SAN FRANCISCO (May 6, 2008) – In keeping with its well recognized community service leadership as well as its large and growing Cleantech client base, law firm Morrison & Foerster LLP has committed to meeting targets established under the “Law Office Climate Challenge.”  The “Climate Challenge” is a joint program of the American Bar Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  With more than 1,000 lawyers based in 18 offices internationally, Morrison & Foerster is one of the largest U.S. law firms to take up the Challenge. 

The ABA/EPA Climate Challenge calls on participating law firms to take steps to conserve in three areas:  the use and recycling of paper; purchase of energy from renewable sources; and in-house energy conservation through upgrading equipment as well as careful energy management practices.

Morrison & Foerster will conduct an annual self-audit to ensure its compliance with the Challenge.  The firm already recycles paper in all 18 of its offices worldwide and, as an EPA “WasteWise” partner, will immediately expand its purchase of paper made with at least 30% post-consumer material. The firm will also reprogram software in its printers and copiers so that the default mode produces double-sided printouts, significantly reducing paper usage.

To achieve EPA “GreenPower” partner status, Morrison & Foerster will begin purchasing a percentage of its domestic electricity from, or through credits for, renewable power sources, such as wind, solar, and hydro. As an EPA EnergyStar partner, the firm will also further reduce its energy consumption by replacing equipment with EnergyStar-rated office machines and increasing its use of power-saving software and lighting systems.

In commenting on the firm’s enrollment in the Law Office Climate Challenge, Morrison & Foerster Chair Keith C. Wetmore said, “Not only are we a leader in a full range of legal services to companies involved in clean technologies and other aspects of climate change but, as part of our longstanding tradition and community values, we take sustainability and conservation seriously in our own workplace. We’re committed to being environmentally responsible and energy efficient, and we are resolved to becoming a leader in these areas. The Law Office Climate Challenge is an important initiative for all law firms and businesses – it provides an opportunity to be good corporate citizens and role models of corporate responsibility.  We’re proud to be involved.”

Morrison & Foerster’s Cleantech Group includes more than 100 attorneys from across the firm’s U.S., European, and Asian offices.  The firm has actively represented energy companies since the 1970s and for the past three years has concentrated efforts on working with companies and investors in Cleantech areas such as solar, wind, biofuels, and other alternative energy sources, as well as energy efficiency, carbon tracking and trading, green building and sustainability areas, including innovative agriculture and organic foods.  The Cleantech Group is interdisciplinary, comprising attorneys from the firm’s corporate, litigation, intellectual property/patents, technology transactions, environmental/land-use, tax, energy and other practices to better serve clients in this growing sector of the global economy.

The Cleantech Group’s latest quarterly update includes a thought-provoking article, written by Morrison & Foerster attorneys Christopher Carr and William Sloan, on the prognosis for a worldwide market for carbon emissions credits – and what companies should be doing to estimate and protect the value of this new and soon-to-be tradeable commodity. The newsletter can be accessed at http://www.mofo.com/news/updates/files/13813.html.