This week, Extinction Rebellion (XR) activists orchestrated a significant protest at the offices of prominent law firm A&O Shearman, demanding an immediate severance from the fossil fuel sector.
In a bold move, protestors infiltrated the lobby of the firm’s offices, leading to the arrest of five individuals. During the protest, the building’s facade was marked with fake oil, representing the group’s dissatisfaction with the firm’s current practices.
An elaborate installation, featuring an oil derrick and a Grim Reaper holding a scythe and scales with a burning planet and oily cash, served as a powerful visual symbol outside the entrance. Meanwhile, activists used a megaphone to voice accusations against A&O Shearman, criticizing their environmental impact.
This protest highlights an escalation from previous demonstrations. Last Friday, campaigners from Lawyers Are Responsible, accompanied by scientists and doctors, sought to draw attention to the complicity of legal professionals in sustaining the fossil fuel industry. Despite these efforts, XR remarked on the silence from A&O Shearman regarding these accusations.
The firm’s historical ties with fossil fuels is a significant point of contention. Pre-merger entities, Allen & Overy and Shearman Sterling, reportedly received poor evaluations in the 2024 Law Students for Climate Accountability scorecard due to their engagement with oil and gas sectors.
Marcus Bailie, a participating activist from South Wales, expressed outrage over the continued support law firms provide to fossil fuel extraction amidst stark climate warnings. He posed a challenge to legal professionals to choose between profit and environmental responsibility.
Melanie Strickland of Lawyers Are Responsible further criticised A&O Shearman for prioritising client interests over ecological concerns, highlighting previous communications urging the firm to discontinue its fossil fuel associations. Her call for lawyers to uphold public interest echoes the growing demand for ethical accountability in the legal field.
The protest at A&O Shearman underscores a growing tension between environmental activism and corporate legal practices. As calls for change intensify, the legal industry faces mounting pressure to align with sustainable ethics.
