Celebrating our Legal Manager David’s one year anniversary at OG

Just one year into his time at OG, our legal manager David has driven our legal action, from leading on our EU Taxonomy challenge and building a network across the UK and EU challenging greenwashing. Here David looks back on his first twelve months.

At the 2023 OG Christmas dinner with David (right) and our SASHA Coalition EU Policy and Coalition Consultant, Martijn Pakker (left) .

What drew you to work at OG?

I’ve always enjoyed being a lawyer (more or less) but there was always this niggling sense that something was missing – that I was doing a good job more out of professional pride than really caring about the projects I was working on.

Like many others, I reassessed things during lockdown and ended up leaving the security of the glass box I worked in to do a Masters in climate change and environmental law. I wasn’t ever entirely sure where that was leading nor that the job I had in mind really existed, but shortly after graduating someone sent me a link to a vacancy at Opportunity Green.

I knew instantly that it was the right place – working on the defining challenges of our time, using the law to try and tackle climate change and create a better world, with a group of fantastic colleagues and for a charity that from day one has striven to create a great workplace for its employees.

I think becoming a parent a couple of years ago helped, in many ways, to focus my mind on what really matters. One graph that really sticks in my mind is this one from the IPCC:

From IPCC Climate Change 2023 Synthesis Report

Comparing the temperature rise for my parents (born in the 1950s) with my two young kids (born in the 2020s) is frightening – we’re leaving a catastrophic legacy for the next generation. But we know what the problem is and we know what the solution is – we just need to get on with it, and I think lawyers can play a key role in that.

What has changed since you started?

I’m wary of definitely labelling this a ‘change’ since it may be reversed unilaterally at any time and without notice, but the single most significant change since I started is that Roo, our Chief Security Officer, who used to give me hell if I dared step foot in the office, recently voluntarily sat on my knee in the pub. (Roo is a dog, for those who don’t know and are worried where this is going.)

There’s of course a long list of other things that have changed too: new office, new logo, new projects, a four-day working week, a 26-week parental leave policy; the list continues. We’re a young organisation and change is happening all of the time – that’s part of what makes it such an exciting place to work.

David and Chief Security Officer Roo bonding at the pub.

What are you most proud of being involved in since you joined?

As a legal team we work at the cutting edge of climate law and I’m really proud of all of our work to date. Some highlights include:

• Clarifying states’ obligations under international law to address emissions from international shipping and aviation;

• Challenging the EU’s sustainable finance rules on shipping and aviation, which potentially drives huge investments into business-as-usual, fossil fuel intensive activities; and

• Building an EU-wide network to tackle greenwashing in the aviation sector. 

What inspires you about what you’re working on?

I’m constantly inspired by the people around me – my colleagues are brilliant and relentlessly passionate about the work we do to tackle climate change. It keeps my positivity up which really helps when you’re working in difficult sectors. I think the “Opportunity” in the organisation’s title really sums up the approach we try to take to the climate crisis – we can fix this, and we’ve got the chance to fix it in the right way, focusing on justice and equity. It’s inspiring to be a part of that.   

What are you looking forward to in the coming year?

The legal team has just taken on two fantastic new members – Dominika and Kirsty – and we’ve got a lot of exciting work ahead of us. From our submission to the International Court of Justice to breaking ground in industries like buildings and steel, we’ve got a busy time ahead and I’m really looking forward to taking on the challenge with such passionate and excellent colleagues.

But now, I’m off to spend a couple of months’ paternity leave with my family, and some quality time with our four-month old (under the brutally critical micro-management of my two-year old).

Inspired to come and work at Opportunity Green? Keep an eye on our vacancies page and follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.