The National Law Journal has named Reed Smith an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) and Community Impact Leader for the second year in a row, having similarly honored the law firm in 2022. Reed Smith receives this honor with other winners in this category at the upcoming 2023 NLJ Legal Awards on Oct. 26 in Washington, D.C.
Reed Smith will again be honored for its global ESG practice and its leadership in climate change, sustainability and energy transition matters, as well as its innovative DEI initiatives, social impact financing, and pro bono work.
ESG leadership
The National Law Journal specifically highlighted the leadership of the global ESG practice’s U.S. co-chairs, Tyree Jones and Jennifer Smokelin.
Jones, who chairs the firm’s Global Labor and Employment Group and is based in Washington, D.C., has a particular focus on the effective management of human capital, including the firm’s DEI initiatives and the development of credible, purposeful metrics to measure the impact of firm’s DEI and sustainability reporting.
Smokelin, a partner in the firm’s Global Energy and Natural Resources Group, is based in Pittsburgh, is a thought leader in emerging environmental and energy issues and international greenhouse gas legislation and standards.
Energy transition
Reed Smith is again highlighted for its work on energy transition, climate change and environmental justice, including such recent work for:
- A multinational conglomerate in advocating for increased infrastructure development in the electric sector
- A U.S. leader in carbon capture and storage facilities in developing an innovative C02 capture project
- International power project developers in large multi-phase solar, battery storage, and first-of-its-kind “green hydrogen” projects
Reed Smith’s Social Impact Finance team was also highlighted for its continuing work helping form investment funds, microfinance institutions, and other social enterprises to facilitate investments in green energy projects, education, women’s health, and health care in developing nations.
Additionally, recent research by Reed Smith and the Impact Investing Institute provided guidance on the UK’s current legislative framework and best market practice for companies to disclose their social sustainability metric.
The firm also recently issued a joint report with the Eurasia Group on the current state and future fate of global ESG efforts, emphasizing how environmental and social trends require new governance structures.
Pro bono impact
Reed Smith was highlighted for devoting more than 85,000 hours to high-impact pro bono work each year at a market value of more than $50 million, including:
- Launching an independent investigation into the case and conviction of Oklahoma death row inmate Richard Glossip
- Helping obtain special immigrant visas for an Afghan national and former U.S./NATO translator, his wife, and child
- Providing holistic support for global refugees through Lamp, Lifeboat, Ladder initiative and challenging the UK’s migrant “pushback” policy
- Advising on human rights initiatives, such as the Geneva Declaration on Human Rights at Sea.