Juan Costa Climent dons the role of sustainability policy director

Juan Costa Climent dons the role of sustainability policy director

law firms have increased the environmental capabilities, as it becomes a priority for clients

A lawyer and former Spanish government minister Juan Costa Climent has been appointed by Mishcon de Reya as a global climate change and sustainability expert in its business arm, Mishcon Purpose. Climent previously lead a similar policy role at Ernst & Young.

On Climent's new role as sustainability policy director, Mishcon said he would combine his role as a lawyer at the firm with his position as an advisor to international companies and university lecturers. "He specializes in advising businesses and governments on how to grow value through proactive engagement in the transition to a stakeholder-led market economy," the firm stated.

Mishcon's managing partner, James Libson, said Climent's expertise in sustainability and climate change "considerably strengthens our capabilities to help clients develop and execute purpose-led strategies to mitigate risk and grow value."

"His distinguished career in public service and private sector leadership is a significant step for us in achieving our objective of being the market-leading firm using the law to drive positive impact, together with our clients," he added.

Climent remarked, "It is a great honor to join the firm and support its values. We believe that as lawyers we have an important role to play in wider society, particularly with regard to sustainability, climate justice and human rights."

Based in Madrid, Climent worked at EY for a decade from 2010. In 2005, he served at the consultancy giant Ernst & Young Abogados', Madrid, Spain office, as president.

Prior to that, he was a visiting scholar at the International Monetary Fund. From the mid-90s until 2004, he served as minister of state for finance, secretary of state for trade and minister for science, technology and industry in Spain.