Shoosmiths named environmental champion at Belfast Chamber’s business awards
October, 2021 - Milton Keynes, England
Leading UK law firm Shoosmiths was named Belfast Chamber’s Green Champion at its 2021 Business Awards.
Co-heads of Shoosmiths’ Belfast office, Gillian Crotty and Mark Blair, accepting the Green Champion award.
The awards recognise businesses in Northern Ireland, with Shoosmiths picking up an accolade for its environmental strategy, including its engagement with staff and the legal support provided to clients.
Shoosmiths is committed to a net zero future with a target for its operations to achieve net zero emissions by 2025. The firm has also made a commitment to the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to set science-based emissions reduction targets across the entire value chain that are consistent with limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
The firm is also a founding member of the Northern Ireland Clean Hydrogen Group, which was launched to support the growth of the clean hydrogen economy in Northern Ireland.
The co-heads of Shoosmiths’ Belfast office, Gillian Crotty and Mark Blair, accepted the award at an evening ceremony held on Friday 22 October at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Shaw’s Bridge.
Gillian Crotty, partner and co-head of Shoosmiths’ Belfast office, said:
“This is a key achievement for Shoosmiths - showing that the firm is forging ahead on its journey to net zero. The award recognises our environmental credentials, with strong progress made in reducing the firm’s emissions and energy consumption, while also helping our client partners to do the same.”
Mark Blair, partner and co-head of Shoosmiths’ Belfast office, said:
“Despite the disruption of the last year, we have continued to make positive changes across the firm, including in Belfast. Our environmental performance is matched by the legal expertise provided to our client partners and involvement with initiatives such as the Northern Ireland Clean Hydrogen Group, which is growing the area’s clean hydrogen economy.”
Nicola Ellen, head of corporate responsibility at Shoosmiths, said:
“Shoosmiths is committed to protecting the environment by demonstrating high standards of responsibility in all of its operations. We look forward to building on this award win and working with our staff, clients and other partners to implement the changes required for a better future.”
Shoosmiths’ chairperson, Peter Duff, is the firm’s senior net zero representative and a member of the Business in the Community’s Climate Action Leadership Group.
The firm has disclosed the annual progress made against its environmental targets since 2012. More information on its 2020 - 2021 carbon footprint can be found here.
