We are committed to finding ways to minimise the environmental impact of our work and promoting sustainability in everything we do.
We understand that we have a responsibility to the environment beyond our legal and regulatory requirements. We also know that firms like ours can - and must - always do more.
We are, and we will.
The role of the Environment & Sustainability Group is divided into two work streams:
- Operations. We are continually reviewing the functions, actions, procedures and practises throughout the firm which affect, or are affected by, the environment in order to reduce our impact on the planet.
- Internal engagement. We ensure that all our colleagues and stakeholders are aware of the wide range of initiatives taking place across the firm, and encourage everyone to take positive actions in their professional and personal lives.
In order to demonstrate Kingsley Napley’s commitment to sustainability and improve our environmental performance, we are creating and adopting an EMS (environmental management system) in line with ISO 140001 requirements. We are proud to be a member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and have signed the Greener Litigation Pledge.
Latest blogs & news
Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q3 2021
This quarterly environmental law update provides a summary of a cross-section of news stories in the period July 2021 - September 2021.
Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q2 2021
This quarterly environmental law update provides a summary of a cross-section of news stories in the period April 2021 - June 2021.
Environmental Law Quarterly Update - Q1 2021
This quarterly environmental law update provides a summary of a cross section of news stories in the period Jan 2021 - March 2021.
World Environment Day - The green lining of the Coronavirus lockdown… and how to continue to ease our environmental impact
As the UK settles into its tenth week of lockdown, we are starting to see glimpses of hope that we might soon be back to work, the gym, and school. But while we are all looking forward to enjoying things we did before lockdown, we shouldn't be so hasty to revert back to all of our old ways.
London Climate Action Week: Climate refugees – an international legal conundrum
In the last week, Philip Alston, the UN special rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights said the world was increasingly at risk of “climate apartheid” where the wealthy pay to escape the impact of climate change and the rest of the world is left to suffer.
London Climate Action Week: International criminal law and the environment – considering a law of ‘ecocide’
In April 2019, Polly Higgins, a British barrister, passed away after devoting ten years of her life to a campaign for a new law of ‘ecocide’ – a law that would make corporate executives and government ministers criminally liable for the damage they cause to the environment. In this blog, we consider the current framework for punishing environmental crime at international level, and what the proposed crime of ecocide might look like.
London Climate Action Week: Funding environmental cases & the Aarhus fixed costs Rules
Access to justice is central pillar to the rule of law. Ensuring individuals and organisations can afford access to justice is a real challenge, none more so than in environmental cases where the success is not driven by monetary reward.
London Climate Action Week: Saving Londoners from nitrogen dioxide, one judicial review at a time
According to the most recent data, two million people in London are living with illegal levels of air pollution. Nitrogen dioxide is one of the main pollutants and road transport is estimated to be responsible for 50% of total emissions.
KN Green Week: Can law help save the world?
We have seen in recent months various and different attempts by those who want to change the course of government policy on the issue of climate change.
KN Green Week: Confessions of a (mostly) reformed ‘Shopaholic’
For most of my life, shopaholic is a label I would have happily applied to myself. Shopping has always been a happy place for me. I have sought solace in the late night opening hours of Oxford Street’s shops after a tough day at work. I have laughed uncontrollably trying on ridiculous outfits while meandering the shops with friends on Saturday afternoons. I have felt a rush of delight at finding the perfect outfit for a friend’s wedding.
KN Green Week: Plastic Packaging – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
No doubt many of you reading this will have heard about the ‘Attenborough Effect’, sparked by his two latest series, ‘Blue Planet II’ and ‘Our Planet’. Whilst these series have changed the way many of us think about plastic and have made us see that things have to change, it is important that we understand that we, as individuals, have to be part of that change. How?
KN Green Week: Eating the Environment Better
The aim of this blog is not to point the finger and attribute blame to people who eat meat, mangos and Manchego. I myself am far from perfect, and am fully aware that I need to re-evaluate my relationship with cheese and stop eating so many avocados. What this blog is intended to do, however, is to make us all think about, and be aware of, where our food comes from, the impact that food production has on the environment, and what we should be doing to reduce that impact.
KN Green Week: Climate change and the individual: Where to begin… by starting to ask the right questions
Emily Carter is lawyer living in central London with two small children. Although she knows a thing or two about the law, she is not an expert in the science of climate change or the answers to the current crisis. She has, however, been asking herself some questions