Profile in ESG Practice: Carlos de Miguel Perales

Carlos de Miguel Perales is a distinguished lawyer and professor specializing in Civil and Environmental Law at Universidad Pontificia Comillas (UPCO-ICADE). In 1988 he joined the esteemed firm Uría Menéndez, becoming a partner in 2002 until 2021, when he left the firm and became an independent legal advisor. His academic credentials include a Doctorate in Law and a degree in Economic and Business Sciences. With over 37 years of practicing and teaching experience, he has contributed extensively to legal scholarship, authoring several books and numerous articles. His research interests encompass environmental law, obligations and contracts, real rights, and the real estate registration system.

Questions and Suggested Answers:
How do you perceive the role of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in modern legal practice?
ESG principles, and more generally sustainability, are integral to contemporary legal practice. They guide corporate behavior towards environmental, governance, and social accountability. Lawyers play a crucial role in advising clients on sustainability, ESG compliance, policy development, and mitigating litigation risks associated with environmental, governance and social issues.

Can you share your experience in integrating ESG considerations into legal frameworks, particularly in environmental law?
Throughout my career, I have focused on embedding ESG considerations, especially the environmental ones, into legal frameworks by advising clients on environmental compliance, developing corporate sustainability policies, and contributing to academic discourse on environmental and sustainability regulation. My work has focused on helping clients to align their practices with sustainability.

What challenges do legal professionals face when incorporating ESG principles into their practice, and how can they be addressed?
There are various challenges here. One significant challenge is the lack of standardized ESG regulations across jurisdictions, leading to complexities in compliance and enforcement. To address this, legal professionals must stay informed about evolving ESG standards, engage in continuous education, and collaborate with international bodies to harmonize regulations, always with the ultimate goal of providing the best advice to its clients.

Carlos de Miguel Perales
Uría Menéndez
Madrid, Spain