responsibility. Whether it's unlocking planning permissions or overcoming legal barriers, our focus is on finding workable solutions that deliver for your project and for the places and people it affects.
Managing risk and disputes
With ESG issues now firmly on the agenda, businesses face greater legal exposure from supply chain disputes to greenwashing claims. We provide straightforward advice to help you manage risk, meet your responsibilities and deal with challenges, both in the UK and internationally.
We can help with:
- Environmental claims and regulatory investigations
- Greenwashing, misrepresentation and supply chain disputes
- Carbon trading and international climate frameworks
Finance for a greener economy
We work with lenders, funders and borrowers to support investment that drives environmental change. This can range from green loans to sustainability-linked finance. We help you structure deals that meet financial goals AND support long-term resilience and responsible growth.
Why choose Shakespeare Martineau?
- Our team offer prompt and professional service, whether through in-person meetings or virtual consultations, you can trust that our advice will be timely and professional, helping you feel confident in your legal matters, every step of the way
- We provide advice that is not only pragmatic and quick but also easy to understand. Every lawyer in our firm is approachable, helpful, and committed to offering reliable legal solutions, making the process straightforward for clients
- Our clear and easily understandable approach has kept clients coming back for years, knowing they can depend on us for comprehensive legal support time and time again
- Our clients regularly highlight the exceptional expertise and professionalism of our lawyers. Our team cares deeply about every aspect of your case, ensuring you receive a thorough and attentive service
What makes our environmental social governance services unique
ESG made simple
We take the complexity out of environmental, social and governance requirements and turn them into clear, practical steps tailored to your business and sector. Our approach ensures you can meet obligations, manage risks, and seize opportunities without being overwhelmed by regulation, reporting or compliance challenges.
Complete ESG coverage
From environmental responsibility and social impact to governance and reporting, we provide guidance across the full ESG spectrum. Our team ensures you address every aspect of ESG, from compliance and risk management to strategic opportunities, helping your business embed sustainable practices that meet regulatory standards and support long-term growth.
Compliance with impact
We help your business meet legal obligations while going beyond mere compliance to deliver meaningful, measurable results. From investors and regulators to employees, our guidance ensures your ESG efforts are transparent, accountable, and impactful. We focus on practical actions that demonstrate real progress and strengthen trust across all stakeholders.
Turning ESG into opportunity
We help you embed sustainability and responsible practices into everyday business decisions, turning ESG from a compliance requirement into a source of strategic advantage. By focusing on long-term value creation and protecting your organisation’s reputation, our guidance enables you to innovate, grow responsibly, and demonstrate leadership in a rapidly evolving market.
Meet our environmental social governance team
Building a responsible business
Our commitment to sustainability and social impact
We are an accredited B Corporation that is committed to driving positive change in our communities, minimising our impact on the environment, and ensuring an all inclusive diverse and supportive culture for our people.
Wherever you are on your journey, our environmental social governance specialists are here to answer any questions you might have
If you’d like to speak to a member of our team, please fill out the enquiry form. We will aim to reply to your query within 2 hours
Need to talk to someone sooner? You can call use at the number below
Call Us: 0330 024 0333
environmental social governance FAQs
ESG law covers the legal responsibilities and risks linked to environmental impact, social responsibility, and corporate governance. This includes everything from climate obligations and biodiversity net gain to supply chain compliance, diversity and inclusion policies, board duties, reporting standards and green finance.
Specialist legal advice helps you turn complex ESG requirements into practical steps tailored to your organisation. It ensures compliance with regulations, reduces risk of disputes or investigations, and supports sustainable growth by embedding responsible practices into everyday decisions.
Any business or organisation can benefit, whether you are delivering clean energy projects, managing land or resources, developing transport solutions, building inclusive workplaces, or strengthening governance structures. Our team advises clients across sectors to balance compliance with long-term resilience and opportunity.
