Italy's law firm launches ESG group

Italy's law firm launches ESG group

BonelliErede to increase its focus on sustainability to meet clients' demand

Milan-based law firm BonelliErede has launched a specialist environmental, social and governance (ESG) group, the latest global company to meet clients' demand for ESG-related support. Twelve partners will lead it across a range of practices.

The group was formed out of the Milan-based firm's corporate governance team. It comprises lawyers from across different practice areas. They will support corporates with their ESG goals and carbon reduction targets. In addition, the team will advise on matters such as environment, law, human capital management, corporate governance and sustainable finance.

Stefano Simontacchi, president of BonelliErede and leader of the corporate governance team, said, "With the increasing importance of ESG challenges at the corporate level and the new regulatory framework, the business world can no longer put off addressing core ESG issues – increasingly seen as business issues – such as climate change, environmental impact and sustainable growth."

He added that the ESG group would take a holistic approach to those issues that will go beyond regulatory and compliance requirements.

"We manage the entire life cycle of each project – from the drafting of ESG policies to their approval and implementation – also working in tandem with companies and institutions to establish best practices in corporate governance," he explained.

Including tax law expert Simontacchi, the group comprises 12 partners. They are: corporate lawyers Carlo Montagna, Alessandro Musella, Barbara Napolitano, Francesca Secondari and Giovanni Domenichini, banking and finance partner Massimiliano Danusso, intellectual property and privacy law partner Tommaso Faelli, employment law expert Giovanni Muzina, administrative law partner Luca Perfetti, criminal law partner Francesco Sbisa and litigation partner Lazare Vittone.

As sustainability issues rise, a number of firms have been increasing their ESG capabilities over the past year.