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In my previous trainee blog, I discussed the opportunities available for trainees to get involved in environmental and sustainability work across a diverse range of sectors during their training contract. You can read my previous blog here. Now approaching the end of my training contract, I reflect below on how my own experiences demonstrate how teams across the firm collaborate on tackling environmental, social and governance (ESG) challenges and opportunities, as well as highlighting some of the environmental and sustainability-focused matters that I have been fortunate enough to be involved in during my training.
Agriculture:
The work carried out by Michelmores’ market-leading Agriculture team serves as a great example of the firm’s aim to help clients navigate change towards a more sustainable and positive future. During my first seat, I assisted the team on a broad range of work advising clients on maximising natural capital opportunities on their land. This included advising landowners on the merits and risks of habitat creation schemes (from which Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits are produced), drafting bespoke agreements to protect the interests of different stakeholders in BNG and nutrient-neutrality schemes, and researching and advising on the opportunities and risks involved in such schemes – such as brokerage possibilities for BNG credits and the risks associated with existing mining rights on land marked for use in future schemes.
I also supported colleagues in the Sustainable Agriculture team with research and analysis on the regulatory framework for seagrass restoration. Work on this topic was fascinating and highlighted the importance of seagrass in marine ecosystems and its crucial function for carbon sequestration. The team reported its analysis to a global charity to aid its consultations with the Welsh and Scottish governments on the need for UK regulatory reform in respect of the marine environment. You can read more about Michelmores’ work on the marine environment and policy considerations here.
Corporate:
Despite initially appearing to be a world away from the sustainable agriculture initiatives that I was involved in during my first seat, my third seat in Michelmores’ Corporate team provided equally rewarding opportunities to add value to sustainability and environmental work that the team undertakes.
Landowners seeking to implement natural capital schemes on their land are increasingly looking at collaborating with neighbouring landowners to realise projects. This approach can involve the creation of a “single legal entity“, in this context being a corporate structure (such as a limited company or a limited liability partnership) created for a particular environmental scheme which centrally manages the delivery of some or all aspects of the scheme on behalf of participating landowners. My work primarily involved attending meetings between various stakeholders within collaborative schemes, and subsequently drafting advice on appropriate bespoke corporate structures in light of each stakeholder’s priorities for the proposed schemes.
During my time in Corporate, I also saw the work the team undertakes in assisting biodiversity-focused clients with fundraising and investment opportunities, an example of which you can read here.
Reflections & tips for getting involved in ESG work in your training contract:
Whilst initially seeming completely separate in their work, during my training I have gained an understanding of how Michelmores’ Corporate and Agriculture teams collaborate to deliver practical, bespoke solutions to clients navigating ever-evolving environmental and sustainability challenges.
My experiences represent just some examples of the overlapping areas of law in which a trainee solicitor can experience environmental and sustainability-focused legal work – with colleagues in the firm’s Real Estate, Banking and Commercial teams (to name a few) also regularly advising on clients’ ESG challenges. The involvement of teams across the firm demonstrates the breadth of opportunities for trainees to experience environment and sustainability work during their training contract.
So, how can aspiring lawyers tailor their training contract to environmental and sustainable causes?
- Research the firms that you apply to: Research law firms with particular strengths in helping clients navigate ESG challenges. Through research, seek out firms that work in relevant sectors and who will benefit your exposure to ESG issues during your training contract. Firms that demonstrate cross-team collaboration on ESG issues will provide more-rounded exposure to how clients’ ESG challenges often connect several areas of law – requiring collaboration across the breadth of a law firm’s expertise.
- Be proactive in communicating your interests: Across teams, senior lawyers are likely to have a diverse range of specialisms and focuses. If you have an interest in sustainability work within the broader work of the team, vocalising this early on in your seat shows enthusiasm and will encourage senior lawyers to involve you in their practice.
- Engage in environmental and sustainable causes outside of your day-to-day work: Most firms have internal ESG initiatives. Involvement in these will increase your understanding of ESG challenges and opportunities that the firm is exploring, as well as enabling you to collaborate with colleagues across different teams in the firm.
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