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    • Alternative Fee Arrangements

      Developing innovative pricing structures and alternative fee agreement models that deliver additional value for our clients.

    • Continuing Education

      Advancing professional knowledge and offering credits for attorneys, staff and other professionals.

    • Crisis Advisory

      Helping clients respond correctly when a crisis occurs.

    • DEI Strategic Services

      Providing our clients with legal, strategic, and practical advice to make transformational changes in their organizations.

    • eDiscovery

      Leveraging law and technology to deliver sound solutions.

    • Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG)

      We help clients create positive return on investments in people, products, and the planet.

    • Global Services

      Delivering seamless service through partnerships across the globe.

    • Innovation

      Leveraging leading-edge technology to guide change and create seamless, collaborative experiences for clients and attorneys.

    • IPED

      Industry-leading conferences focused on affordable housing, tax credits, and more.

    • Legal Project Management

      Providing actionable information to support strategic decision-making.

    • Legally Green

      Teaming with clients to advance sustainable projects, mitigate the effects of climate change, and protect our planet.

    • Nixon Peabody Trust Company

      Offering a range of investment management and fiduciary services.

    • NP Capital Connector

      Bringing together companies and investors for tomorrow’s new deals.

    • NP Second Opinion

      Offering fresh insights on cases that are delayed, over budget, or off-target from the desired resolution.

    • NP Trial

      Courtroom-ready lawyers who can resolve disputes early on clients’ terms or prevail at trial before a judge or jury.

    • Social Impact

      Creating positive impact in our communities through increasing equity, access, and opportunity.

    • Women in Dealmaking

      We provide strategic counsel on complex corporate transactions and unite dynamic women in the dealmaking arena.

    Staircase in Nixon Peabody's DC office, showing the “living wall,” a wall-mounted garden of various plants
    1. Home
    2. Who We Are
    3. Sustainability

      Who We Are

    Our work and our values align toward a better future

    • Who we are
    • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
    • Social Impact
    • Sustainability
    • Well Being
    • Leadership
    • Media

    We team with clients to mitigate the impact of climate change, optimize our business, and support green organizations through pro bono and philanthropy.

    Our Legally Green® Framework

    Solar panels mounted on the rooftop of Nixon Peabody's DC office, under a blue sky streaked with thin clouds

    Generating progress

    Investing in sustainable projects
    Our attorneys leverage green bonds and tax credits to help clients create sustainable residential and public-works projects.
    Harnessing solar energy
    We team with our nonprofit affiliate, NP Solar, to facilitate and finance solar rooftop installations that generate clean energy and utility bill credits for low-income families.
    Two people sitting next to each other in teal chairs at a round table, in a workspace with floor-to-ceiling windows; other buildings are visible in the background, as well as the city of Boston stretching out into the distance

    Protecting the planet

    Working sustainably
    Many Nixon Peabody offices are LEED-certified, employing green building techniques and sustainable practices while showcasing artwork from local artists.
    Supporting green entrepreneurs
    Our attorneys provide pro bono legal work for sustainability-focused nonprofits, entrepreneurs, and incubators to facilitate their success now and in the future.
    Raising sustainability standards

    Raising standards

    Powering global compliance
    Our team advises clients on carbon reporting, ESG (environmental, social, and governance), and product labeling. We’re also serving as counsel in a merger to create a single sustainability reporting standard.
    Advising clients on sustainable business and building
    We counsel clients on issues related to clean technology and green building and material, water, and waste reuse.

    Powering change

    Through our support of nonprofit partner New Partners Community Solar, NP continues to advance economic equity and renewable energy use in Washington, DC, and the surrounding areas. This year, residents of the DC area’s houseless shelters will also benefit from this work, as New Partners converts solar production into food benefits.

    • 2,000,000+

      Kilowatts of clean energy produced

    • 700

      Tons of carbon offset

    • $200,000

      Value of billing credits created for low-income households

    Our Partnerships

    We’ve created joint sustainability initiatives with local and global stakeholders who share our commitment.

    Stack of red, semitransparent squares

    Lawyers for a Sustainable Economy

    NP is part of a coalition of 17 BigLaw and corporate legal partners, providing more than $55 million in pro bono legal services over three years to “advance sustainability in energy, transportation, and land use.”
    Three purple, semitransparent ovals at different angles to each other

    Jubilee Housing’s Solar+Battery Storage Low-Income Resiliency Hub

    With NP Solar, we assisted with Washington, DC’s first shelter-in-place resiliency center in Jubilee’s Maycroft Apartments, providing an emergency power source during grid outages.

    A blue sphere, stacked over two blue overlapping semicircles

    Sustainable Ocean Alliance

    Our attorneys led the effort to obtain 501(c)(3) certification for this San Francisco-based nonprofit ocean solution-focused startup accelerator and worldwide leadership facilitator for ocean advocacy.

    NP Solar

    Nixon Peabody founded this nonprofit organization that uses rooftop solar arrays to produce renewable energy and cost savings for low-income families in Washington, DC.

    Stack of three purple, semitransparent triangles

    Kinetic Communities Consulting Corporation (KC3)

    A cross-practice group of our attorneys worked with KC3, a Hispanic woman-led nonprofit, to facilitate solar rooftop gardens at 24 buildings in eight multi-family housing developments.

    Red circle behind a red arch, with another, lighter red circle alongside

    The Nature Conservancy

    Our attorneys advise the global nonprofit on everything from conservation easements to floodplain restoration projects.

    We think strategically about the ways we can spur innovation, reduce environmental impact, and encourage green investment.

    Alison B. Torbitt

    Environmental Law Partner and Co-leader, Food, Beverage & Agribusiness

    Committed to sustainable workplaces

    Seven of our offices have earned LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, with more on the way. This designation signifies the use of environmentally friendly practices in building design and construction.

    • Wood staircase with glass railings in Nixon Peabody's San Francisco office

      Use of sustainable wood and materials

      Approximately 25% of the products used in our San Francisco office were either made from recycled content, FSC, wood, or sustainable materials.

    • The kitchen/cafe area of Nixon Peabody's Chicago office. with 2 small tables with chairs, a counter area with stools, and booths along the wall in the background

      Indoor environmental quality

      For our Chicago office, we used building materials that meet low-emitting criteria, including paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants, flooring, wall paneling, insulation, and composition wood.

    • Lounge area from Nixon Peabody's San Francisco office, showing caramel-colored couches, a couple of yellow chairs, and a coffee table

      Saving energy costs with daylighting

      At our San Francisco location, nearly 80% of the office receives natural light while 95% have access to the views.

    • Interior of Nixon Peabody's Boston office lobby, showing a large reception desk in the background, a glass-enclosed stairwell to the right, and a lounge/waiting area in the foreground

      Open spaces for efficiency

      Our Boston office features interconnecting stairs that encourage movement and communication between floors.

    • Interior shot of the seating area in Nixon Peabody's San Francisco office lobby, showing a purple couch, two grey chairs, and a glass coffee table, with a credenza in the background

      Reducing materials waste

      Nearly 75% of the waste collected from demolition and construction at our San Francisco office was diverted from landfills and successfully recycled.

    Services to help our clients achieve their sustainability goals

    Renewable energy

    We work with clients developing solar and geothermal projects, implementing carbon capture solutions, improving operational efficiency, and facilitating electric car and grid upgrades.

    Energy sector

    With deep knowledge of regulations and disclosure requirements, we navigate the complex world of ESG reporting.

    Sustainable development

    From developing green building standards to facilitating renewable energy credits, we help clients make a positive impact on our world.

    Achievements and Recognition

    Clean Energy Group logo, a swirl of blue and green colors forming a yin-yang circle

    Clean Energy Champions

    We were recognized for creating the first solar program for low-income households in Washington, DC.

    Clean Energy State Alliance

    Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) Climate Corps

    EDF Climate Corps

    We were the first law firm to participate in EDF Climate Corps, a fellowship program that helps build the business case for energy efficiency.

    EDF Climate Corps

    Law Firm Sustainability Network - Promoting Sustainability

    Law Firm Sustainability Network

    NP is a founding member of this national nonprofit, promoting sustainability and corporate social responsibility across the legal industry.

    Law Firm Sustainability Network

    Key Contacts

    Alison B. Torbitt

    Partner / Co-leader, Food, Beverage & Agribusiness / Co-leader, Environmental / Co-leader, ESG Practice

    • Office+1 415.984.5008
    • atorbitt@nixonpeabody.com

    Chris D. Schlag

    Counsel

    • Office+1 617.345.6004
    • cschlag@nixonpeabody.com

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