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.
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.
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.
Herbert Smith Freehills's score of 43 is higher than 68% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2022, Herbert Smith Freehills reported total carbon emissions of approximately 36,045,000 kg CO2e. This figure includes 425,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1 emissions, 3,545,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 emissions (market-based), and 2,239,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions related to business travel. This represents a significant reduction from 2020, when total emissions were about 54,588,000 kg CO2e, with Scope 1 emissions at 547,000 kg CO2e, Scope 2 emissions at 6,665,000 kg CO2e (market-based), and Scope 3 emissions from business travel at 14,629,000 kg CO2e. Herbert Smith Freehills has committed to ambitious climate targets, aiming to reduce absolute Scope 1, Scope 2, and Scope 3 business travel greenhouse gas emissions by 46% by 2030, using 2019 as the base year. Additionally, the firm aims for 55% of its suppliers, by spend on purchased goods and services and capital goods, to 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 and targets are cascaded from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP, the parent organization, ensuring a consistent approach to sustainability across its operations.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2020 | 2022 | |
|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 547,000 | 000,000 | 
| Scope 2 | 6,665,000 | 0,000,000 | 
| Scope 3 | 14,629,000 | 0,000,000 | 
Herbert Smith Freehills's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 85% last year and decreased by approximately 85% since 2020, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. A significant portion of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, with Scope 3 emissions accounting for 36% of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Business Travel" representing nearly all of their reported Scope 3 footprint.
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.
