Latham Selected as Member of the Green Bond Principles & Social Bond Principles Advisory Council
Latham & Watkins has been selected as an inaugural member of the Advisory Council to the Green Bond Principles (GBP) and Social Bond Principles (SBP) Executive Committee. The GBP and SBP promote integrity in the green bond and social bond markets through guidelines that recommend transparency, disclosure, and reporting. The Advisory Council has been formed to provide input to the Executive Committee on key issues and developments in the green, social, and sustainability bond markets, as well as international regulatory initiatives. Latham is one of only three law firm members asked to join the Advisory Council following a competitive selection process.
Latham has been investing extensively over the past five years to build market-leading capacity to advise its clients on sustainable finance. Latham will be able to contribute to the Advisory Council its deep and broad experience in sustainable finance, including advising on innovative transactions such as the first bond with a margin linked to a U.N. Sustainable Development Goal target and the first sovereign blue bond. Latham was named Law Firm of the Year 2019 by Environmental Finance in recognition of its cutting-edge work in facilitating new market solutions.
Paul Davies, a partner in Latham’s London office, said: “We are honored to join the GBP SBP Advisory Council, which brings together an illustrious group of exchanges, rating agencies, financial institutions, issuers, and investors, among other key stakeholders, and we look forward to adding our voice to the dialogue as the green bond market rapidly grows and evolves.”
Aaron Franklin, an associate in Latham’s New York office and global coordinator for sustainable capital markets, said: “The GBP SBP have been and remain a cornerstone of sustainable finance, guiding the green bond market from its infancy to the robust, mainstream force that it has become. As sustainable finance continues to develop and mature, we look forward to working with our clients and colleagues on the GBP SBP Advisory Council to help continue to grow a market that meets the needs of investors and issuers while fulfilling the promise of sustainable finance.”