A director in the pensions team at Bristol-headquartered national law firm Burges Salmon has been named as one of the top 10 environmental, social and governance (ESG) lawyers in the UK, US and Ireland.
Kate Granville Smith is among the ‘distinguished advisers’ for ESG in this year’s Financier Worldwide Power Players List, which recognises individuals who are championing and advancing the ESG agenda for their firm and their clients.
As ESG lead in Burges Salmon’s pensions team, Kate, pictured, works with clients to provide legal advice across all three pillars of ESG, developing guidance and products as well as providing bespoke training. She is also a member of the firm’s cross-disciplinary ESG strategy group.
Kate recently spearheaded the development of Burges Salmon’s pension schemes ESG toolkit, which consolidates all ESG guidance, legislation and other useful resources into one interactive, intuitive platform.
This allows pension scheme trustees and sponsoring employers to seamlessly navigate between ESG requirements, standards and best practice.
Burges Salmon’s pensions team advises pension scheme trustees and sponsoring employers, with clients – some of more than 30 years’ standing – span the private and public sectors, large commercial master trusts and not-for-profit organisations as well as religious and educational bodies.
The practice has continued to build on its trusted status in the international arena, providing specialist UK legal advice to its international clients and coordinating advice across multiple jurisdictions.
Kate said: “I am grateful to Financier Worldwide for the opportunity to share how the Burges Salmon pensions team is developing innovative solutions to helps clients understand their ESG obligations.
“ESG is an ever-evolving topic and we seek to work together with our clients and other industry advisers to share knowledge and champion best practice.
“Our enthusiasm for it comes from our commitment to being a responsible business and a supportive employer, values that are always reflected in the advice we give to our clients.”
Financier Worldwide provides information on global corporate finance and board-level business issues through its monthly magazine and exclusive website content.
Burges Salmon employs around 1,000 people in its Bristol HQ and London and Edinburgh offices.
