Legal and sustainability

Legal plays a critical role in solving today’s challenges

In today’s dynamic legal landscape, managing risks and opportunities is paramount, especially when it comes to sustainability. Businesses are expected to proactively address and manage sustainability and legal risks, not just within their operations but also throughout their supply chains. This shift is driven by stakeholders, including investors and employees, who demand a focus on sustainable business practices. The result: a rapid expansion of sustainability-related standards and regulations at local, national and global levels. This evolution presents both challenges and opportunities from a tax and legal perspective, leading to an increased demand for sustainability legal services. It has also spurred the creation of new areas of legal practice, such as sustainability reporting and a Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD).

What's our position?

Sustainability has become an integral component of legal practice, and understanding sustainability legal requirements has become pivotal for making informed, long-term decisions. Companies find themselves navigating a landscape filled with novel legal risks and opportunities that carry significant legal implications.

We recognise the distinct challenges clients face and leverage our global expertise to develop solutions for emerging issues. Our value proposition lies in our commitment to understanding and addressing the specific needs of our clients, ensuring they are well-positioned to respond to the sustainability demands now and in the future.

For example, the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) aims to foster transparency, allowing for the assessment of an organisation’s performance and the opportunities for reinvention.

‘Companies that empower their in-house legal departments to play an active role in reviewing and monitoring environmental, social, and governance (ESG) related disclosures will be in the best position to mitigate ESG-related risks going forward.’

Source:Association of Corporate Counsel

Our legal and sustainability services

Our services are focused on building trust through holistic thinking, due diligence and transparency.

Sustainability due diligence and reporting

Environmental and human rights transparency has become crucial, and businesses face intricate compliance and reporting challenges. With sustainability regulations constantly evolving across different territories, staying compliant requires keeping abreast of changes and best practices. This includes corporate governance, ethics, anti-competitive practices, consumer protection, board diversity and executive pay.

Our network of legal professionals, across nearly 100 territories, delivers local expertise with a global perspective by providing the insights and guidance necessary to propel your business forward in a sustainable manner.

Climate and sustainability regulations

As the push for climate change mitigation and net-zero objectives intensifies, businesses, investors, customers, and stakeholders are experiencing a mix of challenges and opportunities. Whether it’s developing renewable energy, investing in carbon-capture technology, adhering to circular economy standards, financing green initiatives, trading carbon credits or setting tangible climate goals, legal considerations are crucial.

Our team offers a comprehensive approach, combining expertise from Deals, Tax, Consulting and Assurance to provide actionable advice on environmental and climate-related legal matters. From navigating regulations to drafting sustainability agreements, we help you manage the legal aspects of sustainability and adapt to a shifting risk landscape.

Workforce

Workforce issues have legal implications, and companies are required to meet minimum wage and entitlement requirements across different jurisdictions. But what workplace models best support sustainability-linked goals? And what are their effects on health, safety, diversity and inclusion? Can pay incentives promote more sustainable workplace behaviours?

These and other questions raise complex issues. Finding the right answers requires a holistic perspective. Does your future sustainable workforce strategy include a considered and appropriate legal framework?

Make your climate actions count with targeted, tailored solutions

Sustainability and climate change services

Legal and sustainability insights

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Contact us

Barry Murphy

Global Sustainability Tax, Legal and Workforce Leader, Partner, PwC United Kingdom

Tel: +44 20 7583 5000

Ismael Aznar Cano

Global Sustainability Legal Leader, Partner, PwC Spain

Tel: +34 659 967 124

Matt Timmons

Global CSRD Legal Services leader, Partner, PwC United Kingdom

Dr. Tobias von Tucher

PwC Legal AG Co-Head IP/IT/Commercial Germany, Partner, PwC Germany

Tel: +49 89 579050

Frederic Mirza Khanian

Global Legal Business Solutions Leader, Partner, PwC Germany

Tel: +49 172242 7132

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