Staircase in Nixon Peabody's DC office, showing the “living wall,” a wall-mounted garden of various plants

Our work and our values align toward a better future

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 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.

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.

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.
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.
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.
Open spaces for efficiency
Our Boston office features interconnecting stairs that encourage movement and communication between floors.
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.