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Freeths signs up to ‘Greener Litigation Pledge’

Law firm Freeths has become the latest signatory to the 'Greener Litigation Pledge', an initiative to reduce the environmental impact of dispute resolution.

Freeths said: "It is the objective of the Greener Litigation Pledge that the courts and court users of England and Wales play an important role in achieving that commitment, and encourage lasting change in litigation practice both within the UK and around the world.

"The immediate goal of the Pledge is to change the way in which dispute resolution practitioners conduct litigation in England and Wales, so as to reduce the carbon footprint of court disputes in line with the objective of restricting global warming to 1.5°C as set out in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

"Longer term, the aim is to act as a catalyst for change to policy and procedure, to embed meaningful and permanent change into the rules of litigation practice, reducing climate and other environmental impacts."

More details regarding the Pledge are on the website: www.greenerlitigation.org. Other signatories include 39 Essex Chambers, DLA Piper, Burges Salmon, Weightmans, Gatehouse Chambers, and Addleshaw Goddard.

Freeths said: “Historically, litigation has not been the most environmentally friendly activity, being very much face to face and paper heavy. However, one of the positive aspects of the pandemic is that the courts have adapted incredibly well to the virtual world and many hearings now take place remotely and using electronic bundles. We have also long been a paper-lite department. This means that Freeths lawyers are already undertaking many of the processes outlined in the Pledge.”