Hosted by the UK ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ASSOCIATION (UKELA) 

The in-house legal community are in a position of real influence on the use of law for a better environment. Whether in the public sector devising and enforcing laws, in the private sector negotiating contracts and implementing laws, or in the third sector advocating and challenging laws, in-house lawyers are at the coalface of law in practice. However, with busy desks and amid a cacophony of competing voices, it can sometimes feel like a challenge.

UKELA is seeking to create a dedicated group to support in-house lawyers.The group will be limited to those working in-house, to allow a safe space to share ideas and best practice, and equip in-house lawyers with the tools needed to maximise their impact. It is a group for commercial lawyers looking to embed sustainability into contracts, for compliance lawyers horizon-scanning for environmental risks, for regulatory lawyers enforcing environmental law: whatever area of practice, the golden thread is that being close to a single client gives us a unique opportunity to influence decisions.

The session will only be open to in-house lawyers, and will be a round-table format in which we will discuss: The value of being in-house: closer to decision-making, better able to understand the organisation Using influence: how to make your voice heard within competing agendas Staying up to date: how to track environmental and sustainability law developments with a busy desk Community of peers: thoughts on a network for in-house lawyers to share ideas Getting the most out of UKELA: would we benefit from an in-house UKELA group?

We will be joined by two special guests:

Jonathan Nwagbaraocha, chair of the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Section of Environment, Energy and Resources (The US equivalent of UKELA) and Corporate Counsel - Environmental Sustainability at Cisco in New York state, to share the US perspective of corporate counsel influencing environmental law, and experiences of in-house networks in the ABA; and

Peter Kellett, former Director of Legal Services at the Environment Agency and former UKELA Chair, to share experiences from running the UK’s biggest team of in-house lawyers working on the environmental agenda. The session is non-partisan and operating under Chatham House rules, with a focus on inclusivity.

RSVP Gareth de Graaff, Executive Director, UKELA: gareth@ukela.org by 19/05/25.

Hosted by the UK ENVIRONMENTAL LAW ASSOCIATION (UKELA) Thursday 19 June 2025, 3:30pm to 5:30pm (in-person at Burges Salmon’s offices, Bristol) If you are unable to make the event but are happy to receive further information about the creation of a UKELA in-house lawyers group, please advise