
Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
ESG considerations have risen to the top of the agenda for investors and businesses concerned about sustainability and doing business responsibly. Our dedicated multi-disciplinary ESG lawyers work seamlessly together to assist clients with the identification and integration of ESG priorities at all levels of their business.
Sarah Thompson and our ESG Group
In this video, Sarah talks about how our ESG Group works with clients to help them meet their ESG related goals and obligations.
As organisations are faced with an increasing focus on ensuring that they have positive impacts for their stakeholders and the environment, sustainability and doing business responsibly can no longer be ignored if they want to grow and thrive.
Our ESG team works with our clients to identify and integrate ESG priorities at all levels of their businesses. We advise clients on areas such as energy transition, climate action, sustainable finance and green bonds, sustainable real estate investment and development and green leases. The team have worked with financial institutions to develop lending programmes for minority communities and we’ve also advised on the financing of social housing units. On the governance side, we’ve advised clients on the legal aspects of ESG investments as well as on issues relating to ESG reporting, maintaining ESG records and issues around “green-washing”.

Environmental
Major projects and transactions are increasingly driven by environmental imperatives, with environmental considerations being central to many other commercial contracts, projects, transactions and disputes.

Social
Social impacts are an organisation’s direct and indirect impacts on internal and external stakeholders. An organisation that measures and monitors social impacts offers stakeholders greater confidence that it is less vulnerable to risk and is more likely to generate goodwill inside and outside their organisation.

Governance
Companies are under increasing pressure to define their purpose in society and to deliver on the ESG promises they make. How an organisation is governed is essential in achieving these objectives.
Insights Blog

CSRD: Recent Developments for Sustainability Reporting

Fifth Onshore Renewable Electricity Support Scheme

Green Bonds: EU Green Bonds Regulation will apply from 21 December 2024

Sustainability Developments: Possible Omnibus Simplification Package for Reporting; Possible move from SFDR Disclosures to Categorisation

ESMA Publishes Clarifications on its Fund Names Guidelines

Listing Act published in Official Journal: Update on changes to Prospectus and Market Abuse Regulations (debt securities)
News
Podcasts

Pensions and ESG

Company Law: Back to Basics – Connected Persons and Substantial Property Transactions

IORP II

Company Law: Back to Basics – Mergers

Asset Management and Investment Funds Podcast: Liquidity Risk Management

Company Law: Back to Basics – Summary Approval Procedure

Asset Management and Investment Funds Podcast: Annual Investment Manager Presentation
Knowledge

Horizon Scanner: Infrastructure, Construction, Energy

Horizon Scanner: Finance

Sustainable Finance Week 2024

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive

Energy Update: New Connection Policy for Onshore Generation and System Services

CSRD: Transposition into Irish Law

EU provides Legal Framework for Regulation and Decarbonisation of the Gas Sector

Horizon Scanner: Finance

Charities Law Update: Key Changes in the New Charities (Amendment) Act 2024

ESG Newsletter Summer 2024

New Due Diligence Obligations for Corporates Enter into Force

New Internal Market in Electricity legislation to come into effect in July 2024

Where Nature Restoration meets Infrastructure Development: Council approves new Regulation

ESG Newsletter Spring 2024

CSDDD Receives Council Endorsement

Fitness & Probity: Looking ahead to the independent review of the Central Bank’s approval process

Offshore Renewable Energy Development in Ireland: Consultation begins on Future Framework

What’s Another Year? January 2024

ESG Newsletter Q4 2023

The Legal Duties of Charity Trustees: Practical Steps to Follow

The Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism – Reporting Period Begins

Scottish Court decides that an employee’s right to participate in a share scheme transfers under TUPE

Irish Compliance Quarterly: Developing a Responsible Governance Framework for AI

Employees on Domestic Violence Leave to Receive Full Pay

Pensions Update: Summer 2023

ESG Newsletter Q3 2023

ESG Video Series

Procurement Law Update: The Deadline is Key

The Pay Transparency Directive: What does it mean for Irish employers?

New Employment Rights to Come into Force on 3 July

Directors’ Duties and Net Zero

ESG Newsletter Q2 2023

Climate Action Litigation: Where is it headed?

European Commission responds to ESAs’ questions on SFDR

EV Charging Infrastructure: Legal aspects in Ireland as the 60km interval gets closer

2023 Priority Legislation for Publication in the Life Sciences Sector

ESG Newsletter Q1 2023

ESG Newsletter Autumn 2022

Ireland’s Climate Action Plan 2023

New emergency legislation proposed by the European Commission to fast-track consenting processes for renewable energy in Europe

Arthur Cox contributes to Mondaq’s ESG Guide

Arthur Cox contributes to Ashurst’s global guide on “Investing in hydrogen”

Irish Building Magazine Series

Energy Transition: One year on from Fit for 55, REPowerEU signals further significant reform

A voluntary or mandatory EU Green Bond Standard? The debate continues

New Rules for the Agri-Food Sector

Arthur Cox contributes to the Lex Mundi Global Anti-Corruption Compliance Guide

Energy Transition in Ireland – November Update on Targets, RESS Auctions and Grid Development Policy

The Irish Courts strengthen their position as a jurisdiction for resolving IP and technology disputes

Latest on Offshore Wind in Ireland: Support Scheme and Grid Connection Consultations

Government Housing for All Plan – Snapshot of Key Measures

European Green Deal takes shape in Fit for 55: What does it mean for Ireland?

Progress for Ireland’s Offshore Energy Sector: The Maritime Area Planning Bill is ready to go

The European Commission’s EU Sustainable Finance April Package

Offshore Wind Energy: Ireland plots a course towards a centralised approach to grid development

ESG under the microscope: Regulatory developments in the space
ESG Contacts

Sarah Thompson
Partner | Dublin
Maedhbh Clancy
Of Counsel | Dublin
Phil Cody
Partner | Dublin
Danielle Conaghan
Partner | Dublin
Mairéad Duncan-Jones
Partner | Dublin
Golda Hession
Of Counsel | Dublin
Rachel Hussey
Partner | Dublin
Suzanne Kearney
Of Counsel | Dublin
Sarah McCague
Partner | Dublin
Conor McCarthy
Partner | London
Niamh McGovern
Partner | Dublin
Kevin Murphy
Partner | Dublin
Tara O’Reilly
Partner | Dublin
Deirdre Sheehan
Partner | Dublin