Nixon Peabody Appoints Sustainability Officer
Nixon Peabody has appointed a chief sustainability officer to bolster the law firm’s environmental efforts as well as its image with clients.
Carolyn Kaplan, a lawyer in the firm’s energy and environmental practice, will spend a quarter of her time in the new position, the Recorder reports. She told the publication the firm is the first to create an official position for sustainability.
In her new role, she will promote green initiatives in the firm and try to find ways to partner with clients on such initiatives, according to a press release.
Kaplan said some ways the firm can help protect the environment could include using environmentally friendly cleaning supplies and recycling more items. The firm plans to make sure clients know about its efforts.
“Going through this experience internally is helpful to us in better advising clients,” she told the Recorder.
Law firm environmental efforts are getting more attention, both in corporate offices and bar groups. The ABA is promoting ways law firms can reduce their carbon footprint in its ABA-EPA Law Office Climate Challenge.
Goodwin Procter has a sustainability program, too, that promotes such steps as using both sides of printing paper, turning off computers at night, and using mugs instead of coffee cups. The lawyer who started the program, Rachael Wexler, said there is an advantage outside the environmental benefit.
“Recruiting has gone through the roof,” she told the Recorder. “The students love this stuff.”
