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ESG and Net Zero

Expert legal support on environmental, social and governance (ESG) and Net Zero issues, helping your business improve sustainability, reduce carbon emissions, and meet regulatory requirements.

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ESG is embedded in everything we do.

We understand that ESG influences every facet of an organisation, from operations and investments to risk management and corporate responsibility. Stakeholders – including clients, regulators, and investors – judge businesses on their ESG performance, and our team ensures you meet these expectations while driving meaningful value.

We provide both strategic and operational support, helping organisations navigate the complexities of ESG. Our tools (such as the ESG Risk Review, ESG Pensions Tool, ESG Corporate Disclosure Tool, and Modern Slavery Statement Compliance Check) simplify ESG priorities and align them with sustainability ambitions. We are proud to have achieved the EcoVadis Gold Sustainability Standard, placing us in the top five per cent globally.

Net Zero is an essential part of this strategy. With the UK’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050, our multi-sector teams deliver tailored legal solutions across key areas including transport, energy, land & food, and the built environment. Our goal is to help businesses meet their decarbonisation strategies while realising the opportunities that emerge from this global transition, including sustainable finance and carbon emissions reduction.

Our expertise

Decarbonising our sectors

Expert legal advice on achieving your Net Zero goals, helping you navigate the complexities and capitalise on the opportunities decarbonisation presents for your organisation.

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Sustainable finance

Providing legal expertise in respect of complex. sustainability-focused finance solutions and products, supporting your ESG goals.

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Equality, diversity and inclusion

Our experts provide advice and support on equality, diversity & inclusion (ED&I) issues, helping businesses promote inclusive workplace cultures and deliver their ED&I strategy beyond pure legal compliance.

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Our lawyers have a deep understanding of climate change law and policy, combining this with legal, commercial and practical expertise across a range of disciplines including climate-related liability, in order to provide expert legal guidance and tailored compliance solutions.

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Sustainability reporting

Expert legal advice on global sustainability reporting regimes, helping businesses navigate complex regulatory requirements and meet evolving ESG obligations with confidence.

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Supply chain

Ensure your supply chain is resilient, compliant, and aligned with ESG principles. Our legal experts support businesses across sectors with tailored solutions for evolving supply chain challenges and opportunities.

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Natural capital

An exceptional track record of advising landowners, businesses and public bodies on innovative natural capital and sustainable land use projects, drawing on expertise from a wide range of legal disciplines.

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Our team

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Examples of our work

Bristol City Council

Providing support to Bristol on its City Leap Energy Partnership, a project to make Bristol carbon neutral by 2030, advising on procurement, infrastructure, and strategic partnerships.

Progressive Energy and Cadent

Advising on the Hynet North West Carbon Capture and Storage project, helping the North West industrial businesses decarbonise, providing legal guidance on CO2 infrastructure, pipelines, and compliance with government carbon capture policies.

M&S Energy Society

Advising on its award-winning M&S Energy Society, facilitating the purchase of renewable electricity generated by solar panels on UK stores, funded by community energy members.

Office for Zero Emission Vehicles

Advising on the design and delivery of the Rapid Charging Fund.

Multiple corporates

Advising on numerous decarbonisation and Net Zero projects and initiatives designed to assist corporates in sectors such as cement and aggregates, pharmaceutical, motor manufacturing, food and drink (whiskey distillers), data centres and supermarkets.

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Our tools

ESG Corporate Disclosure Tool

Burges Salmon has launched a Corporate ESG Disclosure Tool to help businesses navigate ESG reporting obligations.

Covering mandatory and voluntary disclosures, the interactive guide supports companies of all sizes in identifying key ESG issues and compliance needs.

ESG is central to Burges Salmon’s advisory approach and long-standing responsible business commitment.

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ESG Pensions Tool

Burges Salmon’s upgraded Pension Schemes ESG Tool simplifies ESG compliance for UK pension scheme trustees and employers.

It provides enriched content, addresses evolving requirements, and helps users assess their knowledge, identify key issues, and fill gaps with training.

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Supply chain ESG disclosure report

As part of our ESG thought leadership series, we conducted original research exploring how UK organisations across a variety of key sectors and industries are managing supply chain due diligence and preparing to meet evolving global ESG standards.

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What others say

“The Burges team is highly responsive and when there are problematic issues, it tends to have transferable experience which it can apply in coming up with a creative solution.”

Chambers UK 2025

“The team has excellent in-depth knowledge of their subject matter and are very supportive and instructive from both a legal and commercial perspective. I have worked with several law firms over the years, but Burges Salmon is my most trusted advisor.”

Legal 500 UK 2025

“Leading the way on environment and climate for a very long time.”

Legal 500 UK 2024

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Insights

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