Legal ESG BENELUX: A Strategic conversation on ESG and the role of the legal profession

On 24 September 2025, legal professionals from across Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg will gather in The Hague for Legal ESG BENELUX—a one-day conference focused on the strategic implications of ESG.

Organized by Inside Practice, in collaboration with Dutch law firm La Gro, and in strategic partnership with DRB Group, the event is part of a growing international series that includes events in London, New York, Brussels, Toronto and Paris. The goal: to bring together the legal profession – law firm leaders, general counsel, regulators and ESG experts – to exchange perspectives on how ESG is reshaping the strategic business landscape.

Pamela Cone, ESG Practice Lead at Inside Practice and co-organizer of the event, brings a dual perspective to the program. She is founder of Amity Advisory, a consulting practice helping law firms develop their own ESG strategies, and serves as ESG Practice Lead at Inside Practice, where she curates Legal ESG events around the world. “This is a space for the legal profession to reflect on the fast-changing world we operate in, and the responsibility we have to help guide clients—and our own firms—through it”, she says.

She’s joined in organizing the Benelux event by Robert van Beemen, Partner Strategy at DRB Group and Chair of the ESG subcommittee of the Law Firm Management Committee within the International Bar Association (IBA). Van Beemen advises law firms on strategy and governance, with ESG playing an increasingly central role. “We are both focused on how ESG developments are shaping the strategy and operations of law firms”, he notes. “It has moved beyond compliance. It’s now about resilience, business continuity, and long-term value creation.”

From climate to complexity

Legal ESG BENELUX goes beyond environment, social and governance as isolated topics. “The world has become too complex to treat ESG as a checklist”, Cone notes. “This is about how we manage risk, build viable organizations and maintain trust—in society and in the market.”

The event will explore the wider context shaping business strategy today: rapid advances in technology and AI, rising geopolitical tensions, the energy transition, inflation, and growing pressure on the democratic legal order—even in long-standing democracies. “These developments affect law firms’ clients, supply chains and contracts”, Van Beemen notes.

ESG in the courtroom

One of the sessions will focus on ESG in the courtroom, including the rise of shareholder activism. Van Beemen cites examples like Dutch pension fund ABP and Follow This, which are increasingly using legal means to hold companies accountable. “This kind of legal pressure is relatively new for Europe”, he says. “And it’s only the beginning.”

Strategic shifts and political headwinds

The conference also looks at broader shifts in the geopolitical and economic landscape. From shifting US policies under the Trump administration to debates around the EU Green Deal, the Draghi report on European competitiveness and the evolving Omnibus legislative package, lawyers will need to help clients—and their firms—navigate growing uncertainty.

Cone stresses that this isn’t just a moral conversation. “When you talk to a board about sustainability, they may get defensive given the current political environment”, she says. “But when you ask about their viability in five, ten or fifteen years, suddenly it’s a strategic discussion. ESG is really about risk management, continuity, and competitiveness.”

Rethinking the business of law

Law firms themselves are also feeling the shift. “We see more firms exploring B Corp certification as a way to align their values with the expectations of clients and talent”, says Van Beemen. “In today’s market, purpose matters—not just to younger lawyers, but across the partnership. Some firms no longer want to work for certain industries, like tobacco.”

The ESG agenda now touches every part of the business: from attracting and retaining talent, to managing supply chains, to reshaping client relationships. “It’s not about ticking a box”, Van Beemen notes. “It’s about building resilience and relevance in a fast-changing world.”

Cone adds: “Ultimately, this is about strategic risk management. Whether the topic is climate, governance, talent or biodiversity, the ESG lens helps firms and clients identify the real risks to their long-term viability.”

The role of the legal profession

The closing session of the day will address a foundational question: What is the role of the legal profession in shaping a more just, equitable, and sustainable world? “It’s a question we hear at every event”, Cone says. “Is the lawyer’s duty only to the client, or also to society? And how do we deal with that tension?”

Van Beemen adds: “Law firms can no longer afford to ignore these questions. Their people – both junior and senior – are asking these questions of firm leadership. So are clients. And regulators are moving fast. ESG is not a trend. It’s a structural change in how business is done.”

On the agenda

Topics throughout the day will include biodiversity, AI and ethics, the EU’s regulatory direction, and the business case for becoming a B Corp.

The program will close with an open discussion on ethics, rule of law, and the evolving responsibility of legal professionals in today’s complex world. “Law firms need to rethink who they want to be”, says Cone. “And how they stay relevant.”

Legal ESG BENELUX takes place on 24 September 2025 in The Hague. Registration is open via insidepractice.com.

Agenda and speakers to be announced soon.