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Herbert Smith Freehills Sustainability Profile

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Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) is a leading global law firm headquartered in London, United Kingdom. Established in 2012 through the merger of Herbert Smith and Freehills, the firm has a strong presence across key regions, including Asia-Pacific, Europe, and the Americas. HSF operates primarily in the legal services industry, specialising in sectors such as corporate law, dispute resolution, and real estate. With a commitment to delivering innovative legal solutions, Herbert Smith Freehills is renowned for its expertise in complex transactions and high-stakes litigation. The firm has achieved notable recognition for its client-centric approach and has consistently ranked among the top law firms globally. HSF's dedication to excellence and its strategic focus on key industries position it as a formidable player in the competitive legal landscape.

DitchCarbon Score

How does Herbert Smith Freehills's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.

49

Industry Average

Mean score of companies in the Other Services industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.

27

Industry Benchmark

Herbert Smith Freehills's score of 49 is higher than 71% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.

71%

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Herbert Smith Freehills's reported carbon emissions

In 2025, Herbert Smith Freehills reported total carbon emissions of approximately 50.8 million kg CO2e. This figure includes Scope 1 emissions of about 790,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions of approximately 1.4 million kg CO2e (market-based), and a significant contribution from Scope 3 emissions, which totalled around 48.7 million kg CO2e. Notably, the Scope 3 emissions encompass various categories, with business travel alone accounting for about 13.9 million kg CO2e. Herbert Smith Freehills has set ambitious climate commitments, aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 business travel greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, using 2019 as the baseline year. Additionally, the firm has pledged that 55% of its suppliers, based on spend for purchased goods and services and capital goods, will have science-based targets by 2025. These targets are aligned with the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and are designed to support the global effort to limit warming to 1.5°C. The emissions data for Herbert Smith Freehills is cascaded from its parent organization, Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, which is responsible for the overall climate strategy and reporting.

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202020222025
Scope 1
547,000
000,000
000,000
Scope 2
6,665,000
0,000,000
0,000,000
Scope 3
14,629,000
0,000,000
00,000,000

How Carbon Intensive is Herbert Smith Freehills's Industry?

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
Some industries are more carbon intensive than others. Herbert Smith Freehills's primary industry is Other Services, which is very low in terms of carbon intensity compared to other industries.

How Carbon Intensive is Herbert Smith Freehills's Location?

Very low
Low
Medium
High
Very high
The carbon intensity of the energy grid powering a company's primary operations has a strong influence on its overall carbon footprint. This request for Herbert Smith Freehills is in GB, which has a very low grid carbon intensity relative to other regions.

Herbert Smith Freehills's Scope 3 Categories Breakdown

Herbert Smith Freehills's Scope 3 emissions, which increased significantly last year and increased by approximately 233% since 2020, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. Nearly all of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing nearly all emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Purchased Goods and Services" being the largest emissions source at 53% of Scope 3 emissions.

Top Scope 3 Categories

2025
Purchased Goods and Services
53%
Business Travel
29%
Capital Goods
6%
Employee Commuting
5%
Upstream Leased Assets
3%
Waste Generated in Operations
1%
Fuel and Energy Related Activities
1%
Upstream Transportation & Distribution
<1%
Franchises
<1%

Herbert Smith Freehills's Climate Goals (2030 & 2050)

Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.

Herbert Smith Freehills has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Science Based Targets Initiative
Carbon Disclosure Project
The Climate Pledge
UN Global Compact
RE 100
Climate Action 100
Race To Net Zero
Reduction Actions

Compare Herbert Smith Freehills's Emissions with Industry Peers

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•
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Baker Mckenzie

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•
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Common questions about Herbert Smith Freehills's sustainability data and climate commitments

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Where does DitchCarbon data come from?

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