The two organisations already deliver advisory services that cover sustainability and climate change issues, including the financial and physical asset risks associated with regulatory compliance. Both have been boosting their capabilities, investing in talent as the global transition towards a low carbon future gathers momentum.

This first-of-its-kind alliance will seamlessly combine engineering, technical and legal and risk advisory solutions, bringing clients the best of both worlds, Aurecon CEO William Cox said.

“Growing public and investor expectations on climate change, alongside tightening regulatory requirements, are putting the transition to net zero high on the strategic risk agenda for boards of asset-intensive organisations,” he said.

“Clients are actively seeking solutions to pressing climate change risks. The alliance with Ashurst will disrupt business-as-usual thinking about how to solve complex problems at the intersection of asset and legal risk exposure.”

Ashurst global chief executive Paul Jenkins added that the alliance was a response to demand for end-to-end expert advice.

“Today’s organisations are looking to craft solutions from multiple expert perspectives, rather than generalist templates,” he said.  

“Clients are accelerating their sustainability efforts as we all move towards a low-carbon future and, together with Aurecon, we will provide them with bespoke solutions in what is a complex landscape. With the Ashurst Aurecon alliance, our clients will benefit from our future focus, the unique perspectives we bring, and our collaborative approach to problem-solving.”

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The Ashurst and Aurecon advisory alliance is based on a “Strategise, Execute, Validate, Iterate” model; however, the partnership is underpinned by the fact that both Ashurst and Aurecon are implementing net zero and social license strategies for themselves – and attract talent who also live these values.

Aurecon advisory group managing principal Julian Dolby said that the alliance would be in a unique position to meet client demand for end-to-end advice on climate transition risk, likely to increase following the COP26 Climate Change Conference.

“Climate change is a challenge the scale of which we, as a society, have never faced before. We know that advising clients on their net zero journey requires more collaboration, not less, which is why the alliance with Ashurst is built on shared methodology and values,” he said.

Mr Cox added that the combination of the two organisations’ technical, legal and strategic risk offerings was a “game-changer” and that it delivered a new and compelling alternative to a generalist approach.

“Our advisors have an established record in harnessing leading-edge digital tools, techniques and future insights to transform ambiguity and risk into clear direction and opportunity. We advise organisations and governments on how to protect and enhance performance and respond to the risks and opportunities presented by sustainability and climate change.

“However, the work that needs to be done to transition to net zero and create social value in the next decade will require new thinking. Organisations expect deep expertise from multiple perspectives, delivered cohesively to drive progress and achieve results,” he said.

“Our teams include some of the pre-eminent minds in this space, and both advisory practices are on a rapid growth trajectory.”