Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer

Transitioning to a sustainable economy presents organizations with challenges and opportunities in every sector. In this dynamic landscape, A&O Shearman plans to become the preferred law firm in sustainability and provide clients with the highest quality support. As the main point of contact for the European practice, the Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer plays a key role in achieving this goal.

About A&O Shearman

For decades, A&O Shearman has earned its household name in the legal profession. The law firm, originally British, assists corporations, financial institutions, government agencies and civil society organizations with their most complex legal challenges. The firm is a global market leader in M&A, finance, corporate governance, regulatory, and litigation areas.

A&O Shearman has a valuable international network of more than forty offices and 5,500 employees across thirty countries. Their combined global reach and deep-rooted local knowledge enables the firm to provide optimal key support to international companies and institutions. A&O Shearman also offers its employees the benefits of this international environment, with access to extensive expertise and large, international deals, while the company culture retains a Dutch flavor, thanks to its emphasis on openness and equality.

Leading sustainability law firm 
The goal to achieve Net Zero by 2050 requires organizations to invest in major investments in several areas. Mobilizing capital is needed, which requires market, legislative, and regulatory changes. And private and public sectors, governments, NGOs, and citizens, need to work closely together to achieve their sustainability goals. Meanwhile, companies need to integrate ESG criteria and performance into their strategies, operations, and reporting, to also meet their Sustainable Development Goals. However, new laws and regulations continue to be introduced by governments to facilitate and accelerate this global transition. And naturally, market changes in laws and regulations are being very quickly introduced. In this dynamic playing field with its high stakes, A&O Shearman’s strategy is to position itself internationally as the leading law firm for sustainability. 

Vacancy: Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer

The Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer will be the expert for the entire European law practice. Based in the Amsterdam or Brussels, they ensure A&O Shearman presents itself to clients, and internally, as the authority on European laws, sustainability regulations, and ESG guidelines. 

To achieve these goals, the Senior Knowledge Lawyer contributes their in-depth knowledge of sustainability laws and regulations, as well as their own extensive network. Backed by in-depth knowledge, the right contacts and strategic insights, they will solve complex challenges and technical issues of the world’s largest organizations and successfully guide them through the transition. They work closely with two other Knowledge Lawyers, as well as A&O Shearman lawyers, who consult with them with their own sustainability questions. They also interact often with Business Development, the EU Sustainability and Climate Center of Excellence, and the Global Sustainability Team. Lines of communication at A&O Shearman are short and, thanks to their entrepreneurial mindset, responses are fast, both nationally and internationally.

The Senior Lawyer reports directly to Jochem Spaans and Gauthier van Thuyne, law firm partners based in the Amsterdam and Brussels offices, respectively. They are responsible for the EU Sustainability and Climate Center of Excellence. Although the Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer is based in the Amsterdam or Brussels office, they will regularly travel between the two offices.

Their main area of ​​​​​​​​​​​​focus is developments in European environmental law, public law, business and human rights law, and climate and ESG litigation. In addition to focusing on European developments, they also remain on top of global trends. By presenting developments and insights into clear implications for clients and markets, the Senior Sustainability Knowledge Lawyer translates these into effective training and publications about various topics for internal and external use. These publications include presentations, white papers, webinars, seminars and podcasts, and ensure their clients and the firm’s own lawyers are always up-to-date on the latest developments in European sustainability law, and reinforce A&O Shearman’s thought leadership position in the European market .

“Clients, partners and lawyers regularly present complex, technical questions to this senior lawyer. These include wanting to know the impact a law will have on business operations. Or how will the market develop in a given area? There is the time and scope to really dive deeply into the subject matter in order to deliver this added value, which is immensely satisfying.” – Stéphanie Dalleur, Senior Knowledge Lawyer of A&O Shearman

This role is ideal for an entrepreneurial lawyer who wants to guide leading international clients towards a climate-neutral future and be less active in the daily transactional and advisory practice. Experience in steering cross-border projects in an international law firm or NGO is necessary, along with in-depth knowledge of sustainability and ESG. The opportunity to shape the role offers a unique opportunity to play a crucial part in realizing A&O Shearman’s key growth ambition.

Interested?

A&O Shearman is working with Top of Minds to fill this vacancy.
Please contact Martine Francken at martinefrancken@topofminds.com to let us know that you are interested in this vacancy.