Awards

Clifford Chance has won two prestigious Financial Times Awards: 'Most Innovative European Law Firm' and the 'Marketing and PR Award' for the International Climate Change Survey, a global research project which was presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year.

The judges commented that a particularly innovative approach ' is illustrated by Clifford Chance, which stood out for its International Climate Change Survey.' The judges noted that it 'secured extensive media coverage and positioned the firm as a leader on this key issue'.

Carried out with Gracechurch Consulting, the objective was to inform and influence governments, regulators and business leaders. The survey revealed that businesses see climate change as a significant opportunity, not a threat, and want to see more regulation, not less, to facilitate global trading.

"The bigger law firms are following a path, which clients want us to go down, to have a moral conscience and contribute to the major issues of the day," says Nigel Howorth, co-head of the Firm's Climate Change Group. "With this report, we are seeking to put something back into society. If we are involved in the debate, we can help shape it for the benefit of our clients."

The survey tied into the creation of the Firm's Climate Change Group, which has grown quickly. "It launched us into the area with market profile and thought leadership," he says.

The awards make Clifford Chance the top-ranked law firm in this year's FT Law 50. The index is a ranking of law firms that measures the ability to come up with new ideas and successfully implement them in any part of the organisation. 82 European law firms took part in the FT survey this year, and the index represents the top 50 performers.