If your firm is doing serious work around climate, energy, or sustainability, The Legal 500 Green Guide is worth your attention.
The guide highlights law firms that are driving real impact, both through the legal work they do for clients and through the way they operate internally.
Should your firm consider the Legal 500 Green Guide?
The Green Guide isn’t just a nice badge to have. And it’s not just about advising on ESG issues, either. It recognises firms that put their own sustainability commitments into practice as well as working on the matters shaping this area of law.
If you don’t know whether you should consider this guide, ask yourself these questions: does your firm actually deliver on sustainability, both in the work you do for clients and in how you operate internally? In other words, does your firm genuinely deliver on ESG promises, rather than simply talking about them both internally and externally, with clients?
Inclusion in the Green Guide signals real credibility, because every submission is checked and verified by editors. There’s no fee, no shortcuts, and only work with green credentials that you can prove, inside or outside the firm, counts.
The Green Guide matters because it can help:
- Demonstrate ESG leadership
The Green Guide recognises firms at the forefront of environmental and sustainability-related legal work. Being listed signals that your firm is a market leader in ESG, a factor increasingly important to clients, talent, and investors. - Win work from sustainability-focused clients
More clients, especially corporates, financial institutions, and funds, are actively looking for lawyers who understand ESG risks and opportunities. A Green Guide listing helps differentiate your firm when pitching for this work. - Support bids and pitches
The guide is a way to back up your credentials in formal tenders and panels. It also helps attract sustainability-focused clients, a growing market as more businesses prioritise ESG compliance and impact. - Enhance reputation with General Counsel
In-house teams are under pressure to meet sustainability goals. Many consult directories like the Green Guide to identify lawyers with proven experience in renewables, net zero transitions, green finance, supply chain compliance, and more. - Showcase your impact beyond billables
Use the guide to demonstrate non-transactional ESG contributions: pro bono work, internal sustainability initiatives, governance programmes, or climate litigation expertise, none of which are captured by conventional submissions. - Recognise cross-border and interdisciplinary work
Many ESG matters are multi-jurisdictional and cross-practice. The Green Guide rewards holistic approaches, allowing firms to highlight collaboration between teams (for example, real estate, energy, finance, and regulatory). - Attract and retain ESG-conscious talent
Lawyers and law students increasingly want to work for firms with sustainability credentials. Inclusion in the guide shows alignment with these values. - Position your firm for future directories and awards
Green Guide recognition can strengthen your firm’s standing for other sustainability-related awards, media opportunities, and Legal 500 rankings in environmental, energy, or regulatory categories.
It also helps you avoid greenwashing. Legal obligations, reputational risks, and increasing scrutiny mean that firms must be able to evidence ESG claims. The Green Guide provides a framework to do this responsibly.
It highlights your ‘changemakers’. Individuals named in the editorial become Green Ambassadors, offering a visible badge for business development, speaking opportunities, and internal recognition. The Legal 500 now runs a standalone Green Ambassadors programme just for individual lawyers.
It also builds reputation across key regions, the UK, the US, EMEA, Latin America, and Asia Pacific, helping you show the markets where you operate that your firm is serious about sustainability.
How the selection process works
- Client work comes first. Editors focus mainly on your recent client matters that support environmental or social goals. But they also look at what you’re doing internally and how you’re contributing more broadly.
- It’s editorial and independent. You submit. Editors decide. There’s no fee and no guarantee of inclusion.
- No referees, and no off-the-record info. Unlike the main Legal 500 rankings, the Green Guide doesn’t use referees. The information you submit should be publishable, including client names where possible.
The editors ask for a short, clearly written submission that includes:
- Key people and roles
- A short practice overview, focused on sustainability
- Internal efforts (policies, progress, measurable actions)
- External engagement (publications, alliances, pro bono work)
- A list of publishable clients
- Three matter summaries (up to 30 words each, publishable)
- Up to 10 detailed matter highlights per jurisdiction (with role, date, and lead partner)
As always, submissions must be uploaded via the Legal 500 portal, and emailed submissions won’t be reviewed. However, no referees are required for the Green Guide – it’s purely research and evidence based.
What coverage looks like by region
United Kingdom
The UK section focuses on firms delivering client work across areas like the energy transition, green finance, infrastructure, and ESG compliance. It’s where clients and recruiters will go first if you’re operating in the UK. Research runs April to May.
United States
The US page covers work across renewables, grid upgrades, sustainable finance and climate-related litigation. If you work with national or global corporates, this is a good way to stand out. Research runs February to March.
Latin America
LatAm coverage balances renewable energy and natural resource work with the social and political complexity of the region. Editors are looking for community impact, energy work, and responsible internal practices. Research typically runs February to March.
Asia Pacific
APAC submissions should focus on transition work across fast-moving economies, from decarbonisation and climate finance to market-specific changes in places like Australia and Indonesia. Research runs June to August.
Europe, the Middle-East and Africa
EMEA includes both local and cross-border work and reflects the EU’s evolving regulatory landscape. Editors look for regionally-relevant matters, plus internal transparency and targets. Research runs September to December.
Is the Green Guide right for your firm?
Here’s the big question: is this guide about firms running themselves ethically, or those working in ESG-related matters?
The answer is that both matter, but the primary focus is on actual client work with environmental or social impact. Firms must also show that they are taking internal steps to support sustainability.
You’re a good candidate if you can show:
- Client work with clear environmental or sustainability goals
- At least a few matters you can publish
- Internal changes that go beyond policy statements
- Named individuals driving the work forward
A word of warning however – firms often fall short when they provide generic ESG statements with no real examples, too much content (editors are busy, don’t drown them), or have no client permission to publish work.
Preparing a standout Green Guide submission
- Start with the work. Choose recent matters where the environmental or social impact is easy to explain. Keep the language practical, and cut the fluff.
- Get client sign-off early. You’ll need permission to name clients, and the submission form asks you to highlight publishable matters.
- Show what you’re doing internally. Whether it’s reducing your carbon footprint or improving your supply chain due diligence, give examples of real progress.
- Back your team. If someone in your firm is leading the charge, make sure they’re visible on the submission. Named individuals are awarded Green Ambassador status, and may be eligible for the standalone Ambassadors guide too.
- Don’t lump everything together. Legal 500 looks at firms by region, not globally. If you operate on a global basis, tailor individual submissions by area.
- Stick to the rules. Use the template. Upload it to the portal. Don’t go over the deadline.
FAQs on the Legal 500 Green Guide
Has the Green Guide changed recently?
Yes. Legal 500 now runs a Green Ambassadors programme alongside the firm guide. It’s designed to spotlight individuals, and follows its own timetable. Both routes are still active, but the focus is shifting slightly, so check which is right for you.
What kinds of matters count?
Anything where the legal work supports environmental or social outcomes—renewables, sustainable finance, regulatory advice, supply chain work, ESG litigation, and more.
Do we have to name clients?
Ideally, yes. Editors strongly prefer publishable clients and summaries. You can mark some items as confidential if you have to, but it may affect your chances.
How many work highlights do we include?
Up to 10 per jurisdiction. Or at least 5 if you’re submitting across more than one market.
Do we need referees?
No. The Green Guide doesn’t use them.
Does inclusion carry over each year?
No. You’ll need to submit again and show that the work is ongoing.
We’re a small firm, does that matter?
Not at all. Editors look at local context. Strong work is strong work, no matter the size of your team.
We advise fossil fuel clients, are we out?
Not necessarily. If the work supports the transition to cleaner operations or ESG improvements, it may still count. Editors will weigh it up.
How do we submit?
Use the Legal 500 Green Guide template and upload it via the portal. Emailed submissions aren’t accepted.
Can we include older work?
If it’s still relevant, yes. But make sure it’s clearly explained and not too dated.
We\’re a global firm, can’t we just do one big submission?
No. Legal 500 looks at each jurisdiction separately, so tailor your submission by country or region.
Thinking of preparing a submission for the next Legal 500 Green Guide?
We can help – whether you’re looking for another set of eyes to sense-check eligibility, advice on shaping your story, or help with drafting or editing submissions.
Get in touch if you\’d like to talk through your options.
