Easy Being Green - Region's Law Firms Enhance Efforts to Reduce Impact on Environment
March 2010
Crain's Cleveland Business
Some people do it for altruistic reasons. Others for economic ones. Still more because doing something for the environment looks good to clients.
Irrespective of the rationale, though, attorneys say the result of law firms increasing their sustainability efforts is the same. And it's all good.
“Regardless of the motivation, the efforts have a beneficial impact,” said Doug McWilliams, a partner in the environmental, health and safety section at Squire, Sanders & Dempsey. “It's easier to gain a consensus on a path forward if you're not concerned about what the motivations are.”
Mr. McWilliams said at his firm, reducing the amount of paper used or becoming more energy efficient is important to different people for different reasons. But the result at Squire Sanders and elsewhere is similar in that it means more firms and clients are paying attention to the environmental impact of the work they do and how they can reduce that impact.
The Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association started a program last year to certify firms that have taken steps to go green, and since then, it has had more than 40 law firms and law departments qualify for the process. While the CMBA does not double-check efforts, it does ask firms to state they are meeting certain criteria, including a commitment to reduce total office energy by 10% in the coming year. Read More...
