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Understanding and Managing ESG Civil Litigation Risk in England and Wales: Activities, Reporting, Climate, Greenwashing and Governance Claims, Claimants, Exposure, and Lawyers’ Duties

Practice notes
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This ‘how to’ guide on understanding the civil litigation risk of ESG (environmental, social, and governance)

sets out and distils the following topics:

  • what ESG encompasses?
  • the meaning of ESG-related civil litigation risk?
  • potential claimants in civil ESG actions?
  • prospective defendants exposed to civil ESG claims?
  • ESG and how solicitors are involved
  • sources of further guidance and support

You may find it helpful to read this alongside Practice Note: ESG for in-house lawyers—the basics.

The Law Society has issued guidance, relevant to both in-house and private practice solicitors, to support advisers to companies on climate risk governance and greenwashing threats—see: LNB News 25/10/2023 51—Law Society publishes guide to climate risk governance and greenwashing risks and further below.

It should be read in tandem with Practice Note: ESG for in-house lawyers—the basics, as referenced above too.

For key News Analyses on overarching trends and expansion in this space, see, eg:

  • Climate Disputes—ricocheting in the supply chain—why climate change has caused a surge in contract disputes (December 2023)
  • The top seven global ESG litigation trends in 2023 (December 2023)
  • ESG litigation may move towards untrue statement claims (July 2023)
  • ESG-inspired disputes—recent developments (December 2021)

Also note that Baroness Young of Hornsey introduced...

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Web page updated on 22/05/2026

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