CMS has been named as a legal advisor for the upcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28), which kicks off this week in the United Arab Emirates. 


The firm will be providing a broad range of pro-bono legal support for UN-related partnerships and intergovernmental collaborations on matters including sustainable finance, data protection and security, trademark registration, brand protection, reputation management and more. The CMS team will be led by sustainability and ESG partner Döne Yalçin, alongside London partner and head of its energy and climate change group Munir Hassan.

Yalçin, who is also managing partner of CMS Turkey, said: “It is a privilege and honour for us to have been selected as a provider of legal services for COP28. This appointment is a testament to our commitment to embed sustainability into our DNA. We are excited to support an event that has the potential to create positive global change in addressing the climate crisis.”

She added: “Our approach aligns seamlessly with ‘Unite, Act, Deliver’ and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to advancing global sustainability efforts.”

COP28 runs from 30 November until 12 December in Dubai. The annual event is designed to bring governments and businesses together to discuss climate-related action, as well as review efforts to meet the Paris Agreement climate goal of limiting global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This so-called ‘global stocktake’ will help inform measures that need to be put in place to bridge gaps in progress, the UN says.


A number of law firms, including CMS, have put in place carbon reduction plans intended to help reach net zero targets by 2050.

Back in June, a group of City firms including Osborne Clarke, DLA Piper and Mischon de Reya also signed a pledge to limit warming to 1.5°C as part of London Climate Action Week.

Firms have been seeking to deepen their sustainability and climate expertise over the past year as client demand for ESG-related advice has grown. In October, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer hired Travers Smith’s head of environment Doug Bryden as part of its ESG drive.

A study published back in February by Impactivise found that almost half of the top 25 best performing firms on ESG are headquartered in the UK. DLA Piper topped that list, followed by Clifford Chance and DWF.