International law firm Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) has released a new paper aiming to educate businesses on the latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) laws, regulations and statements of best practice applicable in the UK.

Entitled 'ESG: Why the UK is having to measure up', the paper is a detailed guide to the UK legal landscape, highlighting those ESG measures which have been implemented into law and directing readers to key considerations when implementing their own ESG strategies.

The guide, produced by partner Rebecca Ferguson and managing associate Krish Dholakia in WBD's London corporate team, focuses on key recent changes to legislation across the three ESG pillars and also considers what’s likely to be in store for UK businesses through pending legislative reviews, consultations and parliamentary plans.

Examples of such changes include the new Energy Act 2023, new rights for workers to request predictable working patterns and renewed guidance from the Financial Reporting Council on how to utilise ESG. Taking advantage of the firm’s international network, the ten-page report also features recent legal developments relating to ESG in the EU and US.

Rebecca Ferguson, London corporate partner at WBD, said:

"Whilst initially being a means to showcase UK business performance and accountability, ESG has morphed into must-have policy for responsible businesses in the UK as a result of an ever-increasing platform of legislation, rules and statements of best practice. A strong knowledge of the legal background to ESG is vital to ensuring this can be achieved lawfully and effectively.”

"At WBD we are committed to helping our clients understand where they stand in the complicated and fast moving legal landscape of ESG. We are equally committed to maintaining our own high standards of business ethics and environmental responsibility.”

You can read the full report below.

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