DLA Piper recognised for ESG Initiative of the Year at Legal Business Awards

Global law firm DLA Piper’s industry-first Corporate Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) has been recognised as the industry’s ESG Initiative of the Year at the Legal Business Awards 2022. The ceremony also saw a joint team from DLA Piper and biopharmaceutical giant Pfizer be highly commended for its work in contracting for the supply of COVID-19 vaccines and antivirals in the UK and across Europe.

DLA Piper’s PPA, signed in January 2022 with NextEnergy Group, will allow for the production of 13 megawatts of additional energy from the construction of a 46 acre solar farm in Somerset, England. This energy will be at least equivalent to, but likely exceeding the energy used by the 15 UK and European offices involved. Environmental credits generated by the project which exceed the firm’s power requirements will be applied to its value chain to reduce its indirect emissions.

Natasha Luther-Jones, DLA Piper’s International Head of Sustainability and ESG, and Global Co-Chair of Energy and Natural Resources, comments: “We are delighted to be recognised with this award for the innovative nature of our approach to decarbonisation. The PPA marked a milestone in our firm’s journey to decarbonise, and we’re proud to be the first law firm in the world to sign such an ambitious agreement. And, as a result of our PPA, new renewable infrastructure was made possible which will continue to supply sustainable energy into the National Grid. Congratulations to the team who worked so hard to realise this project.”

The ESG Initiative of the Year award is the latest in a series of recognitions for DLA Piper’s Corporate PPA project, including the Best ESG Initiative at the Financing Wind Awards 2022, and the ESG Firm of the Year at the Partnership Awards 2022.