Gilbert + Tobin appoints Ilona Millar

Gilbert + Tobin appoints Ilona Millar

Ilona Millar's appointment is part of a trend of law firms expanding their ESG capabilities with an outbreak of appointments

It says the move will enable the firm to focus on climate change and other ESG matters more aggressively. Leading independent Gilbert + Tobin has hired Baker McKenzie banking and projects partner Ilona Millar.

Formerly the head of Baker McKenzie's global climate change practice, Millar joins the firm's Sydney headquarters after serving at the firm for 14 years. Her role is to join G+T's banking and projects team, where she will continue to advise clients on carbon market transactions as well as counselling on climate change risks and opportunities.

Millar's arrival establishes G+T as a 'go-to' firm for carbon markets transactions, as well as decarbonisation, energy transition, climate risk management and climate litigation.

G+T managing partner Danny Gilbert pointed out that climate change management is a critical issue for the Australian economy, as more scrutiny is being placed on firms like his.

Ilona's extensive expertise will contribute greatly to G+T's development of our strategic approach to ESG, how we develop our practice and provide the best advice to clients, says Gilbert. "We are thrilled to have Ilona on board. Her expertise will make us even more valuable to our clients."

Since 2015, Millar has served as a commission member of the NSW Independent Planning Commission and the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator, both of which are part of the NSW Natural Resources Access Regulator.

In November 2019, she assumed the role of global climate change director at Bakers. Global climate change partner Andrew Hedges and environmental law partner Graham Stuart remain the firm's market-leading figures within the firm's market-leading global climate change practice. They are both ranked as star individuals by Chambers and Partners, along with Millar.

The Bakers Sydney office has hired Ruth Dawes from King & Wood Mallesons to join its environmental law practice as an ESG partner in December. The global law firm appointed Alyssa Auberger as its first chief sustainability officer in October of 2020, a top partner in Paris who was previously the global head of the consumer products sector.

With clients becoming increasingly interested in the topic, Gilbert + Tobin is not the only company striving to enhance its climate change sustainability capabilities.

In the past two weeks, Mishcon de Reya has hired the former global climate change and sustainability lead from EY to help them with their sustainability effort, Mishcon Purpose, as well as Latham & Watkins, which hired two attorneys from Vinson & Elkins and Davis Polk & Wardwell to handle the ESG aspect of its US practice.

A new affiliate formed by US law firm Greenspoon Marder specializing in ESG has been set up to advice public and private companies and investment firms relating to sustainability issues. The move came after Debevoise & Plimpton appointed sustainability expert Ulysses Smith as its first senior ESG adviser in November.