Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy 2023 Annual Report
Year-in-Review
This year marks the fifth anniversary of the Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy (LSE) initiative, and we are excited to continue to expand our work and impact. 20 firms in the initiative collectively provided over $26 million in pro bono on sustainability matters both inside and outside of the initiative in 2023—including over $2 million by Arnold & Porter and Orrick, over $6 million by Wilson Sonsini, and $7 million by Morrison & Foerster!
This fall we also launched Startup Law: Sustainability, an experiential education class at Stanford Law School supporting the Stanford founder community. Students in Startup Law: Sustainability help to provide pro bono legal assistance and support to early-stage nonprofit and for-profit startups addressing climate, sustainability, and social impact challenges. This has been a great complementary addition to LSE, as more complex matters are often forwarded to the LSE network.
Collectively, LSE and Startup Law: Sustainability vetted over 80 applicants and were able to provide pro bono legal help to nearly 50 sustainability-focused startups and nonprofits. The firms in the LSE initiative worked on many interesting matters this year, including helping entities focused on sustainable aquaculture and agriculture, coral reef restoration, renewable energy production, green financing, and carbon capture technologies. See more details on the work below!
Finally, with the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy initiative worked closely with attorneys in the initiative to offer webinars and direct pro bono services to startups and Tribal entities on how to take advantage of IRA incentives and accelerate renewable energy implementation.
Inflation Reduction Act Educational Outreach and Direct Support
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is the most significant climate legislation in U.S. history, offering funding, programs, and incentives to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. Stanford’s Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy Initiative is facilitating educational opportunities and pro bono legal help for NGOs, community organizations, Tribes, and early stage entrepreneurs to access the benefits and funding from the Inflation Reduction Act.
In 2023, Holland & Knight helped lead a webinar series for Tribal Nations focused on the opportunities presented by the Inflation Reduction Act. The three part webinar series focused on an overview of the tax incentives contained in the Inflation Reduction Act, a deep-dive into two critical tax credits – the Investment Tax Credit and the Production Tax Credit, and how Tribal Nations can monetize the benefits of these tax credits. Wilson Sonsini also led a webinar on Tax Opportunities for Early Stage Entrepreneurs in the Inflation Reduction Act. These webinars were well-attended, with each averaging over 100 participants.
2023 Pro Bono Project Highlights
Types of Legal Support
NGOs and startups can apply for free legal assistance in a variety of areas, including:
- Structuring: Selecting the right legal entity for your NGO or startup.
- Staffing: Employment and volunteer agreements.
- Advocacy: Research on laws in multiple jurisdictions.
- IP and brand protection: Trademark registration, copyright, patents and licensing.
Who's In the Initiative?
20
Major, private U.S. law firms
4
Corporate and non-profit partners
50
startups and nonprofits assisted in 2023
Getting Involved
If you are interested in joining the initiative as a law firm or as a corporate partner, please email us at lawyersforsustainability@law.stanford.edu.
The firms offer pro bono legal assistance to entrepreneurs and non-profits taking on key sustainability challenges.
Law Firms
The firms committed to providing free legal services for on-going and new sustainability matters in the amounts below in 2023, though many exceeded their pledges for a total of over $26 million:
- Akin Gump ($250,000)
- Arnold & Porter* ($2 million)
- Beveridge & Diamond ($250,000)
- Cooley* ($1 million)
- Debevoise & Plimpton ($1 million)
- Fenwick ($250,000)
- Foley Hoag ($1.5 million) (new to the initiative in 2024!)
- Foley & Lardner ($250,000)
- Hogan Lovells* ($250,000)
- Holland & Knight* ($1 million)
- Latham & Watkins* ($1 million)
- Michelman & Robinson ($250,000)
- Morgan Lewis ($250,000)
- Morrison & Foerster* ($4 million)
- Nixon Peabody ($1 million)
- Orrick ($2 million)
- Perkins Coie ($250,000) (new to the initiative in 2024!)
- Ropes & Gray ($1 million)
- Seyfarth Shaw ($350,000)
- Vinson & Elkins ($250,000)
- Willkie Farr & Gallagher ($250,000)
- Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati* ($3 million)
*Lead founder of the LSE Initiative
Corporate and NGO Partners
The private sector and NGOs like Grist are working with law firms to support connections between law firms and pro bono recipients. For example, Microsoft helped to connect grantees from its AI for Earth program – a five-year, $50 million initiative that supports and partners with environmental groups, academic researchers, and start-ups – with the initiative for legal support. In-house counsel from additional companies, including MetLife, have also volunteered to provide pro bono assistance.
Companies participating in the Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy are making a commitment to assist the initiative in a number of ways, including by:
- Enabling company in-house lawyers to provide pro bono assistance to clients directly, or in coordination with outside LSE-member law firms, on company time;
- Encouraging outside law firms and other companies to participate in the LSE initiative; and
- Using their community outreach activities to identify potential clients who may qualify for, and benefit from, pro bono services provided through the LSE network.
How it Works
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Client Testimonials
Sponsors*
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*Premium Sponsors are sponsors providing over $15,000, Partner Sponsors are sponsors providing over $7,500, and Advocate Sponsors are sponsors providing over $2,500