Gowling WLG is proud to announce that it has won in the 'People and Planet' category at the London Bridge 'A Great Place to Work Awards' 2026 for its Serenity Garden initiative, recognising the firm's innovative approach to environmental stewardship, biodiversity and employee wellbeing.
Aligned with the London Bridge Decarbonisation Charter the awards celebrate achievements and best practice in relation to sustainability, security and social impact in London Bridge. The people and planet category is new to this year's awards and focuses on recognising those organisations and people who are embracing the charter's key themes to help support nature-positive projects and contribute to generating healthy outcomes in the London Bridge area.
Gowling WLG earned the recognition for a Serenity Garden initiative in its 4 More office – a transformative nature‑first project developed in support of the firm's responsible business and environmental PLANET+ commitment under its wider Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy. The project was led by the Responsible Business team in collaboration with other teams across the firm: including ESG, wellbeing, finance, facilities, human resources and DE&I.
Created in partnership with Walworth Garden, the Serenity Garden repurposes a previously unused subterranean area into a biodiverse sanctuary designed to support wildlife, enhance air quality, and provide a restorative green space for employees. The garden aligns with the firm's ESG commitments through recycled materials, climate‑resilient planting, volunteer‑led maintenance and initiatives that foster wellbeing, collaboration and environmental awareness.
The awards took place last week at the historic converted church Amazing Grace in the London Bridge district. Head of Clients and Markets Charlotte Green, Associate Charles Couvreur and Trainee Solicitor Henry Bee from the firm's 4 More office attended on the evening and received the award.
Heidi Newbigging, Head of Responsible Business at Gowling WLG, said: "Winning this award is an important milestone in our sustainability journey. The Serenity Garden demonstrates what's possible when we combine environmental responsibility with community engagement and wellbeing. This project reflects our commitment to creating workplaces that positively impact both people and the planet."
Gowling WLG continues to integrate ESG principles into its operations, driven by cross‑firm collaboration and a long‑term vision for sustainable, nature‑positive workplaces. To find out more about the firm's activities and progress in relation to sustainability visit its Sustainability Report and see the website to read more about its approach to corporate responsibility. Alongside its own work in this area, the firm's specialist ESG team is also working with clients on a range of ESG-related matters – helping them understand their responsibilities and identify areas of risk and opportunity as they move forward with their sustainability strategies and long-term ambitions.