On October 30, 2023, CLECSS announced the winners of its 2023 Best ESG Law Firm/Lawyer awards. W88优德官方网站 was honored with the Best ESG Law Firm - Best Green Initiative Award for its innovative practices in environmental protection, sustainable development, and carbon neutrality. W88优德官方网站 partner YI, Fang received the Best ESG Lawyer - Diamond Award, and Ms. KOU, Chunyan claimed the Best ESG Lawyer - Gold Award.

Best Green Initiative Award

W88优德官方网站 was the first zero-carbon law firm in China to achieve official certification after the introduction of “dual-carbon” goals. It adopted a comprehensive, three-dimensional approach to understanding and embracing ESG principles, established an ESG practice group and conducted in-depth ESG due diligence on the firm itself. W88优德官方网站 undertook proactive measures such as establishing the first ever special fund for carbon neutrality to be initiated by a law firm, encouraged staff to enhance their ESG awareness through KMS, hosted multiple seminars on corporate carbon management, and organized and participated in environmental protection activities like the Public Welfare Forest and Earth Hour. These initiatives showcase W88优德官方网站’s holistic commitment to ESG both internally and externally and have won it widespread recognition. Recently, W88优德官方网站 was recognized by Multilaw, a renowned global network of law firms, as the Green Law Firm of the Year in its first edition of Multilaw Awards and was featured in The Legal 500’s inaugural Asia Pacific Green Guide. W88优德官方网站 was honored with the CSR, Diversity, Transformation and Economic Empowerment Award at the 2022 China Law & Practice Awards, the 2022 CLECSS Best ESG Practice Award, and the ESG Legal Service Provider of the Year by the British Chamber of Commerce Shanghai in 2022.

YI, Fang : Best ESG Lawyer - Diamond Award

Ms. Yi has vast experience in the energy and infrastructure fields and was one of the first Chinese lawyers to provide legal services in the public infrastructure sector. She is also among the first Chinese lawyers to specialize in new energy. Her practice has spanned the entire development cycle of the new energy power industry since its inception, demonstrating her in-depth and forward-looking research into industry-specific issues. Ms. Yi has maintained a leading and representative position in this field. With more than a decade’s legal practice, she has led and participated in numerous national large-scale energy and infrastructure projects and has accumulated rich experience in the development and construction of power plants, new energy, natural gas, urban rail transit and other projects.  

Ms. Yi has been repeatedly recognized by international legal media such as Chambers, IFLR and The Legal 500 as a leading lawyer in the global and Asia-Pacific energy and infrastructure areas. She has also been named among IFLR Asia Best Lawyers, Market Leaders and IFLR1000 Women Leaders multiple times.

KOU, Chunyan : Best ESG Lawyer - Gold Award

Ms. Kou is one of the few experts in China to specialize in environmental law. With over 10 years’ experience working for environmental regulatory authorities, she has been extensively involved in the legislative, enforcement and judicial work of environmental protection. Ms. Kou has handled over 1000 cases involving environmental administrative penalties, pollution crimes, environmental pollution torts, and environmental public interest litigation. She has abundant experience in dealing with major events such as ecological and environmental protection inspections organized by the central government, the shutdown of small hydropower stations (withdrawal of mining rights), and the relocation of chemical plants.

Since joining W88优德官方网站, Ms. Kou has represented multiple multinational companies and large central state-owned enterprises in various environmental disputes, including environmental administrative penalty cases, major cross-border pollution cases, ecological and environmental damage claims, and environmental public interest organization cases. She has delivered legal services to enterprises engaged in environmental protection, energy conservation and new resources with respect to their mergers and acquisitions, green financing and environment trade. Ms. Kou has provided many large manufacturers with EHS and EGS compliance consultations. She has provided environment exchanges, carbon emitters, carbon trading companies and new energy vehicle manufacturers with specialized legal services, including consultations on carbon trading, carbon contract performance, carbon asset development, and overseas carbon regulations.