We are united in the business of a better world.

Chapman’s Social Impact and Sustainability Task Force includes members from across the firm who oversee and guide Chapman’s social impact and sustainability programs and practices and promote opportunities to partner with clients. Our Practice Green team implements these programs and practices, improving our use of resources, steering our purchasing power toward environmentally friendly vendors, and offsetting our carbon footprint.

Highlights

  • UN Global Compact. Chapman is a Participant in the UN Global Compact (UNGC), the world's largest global corporate sustainability initiative, providing a universal language and framework for businesses, and providing a platform for showcasing the firm’s impact and improvement in support of the UNGC’s Principles and Sustainable Development Goals. Read our 2022 Communication on Progress report.
  • Signatory of Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation. Chapman joined over 1,000 companies in more than 100 countries in support of the United Nations (UN) and inclusive multilateralism by signing the Statement from Business Leaders for Renewed Global Cooperation. The Statement of support was presented to UN Secretary-General and CEO & Executive Director of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), at the opening of the 2020 annual meeting of the United Nations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the UN. By signing the Statement, Chapman stands committed to doing our part as a law firm to advance the UNGC's Principles and Sustainable Development Goals and joining corporate colleagues around the globe “united in the business of a better world” by charting more equitable, inclusive, and sustainable paths.
  • Practice Green. Chapman is committed to environmental sustainability and champions everyday environmental efforts, including lighting and energy conservation, recycling, water use reduction, and green purchasing. We believe that law firms can play a crucial role in advancing environmental sustainability by making environmentally responsible choices and, for more than 15 years, Chapman has continually improved our everyday environmental efforts. We are also a proud member of the Law Firm Sustainability Network—a non-profit organization of law firms and legal departments dedicated to environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility. Read more about our sustainable business practices, partnerships, and impact.
  • Practice Green at Chapman
    Practice Green at Chapman
    We are committed to doing our part to mitigate the effects of climate change and preserve the environment. In this video, learn more about our commitment to environmental sustainability and everyday environmental efforts.
  • Social Impact & Sustainability
    Social Impact & Sustainability
    Chapman's Social Impact and Sustainability Task Force holds the firm accountable to our United Nations Global Compact goals. In this video, we share highlights of our UNGC commitment and how we are working to make difference.
  • A Responsible Firm
    A Responsible Firm
    We are united in the business of a better world by helping our clients lead and advance sustainable business practices and conscious investing. Learn more about our ESG counsel and sustainable finance practice.

Social Impact & Sustainability Updates

  • Press Release

    Chapman and Cutler LLP is proud to announce that the firm’s Chicago office has been certified LEED Gold by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

  • Client Alert

    As interested parties look for more direction on Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) matters, the Loan Syndication and Trading Association (“LSTA”) recently issued new Guidance for Green, Social, and Sustainability-Linked Loans External Reviews (“External Review Guidance”) and Guidance on Social Loan Principles (“Social Loan Principle Guidance”). A summary of this guidance is below.

  • Client Alert

    At the urging of investors and in accordance with the Biden Administration’s climate agenda, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) yesterday issued long-awaited new proposed rules to increase climate-related disclosures. The Enhancement and Standardization of Climate-Related Disclosures for Investors (the “Proposed Rule”), if finalized, would amend the SEC’s rules under the Securities Act of 1933 and Securities Act of 1934 to require that registrants provide robust climate related information in their registration statements and annual reports. The rule would apply to all domestic and foreign companies required to be registered with the SEC.

  • Chapman Insights

    The Public Finance Initiative (PFI) and the National League of Cities (NLC) have launched the Bond Markets and Racial Equity Project to identify the factors in a municipal bond issuance that signal progress toward racial equity and income equality to investors and other stakeholders. Additionally, PFI and NLC will use the Project to develop resources that can be used by governmental issuers to center racial equity in municipal bond-funded infrastructure investments and to measure how social determinants of equity change over time on a uniform basis. The unprecedented Project is funded by a $4M grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. By funding the Project, the Foundation aims to help issuers leverage the municipal bond market in a meaningful way to help correct racial and economic inequities. 

  • Chapman Insights

    Environmental, Social and Governance (“ESG”) investing continued to grow throughout 2021 and this growth is expected to continue into 2022 as ESG investments are estimated to surpass $41 trillion in assets under management globally by the end of the year. ESG investing occurs when investors make investment decisions based on a company’s environmental, social and governance policies and performance alongside traditional financial metrics. As investment firms, lending institutions, and individual investors are increasingly looking at ESG factors to identify material risks and growth opportunities, a number of trends are expected to emerge in the upcoming year. These include regulation of ESG disclosures, growth in green technology, renewable energy and infrastructure investments, and heightened standards associated with sustainable finance.

  • Conference

    Chapman's Stacey Kielbasa, Nancy Roberts Linder, and Kristin Parker discussed "Breaking the ESG Silo Culture in Law Firms" at the Legal ESG Summit. 

  • Chapman Insights

    Lenders and investors are taking different approaches to building ESG portfolios based on the entity’s own preferences and values. However, one widely used tool involves screening of select assets or transactions that align with those values.

  • News

    We are pleased to share highlights of the firm’s environmental, community, and justice initiatives over the past year. Chapman’s Social Impact and Sustainability Communication on Progress report was prepared with guidance from our Social Impact and Sustainability Task Force and is part of Chapman’s commitment to the United Nations Global Compact.

  • Chapman Insights

    As Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) performance becomes more prominent, institutional investors, asset managers, financial institutions, and other stakeholders are increasingly looking at ESG factors in making investment and lending decisions. In doing so, these entities are relying on a number of information sources, including ESG ratings and reports.

  • Chapman Insights

    At today’s Earth Day Climate Summit, President Joe Biden announced to world leaders that the United States is committed to cutting its greenhouse gas emissions by 50% to 52% from 2005 levels by 2030.

  • Chapman Insights

    Last week the Loan Syndications and Trading Association, the Loan Market Association, and the Asia Pacific Loan Market Association jointly published their first ever Social Loan Principles.

  • Client Alert

    On April 9, 2021, the Securities and Exchange Commission Division of Examinations issued a Risk Alert highlighting observations made by the Division from recent examinations of investment advisers, registered investment companies, and private funds offering products and services that incorporate environmental, social, and governance factors.

  • Chapman Insights

    The Securities and Exchange Commission this month announced that the Divisions of Corporation Finance, Examinations, and Enforcement are all undertaking climate or ESG-related initiatives. 

  • Client Alert

    The Department of Labor announced that it will not enforce its previously issued final rule regarding plan fiduciaries’ use of environmental, social and governance factors in selecting investments for tax‑qualified retirement plans.

  • Chapman Insights

    Environmental, Social and Governance investing in the United States has reportedly reached an estimated $250 billion in assets under management and is expected to see continued growth in 2021 and beyond. 

  • Client Alert

    On October 30, the Department of Labor issued a final rule which amends its 1979 investment duties regulation under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, to update and clarify its position with respect to ERISA plan fiduciaries’ use of environmental, social and governance factors in selecting investments.

  • Client Alert

    Earlier this month, Governor Jerry Brown of California signed into law a bill that sets some of the strongest clean energy standards in the world. Senate Bill 100 requires that one hundred percent of all retail sales of electricity in California come from clean energy sources by 2045.

  • Client Alert
    | Client Alert

    Last month, the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board published its first standards calling for financial institutions to voluntarily collect, quantify and report data relevant to their environmental, social and governance performance.

We have always been focused on finance.

  • 1913
    TS Chapman partners with Henry Cutler to form Chapman and Cutler
  • 1st
    Chapman's first client in 1913 is still a client of the firm today
  • 22
    Diverse financial practices serving regional, national, and global clients
  • 6
    Offices across the country and in key US financial centers

We use cookies to deliver our online services. Details of the cookies we use and instructions on how to disable them are set out in our Privacy Policy. By using this website you agree to our use of cookies.