Integrating Sustainability throughout Our Practice
Supporting environmental sustainability is a key focus for our firm and a responsibility our lawyers and staff share alike. We strive to incorporate leading environmental practices and sustainability principles into all areas of our practice and operations.
Reducing our footprint
We recognize that stewardship of the environment is a continuous process to identify and implement improvements in the firm’s operations. Since launching our firm-wide sustainability initiative in 2008 we have significantly reduced energy and paper consumption, increased efficiency in our office operations, and increased procurement of environmentally friendly products and supplies throughout our offices worldwide.
In 2012 we once again joined millions across the globe, including many of our clients, in participating in Earth Hour. We unplugged non-essential equipment and switched off lights throughout our offices, including the Paul Hastings sign on top of the City National Plaza skyscraper complex in downtown Los Angeles.
Protecting the sustainability of the world’s largest tuna stock
Our lawyers also regularly devote their time to pro bono matters that support sustainability initiatives. In a significant victory with far-reaching implications, we successfully represented the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF) in a complex international arbitration involving the sustainability of the world’s largest tuna stock. ISSF is a nonprofit coalition of leading scientists, industry leaders, and environmental advocates, including National Geographic and the World Wildlife Fund. ISSF objected to the Marine Stewardship Council’s certification of the PNA Purse-Seine Fishery as sustainable. Although the PNA is run by the governments of eight Pacific Island nations, it failed to implement a management strategy that would allow it to certify the health of the entire tuna stock. Following a two-day arbitration in London, the arbitrator issued a final decision granting ISSF’s request for the imposition of strong conditions on PNA to protect the tuna stock. The decision will serve as a precedent for conservation efforts around the globe.
Raising awareness of ocean conservation
We provided pro bono support to a Southern California artist in his efforts to increase awareness of the need for ocean conservation. Mark Patterson originally installed his large glass mosaic, Save the Ocean, on Earth Day 2011, but the City of Encinitas ordered him to take it down because he did not have permission to place his artwork on public property. Dubbed “Surfing Madonna,” the mosaic quickly gained national media attention. We helped Mr. Patterson obtain the necessary approvals and now, after nearly a year-long hiatus, the popular mosaic is back on display. The firm also helped him set up the nonprofit Surfing Madonna Oceans Project to raise awareness of conservation issues affecting the world’s oceans and handled the licensing of the mosaic’s image to benefit the project.
Helping The Nature Conservancy advance its efforts
Our longstanding relationship with The Nature Conservancy continued to expand in 2012. Lawyers from our offices in the U.S. and China advise the Conservancy on a wide range of international and domestic employment, real estate, litigation, and tax matters. Most recently, we advised on the tax consequences of charitable contributions.
Providing our clients with an integrated approach to sustainability
We are also environmentally astute in the work we do with our clients. Environmental sustainability efforts continue to be increasingly important for corporations, governments, institutions, and individuals around the world. Our lawyers are highly experienced in advising clients on renewable energy projects and regulatory compliance matters, drafting legislation to ensure the responsible use of resources and assisting in the development of LEED-certified buildings.
