EXECUTIVE INSIGHT
A few years ago EY asked me if I would join and lead the global sustainability law practice which I was delighted to do because I had just set up a wider sustainability regulatory practice in my law firm and could see the huge advantage of combining legal and consultancy skill sets .
I have been with EY for just over two years and it has been an incredible experience and opportunity to work with a much wider group of sustainability professionals covering a whole host of disciplines .
Q . WHAT DOES YOUR JOB ENTAIL ?
» I am responsible for driving the legal practice of EY globally for sustainability . Sustainability is one of our core global growth focus areas and accordingly a lot is expected of those in leadership positions and rightly so . My job principally revolves around three key areas :
• Identifying the global law strategy for sustainability and delivering this across all our geographies .
• Working with our colleagues in other areas to align law with their
• client offering so that we provide our clients with a much more integrated and enhanced solution .
• Working with clients directly on their projects and doing my day job as a Sustainability and Clean Energy lawyer to help them achieve their objectives but on a day-to-day basis .
Q . SUSTAINABILITY AS A CAREER CAN BE CONSIDERED A CALLING – WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT YOUR JOB ?
» Sustainability is forever changing . Years ago it was principally about decarbonisation but that is no longer the case . It now embraces so many other areas including nature and biodiversity , sustainable agriculture , sustainable buildings , sustainable tax structuring , utilisation of AI and so on and so on .
And solutions which were out of synch are now coming back in vogue – like the carbon markets – as people begin to realise that offsetting can be utilised as part of a thoughtful transition plan rather than as a licence to pollute .
It ’ s not just a question of keeping on top of everything but more a case of being part of the wave creation rather than trying to catch it later . I love the dynamism of this sector and of course
24 October 2024