Sustainability allies: Ben Stansfield talks climate, competitions and creating change

In this, the next in our ‘sustainability allies’ blog series, we talk to partner Ben Stansfield about the success of the firm’s biodiversity essay competition as part of increasing awareness around key environmental issues – in particular, nature loss. Biodiversity is an important theme within our ESG strategy, which focuses on four priorities: corporate governance; people, inclusion and wellbeing; environment; and responsible business.

Over this series we will look at the impact the firm is having across all its ESG priorities through the eyes of key individuals – turning a spotlight on the fantastic work they are doing to help others and push forward our ESG goals.

To find out more about our ESG initiatives, take a look at our Sustainability report 2023.

Your name and role at Gowling WLG:

Ben Stansfield, sustainability partner and ESG group co-chair at Gowling WLG.

What is your role at Gowling WLG?

I am a sustainability lawyer – I have a particular focus on climate issues and the consenting of projects; and I also co-chair the firm’s ESG group, which provides legal support to all of our clients.

Tell us about the firm’s focus on biodiversity and how this competition came about?

There has been a real focus across society on carbon issues for a number of years, which intensified in the UK once the Government legislated for a net zero economy by 2050. This has led to everyone – whether consumers, businesses, or large organisations – focusing a lot on the carbon impacts of the decisions they take. 

But the UK is well on the way to decarbonising. While there is still much to do in terms of new regulations and new technological solutions, we all need to think about how we protect and restore the natural world that existed prior to the industrial revolution and commercial-scale farming.

Given that we were beginning to work with a number of clients on emerging biodiversity legislation and advising generally on the developing opportunities from natural capital, we thought it would be a great topic to engage students. This sparked the design of our first ‘biodiversity essay competition’ – seeking to highlight the issues and our expertise in this area, while also encouraging university students to look at Gowling WLG as a place where they can work on meaningful projects that address climate change.

How did the competition work?

Our climate change themed essay competition has run several times now, led by our Early Talent and Sustainability legal services teams. In year one (2022), the competition asked passionate hopefuls “How can lawyers assist their clients to enhance biodiversity?”. In 2023, students and graduates were tasked with writing 750 words relating to a Gowling WLG sector that will have the greatest benefit to climate change mitigation and adaptation: regulation or technology?

The competition winner receives a week’s paid work experience with our sustainability and tech teams in our London office. During that week’s internship, the winner has the opportunity to meet clients, undertake research, draft advice and work closely with us in order to find out what it’s like advising on cutting-edge climate change and sustainable business and development issues. They also gain a great understanding of what life as a sustainability lawyer is like.

We also host an open day for runners up, who are invited to our London office to spend a day listening to talks from a range of lawyers who advise our clients on climate and sustainability projects. They also meet with some of our trainee solicitors and hear from our Graduate Development team.

What has impressed you from the entries received?

It has been humbling to see how much research and effort has gone into the essays. The maturity of the responses and ideas we received is also mightily impressive.

What are some of the key outcomes from the competition?

The competition is achieving a number of aims: firstly, promoting awareness of sustainability issues and the role of the legal sector in helping address these; secondly, engaging the next generation of lawyers in thinking about these issues; and thirdly, supporting our focus on encouraging young people from diverse backgrounds to consider careers in law.

One of last year’s competition entrants, Anu Jain, discovered the firm through the competition and, as well as completing a week’s paid work experience with us, has since gone on to apply for and receive a training contract offer. So for us, it’s also helped to connect with potential new recruits and encourage them to consider applying to us.

From a wider perspective the competition is really helping to create a platform for discussing biodiversity. In Anu’s words, ” By preparing for the challenges and opportunities posed by biodiversity issues, clients and lawyers will be better able to adapt to future shocks…” Anu Jain (competition winner).

What else is the firm focusing on in relation to biodiversity?

We’re advising a number of clients across a range of sectors on biodiversity and natural capital projects. The Government is putting in place a variety of regulations and policy measures designed to secure hundreds of millions of pounds from the private sector to support the restoration of the natural world; and we’re at the heart of that, advising landowners, developers, investors, and funders from the private, public and third sectors, including on a pro bono basis.  

Natural capital projects require expertise from across the firm’s legal services teams – some projects are bringing together lawyers from the Environmental group, Real Estate, Project Finance, Corporate, and Commercial teams. It’s an exciting new area of law and practice, which can have a tremendously positive impact.

Internally, I co-chair the PLANET+ team, comprising cross-firm ambassadors (including partners and business services representatives), which supports our PLANET+ commitment and environmental approach. Building on nature-related projects past and present (e.g. a global nature photography competition and calendar, bee suit donations to Walworth Garden (an organic community garden in London), beehive visits to our offices and the distribution of ‘bee bombs’ to our people and visitors, plus volunteering with the Rivers and Canal Trust, and more), we’re delivering and evolving a Nature Plan and will report on progress in our annual sustainability reports.

Is there another competition in the pipeline?

Yes, we will be running another essay competition this year – for the third year in a row. The details of the essay question are being worked on, so watch this space!