In 2016, we decided to go to a particular place called Neptuno’s, which we had not visited since my daughter was a baby. The place was perfect, featuring a small beach next to the restaurant. The stairs from the restaurant would take you to the sand, where my daughter used to play. We got there and then it struck me… There was no beach anymore. The stairs were inside the water!
In our jobs, we have experienced that many people hear but choose not to listen, which is not dissimilar to the greater population’s response to climate change. Once people start experiencing consequences themselves, then they start paying attention. The day we returned from that restaurant on the beach, I started doing my own research. I discovered that the Dominican Republic, as part of the group of Small Island Developing States (SIDS), is particularly vulnerable to sea level rise as a result of global warming and to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, according to research from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
In an article written by Bill Gates, he says, “Although climate change will have serious consequences — particularly for people in the poorest countries — it will not lead to humanity’s demise. People will be able to live and thrive in most places on Earth for the foreseeable future.” And that is the reality. It is in human nature to adapt.
Over the following couple of years, Neptuno’s Restaurant rebuilt its top deck and created three more stairs that access the sea surface directly from that deck. After Hurricane Sandy affected the East Coast of the United States in 2012, all houses in Long Island, New York, that were flooded were rebuilt and raised their first floors to the second to prevent potential future flooding. They also adapted to create strong economies and successful businesses. Unfortunately, people living in underdeveloped countries, smaller islands or resource-limited economies are often forced to leave their homes.
The legal industry can learn a lot from the sustainability and resilience strategies that these locations used to respond to climate change. First, there is a significant difference between sustainability and other types of business strategies:
- When an initiative increases profitability, reduces risks and enhances reputation, it is sustainability.
- When the initiative only affects operating expenses and enhances reputation, it is a corporate social responsibility.
- And when it simply gives back without affecting risk or reputation, it is philanthropy.
Since 2016, I have worked closely with my law firm’s senior leadership to raise awareness about sustainability within the legal profession. In 2017, I conducted research, which was presented and published at the LACCEI Conference, that examined how regulatory frameworks, institutional decision-making and long-term environmental and economic considerations can shape more sustainable practices. The research included interviews with senior partners and an analysis of relevant legislation.
We published a number of articles through Russin, Vecchi & Heredia Bonetti’s (RVHB) blog and organized legal colloquium for the legal community focused on the role of lawyers in environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and opportunities. At RVHB, sustainable development is not just a policy; it’s how we do business. We are committed to responsible environmental management, ethical governance and making a positive and meaningful impact on the community.
Sustainability as a business strategy in a law firm happens when innovation and sustainable practices lead to new client work, stronger retention and greater operational efficiency. For example, developing sustainability-related practice areas, improving technology use or aligning operations with clients’ sustainability expectations can all be aspects of a business strategy.
Our governance structures include strong commitment to people, the planet and sustainable prosperity. It is characterized by a focus on continuous innovation and a strong ability to identify risks and opportunities.
The ethical principles that have guided our practice since 1969 strengthen our commitment to excellence and integrity. Since then, we have integrated sustainability into our legal practice areas to support clients’ businesses in their sustainable efforts. Our legal team offers practical guidance in corporate governance, regulatory compliance, renewable energy, real estate development and public-private partnership projects that generate long-term value.
These same principles underpin the legal strategies we design for our clients, helping them anticipate regulatory changes, improve transparency and build business resilience.
New generations entering the workforce prefer companies that are concerned about their environmental impact and that work to offer them a better future. We have a multigenerational team, and our Gen Z workforce has a strong commitment to sustainability. We value the uniqueness of each individual and work together as one team.
RVHB fosters the continuous professional and cultural development of our team, ensuring diverse perspectives and integrity in every project. We offer continuing education programs that strengthen the holistic growth of our professionals. This commitment also extends to our clients, helping them strengthen their organizational culture, employee compliance and workplace well-being to build sustainable business performance.
Although the environmental impact of our practice is relatively low compared to other economic activities, we have implemented a series of good practices for more than a decade that reaffirms our commitment to the future of the planet.
- Solid waste management and environmental awareness programs in partnership with CEDAF (Center for Agricultural and Forestry Development, Inc.) promoting the 3Rs culture (reduce, reuse, recycle).
- Clean energy awareness initiatives related to the vehicle fleet.
- Participation in beach clean-ups and reforestation activities.
- Operational efficiency measures, including digitization, lighting controls, temperature regulation and reduced travel.
It is important to note that we are a relatively small law firm in the Dominican Republic. The reality is that more law firms are embedding sustainability into their core strategies as a signal of forward-thinking. They are making public commitments that integrate sustainability with innovation by attracting the best talent and strengthening client trust — and that is what our leadership positions are about.
To reflect on your own sustainability practices, I implore you to ask your law firm leaders these two questions:
- Is there an awareness that climate change is causing risks?
- Have adaptation measures to reduce these risks been developed and included in strategic planning?
If the answer to those questions is yes, then I applaud you for doing your part to promote the health of the planet. If the answer is no, then now is the time to make those changes for the benefit of your clients, your firm and the environment we all share.
