#1 What Authentic ESG Really Looks Like – A Conversation with Simon Colvin

In this episode, Philippa is joined by Simon Colvin, Partner at Weightmans, a long-established environmental lawyer and the firm’s ESG lead. 

With roots in environmental biology and more than two decades specialising in this field, Simon has played a central role in helping Weightmans secure ISO accreditations, a platinum EcoVadis rating and recognition across several Legal 500 ESG categories.

Simon shares:

• How a childhood experience sparked his commitment to environmental work and led him into a career focused entirely on environmental law.
  
  
• What an ESG lead actually does inside a large professional services firm, and how he balances internal change with client support.
  
  
• How Weightmans transformed its early environmental efforts into a structured programme underpinned by accredited management systems and clear governance.
  
  
• Why many organisations struggle to start their ESG journey, and the simple first steps that remove confusion and build momentum.
  
  
• How to distinguish real priorities from noise, including the role of materiality assessments and recognised frameworks.
  
  
• Common pitfalls around greenwashing and the governance processes that help prevent it.
  
  
• Why ESG is ultimately about good business practice, resilience and risk management rather than box-ticking or chasing perfection.
  
  

This conversation gives listeners a grounded, practical look at what authentic ESG looks like inside a modern law firm — and why sustainable progress comes from clarity, consistency and embedding good practice into everyday operations.

A concise, insightful episode for anyone wanting to build credibility and confidence in their organisation’s ESG approach.

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