While governments and NGOs are getting ready for another round of climate talks at the COP26 conference in Glasgow in late October, corporate law firms are gearing up to meet clients' growing demand for environmental, social and governance expertise. With one study after another painting a grim picture of extreme weather scenarios tied to climate change, including droughts, wildfires and rising sea levels, plaintiffs lawyers, too, are turning their attention toward the environment, bringing a growing number of cases in pursuit of climate justice.

As courts have increasingly granted standing to plaintiffs suing greenhouse gas emitters such as fossil fuel companies, more plaintiffs firms have turned their attention to this evolving area of the law. Among the most recent entrants into the arena is Seeger Weiss, which in February launched an environmental practice group, chaired by partner Matt Pawa and based in Massachusetts.