International law firm Addleshaw Goddard has appointed David Alfrey, as partner having spent the past eight years of his career with Clifford Chance LLP where he founded and was a member of the Global ESG Board since 2020. David has been recognised as a leading lawyer internationally on sustainability related regulation, and providing strategic board room advice on how to manage and achieve environmental and social outcomes for the business whilst also engaging effectively with stakeholders along the way.

David’s successes include being a founding advisor to the Taskforce for Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), a founding partner to the Centre for Sport and Human Rights (CSHR) and advising on international standards, including the Science-based Targets Initiative (SBTi) and the UN Global Compact on framing and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals. David has also advised on large global greenwashing cases including for Shell and BMW.

This appointment follows the recent hires including Tess Kelly and James Greig to the UK Financial Services Regulatory team, and the expansion of Addleshaw Goddard's international capability, with the appointment of Jeanne-Marie Moriarty to Financial Services Regulation partner in Dublin and Marco Zingler in Frankfurt.

Lee Shankland-Gort Head of ESG at Addleshaw Goddard commenting on the appointment of David Alfrey said:

“We're delighted David has chosen to join AG.  In addition to supporting our clients, sectors and markets with ESG advice and solutions, David will also work closely with our existing Social, Sustainable and Green Finance colleagues and FS clients to broaden our Transition Finance offering.

David is an immensely talented lawyer, with a growing global reputation in ESG, as evidenced by the UN inviting David to present at their Global Leaders summit in New York last Autumn."

David Alfrey speaking on his appointment to partner at Addleshaw Goddard said:

“I’m delighted to join AG as a Partner. What particularly drew me to AG is their approach to ESG and their stellar client base. As the legal ESG landscape continues to evolve, it’s essential that lawyers don't just look at ESG through a pure risk and compliance lens.  Balancing the legal uncertainty with tools and knowledge that says to a client: “the law might not compel you to do this, but your stakeholders will expect it” is what helps make ESG additive for Boards; and what can have a positive impact on balance sheets.  That's been my philosophy, and I know it's shared by Lee and AG more widely."

David has supported international financial intuitions in setting their global transition plans, providing robust and accurate disclosures, and managing conflicts of laws and expectations (including voluntary regimes) in relation to ESG. In doing so,

David has worked across supply chains, and regularly assists clients in understanding where opportunities for their businesses are in the context of ESG.

David also sits on a number of Advisory Boards, including with the International Sustainable Finance Centre.  In respect of ESG, David has considerable expertise in Transition Planning (inc Net Zero), Governance and Compliance (inc Crisis), Disclosures and Reporting (mandatory and voluntary), Supply Chain Risk Assessments and Management, Equity Investor Expectations, ESG Laws and Regulations (UK and EU), ESG Ratings, Biodiversity and Nature-based solutions, SBTI and Taxonomies.