HFW wins ‘Best Environmental/Sustainability Initiative’ at Legal 500 ESG Awards

Global, sector-focused law firm HFW has won ‘Best Environmental/Sustainability Initiative’ at the Legal 500 ESG Awards 2026.

Giles Kavanagh, Global Senior Partner and Sustainability Partner, HFW:
“Sustainability is central to HFW’s ethos, in our journey to reduce our environmental impact in all aspects of our operations, and also in using our deep sector expertise to help clients achieve their sustainability goals.”

HFW’s Chief Technology Officer John Court was also a finalist for ‘Environmental/Sustainability Champion of the Year’ for his work in leading the firm’s technology sustainability strategy.

Firm-wide Environmental Impact

HFW’s integrated approach – combining operational excellence, technology innovation, and sector leadership – demonstrates measurable, industry-leading progress in sustainability.

The firm has reduced its global carbon footprint by more than 40% over the past decade (more than 60% on a per-person basis), with its latest independent carbon report showing an 11.6% reduction in scope 1 & 2 emissions year-on-year, with direct emissions down 42.9% and purchased electricity emissions down 2.3%. Waste emissions have also fallen by 7.4%.

Sustainability is core to the firm’s property strategy. HFW’s London office at 8 Bishopsgate is in the UK’s most sustainable tall building, with BREEAM Outstanding certification, the highest solar panels in London, greywater recycling, and automated blinds to reduce cooling demand. The firm’s recent moves in Hong Kong and Piraeus were also to buildings with top-tier sustainability certifications.

HFW’s London, Brussels, Geneva, and Monaco offices operate on 100% renewable electricity tariffs, and the firm partners across its network with suppliers that share its commitment to ESG, including (via caterers Lexington) UK coffee supplier Change Please, which tackles homelessness through the power of social enterprise, and commercial cleaning company GreenZone, which is EcoVadis ESG certified for its environmentally-friendly approach.

Technology-Driven Sustainability

The firm’s IT sustainability strategy has delivered transformative results. A global printer fleet upgrade reduced paper consumption by 53% (saving 811 trees annually), cut devices by 43%, and slashed print energy use by 85%. CO₂ emissions from print fell from 5,700 kg to just 286 kg.

HFW’s cloud-first strategy, including the closure of co-location datacentres in Dubai, Melbourne, and Hong Kong, has reduced IT-related carbon emissions by 30% per year. The firm has eliminated on-site servers in London, further reducing electricity use, and has modernised its office networks with Juniper, a supplier committed to decarbonisation and circularity. HFW selected Dell laptops for their use of bioplastics, recycled materials, and modular design for longevity.

Inspiring Behaviour Change

HFW operates an internal Sustainability Syllabus offering foundational ESG training to its lawyers and business services professionals globally, covering topics including energy transition, climate risk, and ESG duties. Internal campaigns spotlight local office efforts and encourage individual contributions to decarbonisation.

Sector Expertise for Clients

HFW also helps its clients achieve their sustainability goals. The firm has more than 100 lawyers advising on climate and sustainability and has supported clients on landmark projects such as Geneva-based coffee company Sucafina SA’s pioneering US$700m sustainability-linked financing, and BIMCO’s “game-changing” carbon emissions clauses for shipping. The firm has acted on more than 70% of UK offshore wind projects and also offers non-legal ESG services to support clients’ net-zero transitions.

Pledges and Partnerships

As a founding signatory of the Greener Arbitration and Greener Litigation Pledges, HFW champions sustainable dispute resolution. The firm supports charitable organisations aligned with its business and sector priorities, supporting clean energy access and climate change mitigation.