Fieldfisher's
TCLP Working Group
Steering Committee

Fieldfisher established its TCLP Working Group in 2022 to support the integration of TCLP principles into our client work. The Working Group comprises around 45 lawyers from every Fieldfisher department, as well as non-lawyers who want to play a role in the initiative. It is led by the TCLP Steering Committee and overseen by a committee of Fieldfisher partners.

Along with Jessica Gardner and Mikhail Popov, I founded Fieldfisher's TCLP Working Group after learning more about the initiative though personal connections with TCLP.

I was inspired by the work they were doing and wanted to bring this to the attention of my colleagues at Fieldfisher – many of whom I knew shared the same concerns TCLP seeks to address.

Lawyers can access TCLP's precedents bank to bring climate-friendly clauses into commercial arrangements on behalf of clients looking to do something more.

At a time when the public is becoming increasingly sceptical about greenwashing, it is important for organisations to be able to show they are taking decisive action to address the climate emergency – including revising their contractual agreements with suppliers and third parties to build in real contractual obligations around reducing carbon emissions.

2023 saw a growing trend of "green hushing" where organisations are afraid to publicise their sustainability for fear of being accused of misrepresenting their ESG credentials.

By incorporating real contractual provisions for achieving net zero, clients can be confident that they aren't engaging in greenwashing.

Asking clients to consider clauses in their contracts that may add cost to their bottom line can be a difficult conversation to have, so we produced a bespoke Upskilling Programme for our lawyers to teach them the basics of the climate and biodiversity crises, and green contracts and how to talk productively to clients about
these issues.

The Working Group has also been involved in a series of upskilling workshops to consider the practical realities of climate-aligned contracting.

I expect that in a few short years' time, climate-aligned contracts won't be the exception, they will be the norm.

Paul Grelon

Dispute Resolution Solicitor

Jessica Gardner

Regulatory Partner

Mikhail Popov

Medical Negligence Solicitor

Paul Grelon

Co-Founder of the Fieldfisher TCLP Working Group