29th Nov 2024: Health professionals, Scientists and Lawyers occupy “Magic Circle” law firms

Posted by: Hils - Posted on:

Members of Health for Extinction Rebellion joined Medical colleagues, Scientists and Lawyers in a time limited occupation of the so-called “Magic Circle” law firms today to call out their facilitation of the climate health emergency.

Each firm was handed a letter penned by Lawyers are Responsible, along with a copy of a recently published legal opinion which provides lawyers with guidance on how to legally respond to their ethical and professional responsibilities to the public in the face of the climate and ecological crisis. Health workers and scientists also delivered a letter appealing to lawyers to consider their responsibility to public health and calling on them to urgently divest from fossil fuel interests.

The occupations took place at the five firms that form the ‘Magic Circle’ (Slaughter and May, Freshfields, Linklaters, Clifford Chance and the firm formerly known as Allen & Overy). From 2018 to 2022, these firms were were collectively responsible for over £285 billion worth of fossil fuel transactions.

Please read the Lawyers are Responsible press release here: https://www.lar.earth/sit-in-at-fossil-fuel-enabling-law-firms/

Follow this link for more information about Lawyers are Responsible and their campaign to stop fossil fuel work: https://www.lar.earth/

Social media links:

https://www.law.com/international-edition/2024/11/29/doctors-and-scientists-lead-climate-protests-at-each-magic-circle-firm/?slreturn=20241129181518

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Dr Fiona Godlee explains the reasons for this action

Choreographed security at Clifford Chance