Roschier supports a professorship in sustainability law with a donation

The green transition is generating significant investments whose practical management requires legal expertise and research, which is why the law firm Roschier has decided to support the Faculty of Law in establishing a professorship in sustainability law.

Roschier’s donation will be allocated to a project which is to establish a new professorship focused on sustainability law at the Faculty of Law, University of Helsinki.

Roschier considers the professorship important for Finland’s economic development. Projects associated with the green transition are guided by sustainability regulation, which will also guide the availability of funding. This is why expertise in and research on regulatory structures are needed.

“Even in the public discussion, there has been talk of significant investments in the green transition targeted at Finland. The practical management of this deluge of investments requires the availability of related legal expertise and research in Finland. Roschier wishes to contribute to promoting such projects important to the Finnish industrial structure and society as a whole,” says Managing Partner Mikko Manner of Roschier.

In Finland, the EU’s green transition means extensive investments in renewable energy, carbon capture and utilisation, as well as in the circular hydrogen economy. In practice, these investments are guided by complex regulations based on sustainability law overflowing from various EU policy sectors.

“For businesses to succeed in the green transition, there is a demand for legal expertise related to corporate social responsibility, sustainable funding and environmental protection alongside human rights management. At the moment, there is a clear competence deficit in society in these areas. Indeed, there is a tremendous need to boost relevant research and education with a new professorship,” says Professor Kai Kokko.

The Faculty of Law of the University of Helsinki aims to establish a professorship focused on environmental law for a five-year term. The professorship will focus on promoting a sustainable and responsible society and economic activity by investigating the boundaries and opportunities of environmental regulation.

Research on sustainability, including the development of uniform certificates and standards, promotes international competitiveness. In addition, the research carried out in the field anticipates changes in the regulatory environment of business operations, thus supporting the fair transition of operations and the labour force in society. Basing indicators on precisely the factors that are relevant to the sustainability goals and reporting on those factors are crucial for our future. To achieve this, the impact of these factors must be scientifically verified.

Contact details:

Mikko Manner, Managing Partner, Roschier: mikko.manner@roschier.com 0400 747 747

Kai Kokko, Professor, University of Helsinki: kai.kokko@helsinki.fi 02941 22820