Legal ESG: Benelux is the region’s flagship event dedicated to the evolving intersection of law, sustainability, and corporate responsibility. Taking place on 24 September 2025 in The Hague, the forum brings together ESG practitioners, senior legal leaders, academics, and policy voices to explore how environmental, social and governance factors are transforming the legal landscape in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg. 

Hosted by law firm La Gro and curated by Inside Practice, the event is a part of the Legal ESG global series and aims to offer both a local lens and an international outlook on the rapidly shifting ESG agenda. 

Setting the Agenda: From Global Uncertainty to Local Application 

One of the major themes of this year’s conference is how macro trends—from the second Trump presidency to the energy transition and geopolitical fragmentation—are shaping ESG-related risks and responses. Keynote speaker Gerard Reid, an international advisor on energy and policy, will open the conference with a strategic briefing on the global ESG and regulatory environment and its relevance for legal practice in the Benelux region. 

Attendees can expect a timely and sober assessment of what legal risk will look like in 2026 and beyond as the event will address these topics with clarity and urgency. 

ESG in Practice: Regulation, Risk and Litigation 

Sessions throughout the day will focus on how ESG is becoming increasingly embedded in legal workflows, client expectations, and operational strategy. One panel will explore landmark ESG cases, examining how legal teams are responding to litigation risks around climate, supply chains, and human rights. These cases are now shaping precedent and influencing corporate strategy across jurisdictions. 

Another session will focus on contractual ESG risk, led by top regulatory lawyers from the region. From supplier codes of conduct to the implications of sustainability-linked KPIs in M&A and financing, lawyers will explore how to align contracts with evolving ESG obligations—while mitigating liability. 

Nature, Biodiversity, and the New ESG Frontier 

Biodiversity loss and nature risk are emerging as the next big challenge in the ESG space. With upcoming global frameworks expected to link environmental disclosure to natural capital, lawyers are increasingly required to understand nature-related legal obligations. A dedicated session will offer insight into how biodiversity is intersecting with legal mandates, regulatory pressure, and client advisory roles. 

Featured Speakers to Watch 

The speaker lineup includes regional experts, thought leaders and practising lawyers from top firms and organisations, such as: 

• Anna Duron (Ashurst) – ESG regulatory updates in the EU 
• Aukje Haan (CMS) – ESG risk in contracts 
• Boris Bekkering (Regreener) – Climate litigation and impact claims 
• Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm (bureau Brandeis) – Technology, privacy and ethics 
• Sjoerd Kamerbeek (Van Doorne) – Keynote on ESG litigation in Benelux 
• Gerard Reid – Global keynote on energy, geopolitics and ESG transformation 
• Daan van Maurik (Utrecht University) – Academic insights on climate jurisprudence 
  
  

This mix of academic and commercial voices ensures that conversations stay rooted in both the practical and theoretical dimensions of ESG law.