Freeths cut its overall emissions by 8% since 2024, whilst office energy consumption dropped 15%.
The top 50 commercial law firm published its first Net Zero Transition Plan on Tuesday, setting a 2040 deadline for achieving net zero across its entire value chain—a decade ahead of the targets many professional services rivals have adopted. The Science Based Targets initiative formally validated the firm’s near and long-term commitments in recent months.
The plan marks the culmination of more than ten years of incremental environmental work. Freeths secured ISO 14001 certification back in 2015. It began tracking Scope 1 and 2 emissions in 2020, established a Responsible Business Committee to strengthen governance, and released its first Carbon Reduction Plan in 2024. That same year, the firm partnered with Planet Mark to develop an SBTi-aligned roadmap, which now carries full SBTi approval including the 2040 net zero commitment.
In 2025, the firm recruited Ben Churchill as Director of Responsible Business and Maggie Stewart as Sustainability Manager, signalling an intensification of focus.
The transition plan outlines decarbonisation pathways spanning energy use, business travel, waste management and supply chain emissions. Governance runs through multiple layers: the Partnership Board, Executive Board, Responsible Business Committee, Sustainability Champions, a Net Zero Action Group, and a Climate and Sustainability Advisory Group. The firm has embedded science-aligned targets directly into decision-making processes, and committed to nature-positive action alongside carbon reduction.
Mark Blakemore, Freeths’ Chief Operating Officer, acknowledged the scale of the task ahead. “Our net zero journey is about focusing on what matters most and where we can make the biggest difference. It’s not just about meeting targets; it’s about embedding sustainability into the way we think, work and grow.”
The legal sector has historically lagged behind other industries in environmental commitments, though momentum has accelerated since 2020 as clients—particularly in the public sector and among FTSE-listed corporations—increasingly scrutinise the carbon footprint of their advisers. Freeths holds B Corporation certification, placing it among a small cohort of UK law firms to meet verified standards for social and environmental performance.
Stewart outlined the practical implications. “This launch reflects the progress we’ve made, but more importantly, it sets out the action we must take next. Achieving net zero will require collaboration across our people, our suppliers and our wider networks. By strengthening our data, governance and supplier engagement, and by supporting colleagues to make sustainable choices day to day, we are building the foundations for long-term, science-aligned change.”
The firm will update travel, procurement and supplier engagement policies in the coming months. Investment in energy efficiency measures and renewable energy solutions will continue, alongside regular public emissions reporting to track progress against baseline.
The transition plan sits within Freeths’ broader Sustainability Strategy, which focuses on net zero progress, circular operations, embedding sustainable culture internally, and collaboration for wider impact. As part of the launch, the firm extended its partnership with The Tree Council, funding tree planting, supporting nature recovery projects, and organising colleague volunteering days across the UK.
Freeths serves private and public sector clients including Centrica, Aldi, Mercedes-Benz UK, Tarmac, Experian, Related Argent and Harworth. The firm gained national prominence for securing a landmark High Court victory in 2021 for 555 sub-postmasters in their case against the Post Office—described as one of the most significant miscarriages of justice in British legal history. It continues to advise on the subsequent Group Litigation Order and Horizon Convictions Redress compensation schemes.
The firm collected Law Firm of the Year titles at both the City AM Awards 2025 and Legal Business Awards 2024, and was named Outstanding Law Firm of the Year by Property Week in 2025. It holds Gold accreditation from Investors in People (2025), Champion status from both Stonewall’s Proud Employer programme and pregnancy charity Tommy’s (2025), and appears in Working Families’ Top 30 Employers list for 2025. The Legal 500 Green Guide 2026 recognised Freeths for sustainability leadership.
Whether the 2040 target proves achievable will depend heavily on supply chain engagement. Scope 3 emissions—those generated by suppliers and business travel—typically account for the majority of a professional services firm’s carbon footprint. The firm has signalled that procurement processes will tighten, though specific supplier requirements remain under development.
For now, the 8% reduction provides evidence that movement is possible. The next twelve months will reveal whether the pace can be sustained.
