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The Lander & Rogers Growth, for good 2030 report has outlined the firm’s sustainability strategy, highlighting how BigLaw firms can implement sustainability into their operations, client services, and planning for the future.
As sustainability becomes an integral consideration for all businesses, law firms are facing growing expectations to implement responsible practices into their services.
BigLaw firm Lander & Rogers is responding to such needs through its Growth, for good 2030 sustainability strategy, aiming to make sustainability an important part of the firm’s governance, decision making, and long-term growth.
The strategy outlined commitments spanning climate action, human rights, inclusive economic participation, and transparent reporting, which included a science-based target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2038.
In a nutshell, Lander & Rogers committed to an approved near-term target of reducing its scope 3 emissions by 68 per cent against its FY2020–21 baseline by 2030; diverting 70 per cent of operational waste from landfill by 2030, and continuing to source 100 per cent renewable electricity across its offices, which it has done since 2022.
Beyond reducing its environmental footprint, the firm aims to bolster its ability to advise clients navigating regulatory obligations and sustainability risks.
Driving net zero and climate action by 2030
Talking to Lawyers Weekly, Lander & Rogers’ head of sustainability, Tanya Harris, recognised that sustainability is increasingly transforming how law firms advise clients and manage their own environmental duties.
“Our clients are navigating climate, regulatory, technological and supply-chain change, and look to their legal advisers as trusted partners,” Harris said.
“Our Growth, for good 2030 sustainability strategy strengthens our ability to operate as a trusted, low-risk partner, grounded in credible evidence, responsible governance and practical experience.
“As well as guiding our firm’s progress towards our 2038 net zero target, delivering our 2030 sustainability strategy will inform the insights and expert guidance we offer clients as they navigate their own decisions and actions on sustainability.”
Lander & Rogers’ climate commitments also involve assisting clients facing rigorous reporting and decarbonisation expectations.
“As a supplier to Group 1, 2 and 3 entities, confidence in the integrity of our data proactively supports our clients to meet their obligations and achieve decarbonisation outcomes,” Harris said.
“Our firmwide action towards achieving this target includes integrating climate risk into significant strategic decisions.”
Importance of BigLaw embracing sustainability
Harris noted that sustainability extends beyond environmental targets, requiring BigLaw firms to embed responsible practices across governance, supply chains and business operations.
“Embedding sustainability in all we do, from our digital systems and data governance to evidencing integration of sustainability into strategic decision making we make every day as a firm,” Harris said.
“We will do this by embedding stronger protections for workers in our value chain to consider and respect human rights, and supporting equitable and inclusive economic participation.
“Publishing transparent annual progress against our targets, and making sustainability fundamental in how our firm governs, manages risk and grows to further strengthen the digital, financial and operational resilience of our business.”
How BigLaw is prioritising sustainability accountability
For BigLaw firms such as Lander & Rogers, transparent reporting and measurable progress are immensely important to demonstrating accountability, managing risk and meeting the evolving expectations of clients.
“We will deliver our first voluntary annual sustainability report aligned to AASB S1 General Requirements for Disclosure of Sustainability-related Financial Information at the end of the current reporting period of FY27,” Harris said.
“As our Growth, for good 2030 strategy encompasses material topics across environmental, social and governance dimensions, the broader S1 scope made sense.
“This will allow us to develop a reliable evidence base to guide decisions that will keep our operations and firm on track towards our critical sustainability targets and year-on-year evolution.”
For Australian BigLaw firms, sustainability reporting can also strengthen governance and operational resilience, helping implement responsible practices into long-term business strategy.
“We have a long-term target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions across our value chain by FY38; this commitment has been endorsed by our Board and validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi),” Harris said.
