Sustainability

Our firm recognizes the value of creating a sustainable workplace that helps preserve and enhance the health of our environment and communities. Blank Rome’s cross-disciplinary team of attorneys partners with clients to deliver legal services that support every facet of their sustainability efforts.

Sustainability remains a focus for business investors, boards of directors, and corporate leadership, especially for those companies with an international presence. These considerations increasingly influence strategic decisions and are important in shaping how businesses approach risk oversight and regulatory response.

Enterprises of all kinds remain under scrutiny to be transparent about climate risks, social justice, sustainability, workplace policies, and governance issues. This emphasis on sustainability affects every industry, and a business’ long‑term value may be measured by how well it manages sustainability-related risks and leverages sustainability-driven opportunities. Our clients operate in a landscape where investors, customers, and rating agencies do consider a company’s ability to reduce potential risks while capitalizing on emerging sustainable growth opportunities.

How We Can Help

Blank Rome serves a wide range of clients across many industries, including public and private companies, international corporations, banks, financial institutions, investors, and investment funds. Our legal and business knowledge covers numerous sectors including renewable and conventional energy, construction, manufacturing, financial services, life sciences, technology, and transportation, among others.

Our firm helps clients navigate the full spectrum of governance and sustainability challenges. We provide an array of services aimed at helping businesses achieve and sustain their competitive advantage while avoiding any potential risks and related costs. We provide practical guidance and hands‑on support across a number of areas such as:

Sustainability Strategy & Reporting

Developing and implementing long‑term sustainability strategies (including any potential SEC reporting), voluntary disclosures, and stakeholder communications.

Disclosure & Risk Management

Assisting with the disclosure of key sustainability and governance information including climate scenario analysis reporting, required financial filings, and investor‑relations communications, to help manage litigation risks, such as common‑law climate claims.

Board Advisory

Supporting boards of directors in understanding governance and sustainability issues and strengthening oversight responsibilities.

Investor Engagement

Engaging with investors on governance and sustainability topics, including reviewing public positions, assisting with investment management strategies, and enhancing engagement programs.

Greenwashing Risk Mitigation

Advising on how to avoid and respond to allegations of greenwashing.

Government Investigations

Managing inquiries related to alleged fiduciary‑duty breaches and critiques of non‑pecuniary corporate initiatives.

Mergers and Acquisitions

Environmental liability and due diligence for mergers and acquisitions transactions.

Employment‑Related Litigation Risks

Counseling on sustainability‑related employment practices and associated risks.

Human Capital Considerations

Advising on human capital management disclosures in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, adapting workforce policies and programs, legal and regulatory oversight to recruit and retain the best talent, protection of corporate assets and trade secrets, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence.

Regulatory Readiness

Monitoring and preparing for evolving sustainability regulatory requirements.

Climate Change

Compliance with climate change-related protocols and insurance coverage related to climate events.

Land Use

Due diligence for brownfields and advice on land use restrictions.

Sustainability Funds

Creation and operation of sustainability funds and special purpose acquisition companies (“SPACs”) as well as advising on Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (“PPAs”).

International Trade

Advising on governance, diligence, and sustainability issues across the supply chain, as well as advice surrounding sanctions and Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) compliance counseling.

Cybersecurity

Guiding clients on cybersecurity risks and related governance expectations.

What Sets Us Apart

• 2027 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) national ranks:
  • Corporate Law (Tier 1)
  • Environmental Law (Tier 1)
  • Litigation – Environmental (Tier 1)
• 2027 Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms” (Woodward/White, Inc.) regional ranks:
  • Corporate Law in Los Angeles (Tier 1), Philadelphia (Tier 1), Pittsburgh (Tier 1), and Houston
  • Environmental Law in Philadelphia (Tier 1), Pittsburgh (Tier 1), New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.
  • Litigation – Environmental in Philadelphia (Tier 1)
• Chambers USA has ranked Blank Rome for Environment in Pennsylvania
• Chambers USA has ranked Blank Rome’s Investment Management practice both globally and nationally.

Our attorneys:

• Bring unique perspectives with experience representing both company and investor clients on sustainability issues.
• Place an emphasis on preventive measures to prevent problems before they arise and help our clients prepare for changes in regulations.
• Stand out as thought leaders, organizing, sponsoring, hosting, and presenting webinars and events on various sustainability-related topics, and are regularly quoted in media publications on developing issues.
• Monitor sustainability developments at the state and federal level to better help clients address any concerning news and trends.
• Build cross-disciplinary client service teams tailored to each client’s specific needs and goals.
• Combine the depth and experience of a large firm with a commitment to close personal attention to our clients and the matters involved.
• Invest in long-term relationships to ensure effective and efficient delivery of legal services.
• Provide value-added services to our clients, including in-house training programs, CLE programs, and newsletters.