This global spotlight celebrates 40 of the most impressive ESG and sustainability lawyers aged 40 and under — rising stars at the partner, barrister and counsel level who are redefining the legal landscape. These top practitioners are at the forefront of critical issues ranging from regulatory compliance and litigation to business and human rights-based accountability. Collectively, their work is shaping corporate responsibility, influencing policy and driving meaningful change in boardrooms, courtrooms and beyond.

Paul Mertenskötter 

Covington, New York/Brussels

Christian Turotti 

Simmons & Simmons, Milan

Guillaume Croisant 

Linklaters, Brussels

June Hu 

Sullivan & Cromwell, New York

David Alfrey

Addleshaw Goddard, London

Karolin Fitzer  

Noerr, Frankfurt

Cat Greenwood-Smith 

Freshfields, London

Meaghan Colligan Hembree 

Holland & Knight, Washington, DC

Julian Harrell 

Faegre Drinker, Indianapolis

Louise Barber 

Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer, London

Michelle Chikezie 

G Elias, Lagos

Emma Bichet 

Cooley, Brussels

Ruth Knox 

Paul Hastings, London

Hannah Bain 

Russell McVeagh, Wellington

Ashleigh Myers 

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Austin & Houston

Stuart Neely 

Norton Rose Fulbright, London

Margherita Cornaglia 

Landmark Chambers, London

Joshua Domb 

Gen-R Law, London

Rebecca Perlman 

Kirkland & Ellis, London

Christina Rahbek 

Gorrissen Federspiel, Aarhus

Manuela Demarche

Trench Rossi Watanabe, São Paulo

Holly Suthren 

Eversheds Sutherland, London/Manchester

Anton Vallélian 

Lalive, Geneva

Emma Newnham 

King & Wood Mallesons, Melbourne

Hannah Flint 

Hunton Andrews Kurth, Washington, DC

Gedham Gomes 

Tauil & Chequer Advogados, Rio de Janeiro

Gustav Ollinger 

White & Case, Berlin

Constantin Eikel 

Bird & Bird, Düsseldorf 

Claire Seaborn 

Torys, Toronto

Veronica Webster Celda 

Osborne Clarke, London

Jill Shaw 

A&L Goodbody, Dublin

Sebastian Gräler 

Hogan Lovells, Düsseldorf

Amy Carseldine 

Clayton Utz, Brisbane

Theresa Lauterbach

Hengeler Mueller, Munich

Rachel Lowe 

Proskauer Rose, London 

Marit Bosselaar 

Loyens & Loeff, Amsterdam

William-James Kettlewell 

Baker McKenzie, Brussels

Kate Wilson Butler 

Chapman Tripp, Wellington

Sara Mattern 

Foley Hoag, Washington, DC

María Victoria Tuculet  

Bomchil, Buenos Aires