Corporate Sustainability

Overview

Companies around the country and throughout the world have been encouraged, and many are required, to address the sustainability of their operations and products, ranging from global climate change to impacts on workers. Government policies and requirements are being advanced at the state, federal, and international levels. Corporate and business stakeholders and shareholders are keeping companies accountable for their sustainability goals and exposure to environmental risks and losses. Public companies, in particular, must establish systems to track, control, and report the risks and costs associated with these concerns. A growing number of companies are using innovative corporate structures, such as the benefit corporation, or seeking third-party certification to demonstrate their commitment to creating positive social change and operating in an environmentally sustainable manner. Robinson+Cole’s Sustainability Group assists clients in implementing strategic approaches to these and other environmental, social, and governance (ESG) concerns.

Our Services

Effective and responsive action to climate change has become a new requirement for corporate environmental performance and social responsibility—and an expectation of local governments and the general public. Our Sustainability Group provides counsel to companies and governmental agencies on successful approaches in this complicated and ever-changing field

Our Team

Members of the Sustainability Group help clients assess and measure the potential legal risks and opportunities of various strategies in responding to corporate sustainability, environmental and worker safety policies. We have extensive experience helping clients navigate through the vast array of compliance requirements they face and expansive knowledge of new and existing climate change policies, including the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and U.S. federal, state, and regional greenhouse gas initiative (RGGI) efforts. We have also assisted clients in establishing benefit corporations and in meeting the legal requirements to qualify as Certified B Corporations. 

We work hard to structure successful strategies and approaches that encourage a sustainable corporate culture and a triple bottom line.

    • Experience
      • Represented Fortune 100 company with design, development, and implementation of its sustainability program, including researching applicable and emerging law and policy, analyzing potential funding mechanisms to support the program, aligning sustainability goals with business objectives, and developing an organizational structure consistent with the client’s corporate structure and culture.

      • Evaluate use of renewable energy credits to meet clients' clean energy and emission reduction goals. 

      • Advise clients in analyzing energy efficiency programs to assist in reduction of energy consumption and overall reduction of energy costs.

      • Advise clients regarding how various climate change initiatives (for example, RGGI) and state renewable portfolio standards affect development.

      • Worked closely with Fortune 500 Company's legal and technical personnel to assess emerging federal, state, and regional greenhouse gas control programs, identify potential burdens and opportunities, and develop related corporate strategies.

    • News
      • April 18, 2016

        Jerome Garciano Hosts Sustainability Event in Boston Office

        • » more info
    • Publications + Presentations
    • "Sustainability Benchmarking," presented by Brian W. Blaesser, workshop at the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) 2011 RetailGreen Conference, moderated by Brian W. Blaesser (11/30/2011)
      • » more info

Our Team

Members