Finance Score: 0
Governance Score: 8
Support Score: 13
  • Strong growth: +2
  • Deficit latest year: -2
  • 12+ Trustees: -1
  • Good trustee age range: +3
  • Dynamic board: +3
  • Gender balanced board: +3
  • Endorsed
  • Overall weighted support: +13
Overall GiG Score: 21 ?

CLIENTEARTH

Overview

ClientEarth use legal expertise to strengthen and defend laws that protect people and the planet. A team of more than 200 people working in offices around the world bring together a range of legal expertise covering environmental, human rights, company, and financial law.

They choose strategic targets and actions that set powerful precedents whether it be taking on governments, holding businesses to account or changing financial markets. They work where the greatest impact is possible and go after the worst-offending institutions and industries with major successes including accelerated closure of coal plants in Poland and halting false advertising deemed greenwashing in the UK. Their programmes continue to build in Asia that challenge existing and new fossil fuel infrastructure while training legal professionals in implementation of new environmental laws.

Source: Giving is Great

Mission:

Using the power of law to bring about systemic change that protects life on earth
Analysis by Giving is Great

Positives:

  • The charity has received backing from multiple prominent grant makers recently
  • This charity is endorsed by a respected charity impact evaluator
  • There has been strong growth in spending over the last 5 years
  • The Board appears to be well diversified in terms of age and gender and dynamic in terms of composition

Regulatory & Governance issues to consider:

  • Why are there 14 trustees whereas the Charities Commission recommends a maximum of 12?

Financial issues to consider:

  • Income was lower than spending in the latest year

Financial Data ?

Income & Spending ?
Sources of Income ?
Y/E Income
£k
Spending
£k
Surplus/
Deficit £k
Fundraising
Cost £k
Total
Funds £k
Unrestricted
Funds £k
Mths
Rsrvs
Staff Volun-
teers
31/12/23£29,449£35,153£-5,704£3,479£30,035£18,0656.22920
31/12/22£30,945£28,127£2,818£2,792£36,044£22,6509.72600
31/12/21£28,321£21,636£6,685£1,978£33,370£20,16011.22230
31/12/20£20,791£16,850£3,940£1,169£26,045£17,90112.72000
31/12/19£29,489£14,198£15,290£814£20,882£15,71913.31460
31/12/18£11,212£11,173£40£626£5,592£97411320
31/12/17£11,429£8,941£2,487£780£5,552£1,2681.71030
31/12/16£7,312£7,353£-41£318£3,065£9311.5830
31/12/15£6,654£5,197£1,457£318£3,106£5681.3720
31/12/14£4,746£3,812£933£195£1,649£2720.9540
31/12/13£4,046£3,811£235£189£716£1050.3520
31/12/12£3,276£3,172£104£190£481£1020.4430
31/12/11*£2,624£2,483£142£231£376£1490.7370
31/12/10£1,639£1,796£-156£97£234£1200.8250
31/12/09£885£737£147£17£391£1332.290
31/12/08?£447£346£101n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/07*£68£26£42n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/06*£0£0£0n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/05*£0£0£0n/an/an/an/an/an/a
31/03/04*£0£0£0n/an/an/an/an/an/a

Financial Ratios
Fundraising Costs/Relevant Income: 12.2%
Fundraising Costs/Total Spending: 10%
Senior Staff Costs/Total Spending: 18%
Highest pay band: £200,000-£250,000
Liabilities/Assets: 13%
Liabilities/Income: 15%
Unrestricted Funds/Total Funds: 60%
Reserves/Spending: 6.2 months
Net Current Assets/Spending: 5 months
Quick Ratio: 3.5
Asset Split ?
Balance Sheet History
Established: 29 years
(31 years as a company)

www.clientearth.org

info@clientearth.org

02077495970

Charity Commission for England and WalesCompanies HouseFacebookInstagramXYouTube
UN SDGs
?
How you can help
What it does
ClientEarth's objects are the promotion and protection of the environment for the public benefit by the use of the law, to provide legal assistance to those who otherwise do not have access thereto, to promote education on environmental rights and responsibilities and to conduct research thereon. We will achieve these goals through advocacy, litigation, and research.
Listed activities
  • Environment/Conservation/Heritage
  • Human Rights/Religious Or Racial Harmony/Equality Or Diversity
GiG Classification
  • Environment conservation & animal welfare advocacy
  • Climate emergency
How it operates
  • Other charitable activities
  • Provides advocacy/advice/information
  • Sponsors or undertakes research
Where it operates
  • Belgium, Bulgaria, China, Congo, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Poland, Spain, Throughout England And Wales,
Who it helps
  • Other Charities Or Voluntary Bodies
  • The General Public/Mankind

Who supports them? ?

Endorsed by:
  • Children's Investment Fund
Donations from Grant Makers ?

We have details on the following donations. Multi-year donations are allocated to the years for which they are earmarked.

Major supporters in last 5 years
Greenwood Place£650,000
Esmee Fairbairn£575,000
Samworth Foundation£300,000
Brian Mercer Trust£125,000
Specific Donations
Amount When
Months
To be used for
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to ClientEarth
£25,000 27/02/2023
Towards unrestricted core costs as a Cost of Living Uplift
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£150,000 01/12/2022
Unrestricted funding
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£50,000 01/08/2022
Unrestricted funding
Brian Mercer Trust - Grant to Client Earth
£25,000 13/07/2022
12
One-off uplift to previous grant for funding legal cases regarding climate change
Brian Mercer Trust - Grant to Client Earth
£25,000 13/04/2022
Funding legal cases regarding climate change
Brian Mercer Trust - Grant to Client Earth
£75,000 13/04/2022
36
Funding legal cases regarding climate change
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£50,000 29/03/2022
Unrestricted funding
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£150,000 01/12/2021
Unrestricted funding
John Ellerman Foundation - Funds will be used to support ClientEarth's UK Clean Air Programme, covering staff costs, activity costs and overheads (indirect costs).
£100,000 29/07/2021
24
Funds will be used to support ClientEarth's UK Clean Air Programme, covering staff costs, activity costs and overheads (indirect costs).
Mark Leonard Trust - To fund a lawyer within the Climate Finance Initiative
£83,334 06/05/2021
To fund a lawyer within the Climate Finance Initiative
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to ClientEarth
£550,000 15/12/2020
24
Towards core costs to support posts at the organisation working on environmentally focused legal work in the UK
Samworth Foundation - Environment
£300,000 07/12/2020
To fund greater capacity for Client Earth to deliver their work on environmental law and governance in the UK
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£150,000 01/12/2020
Unrestricted funding
CHK Foundation - CHK Discretionary Grant
£25,000 22/10/2020
to further the charitable objects
Greenwood Place - Grant to ClientEarth
£100,000 01/12/2019
Unrestricted funding
Mark Leonard Trust - Pension work and launch innovative and trasnformative pension legal cases
£50,000 01/05/2019
to continue support work on pensions, especially on innovative and transformative pension legal cases.
J J Charitable Trust - Pension work and launch innovative and trasnformative pension legal cases
£50,000 01/05/2019
to continue support work on pensions, especially on innovative and transformative pension legal cases
Friends Provident Foundation - ClientEarth-climate change related risk disclosure and management: consolidation and expansion
£200,000 11/12/2018
Financial stakeholders increasingly recognise that climate change is not simply an environmental issue, but poses significant financial risks for which they have legal duties to consider and ....more
Thirty Percy Foundation - Grant to ClientEarth
£100,000 01/12/2018
Strengthening the environmental and climate change regime in China.
ARCADIA - Wildlife Defence Programme
£3,003,202 01/08/2018
To enforce the laws that protect European wildlife and habitats through targeted litigation and other legal interventions, supported and complemented by strategic advocacy and capacity building with ....more
Trust for London - ClientEarth
£255,000 21/02/2018
36
The funding is to continue its advocacy campaign to put political pressure on key policy-makers to act and clean up the air in London - the city that has the worst air quality in the UK, and for some ....more
Friends Provident Foundation - ClientEarth- Mainstreaming Climate Risk
£100,000 12/12/2017
Financial stakeholders now recognise that climate change is not simply an environmental issue, but it poses financial risks to states, assets, companies and the global economy. The aim of this ....more
John Ellerman Foundation - towards costs of UK clean air work
£100,000 30/11/2017
24
Towards the costs of their UK clean air work,engaging with and holding to account government and local authorities on new air quality plans.
J J Charitable Trust - Company & Financial Project Team
£30,000 24/11/2017
For greater staff capacity at the Company & Financial Project Team, to work on Divest Invest legal strategies with pension funds so that they fulfil their fiduciary obligation to give ....more
Mark Leonard Trust - Company & Financial Project Team
£15,000 08/11/2017
For greater staff capacity at the Company & Financial Project Team, to work on Divest Invest legal strategies with pension funds so that they fulfil their fiduciary obligation to give ....more
Samworth Foundation - Environment & Conservation
£100,000 19/10/2017
24
Using the law to empower the environmental sector: programme funding pot.
Samworth Foundation - Environment & Conservation
£100,000 30/09/2017
Using the law to empower the environmental sector: programme funding pot.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to ClientEarth
£1,500,000 12/09/2017
36
Towards core costs in deploying strategic legal interventions to protect the UK environment in the context of Brexit and strengthening the organisation’s growth to institution level.
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch - Client Earth
£50,000 23/03/2017
To provide suport for a Brexit Marine and Fisheries lawyer with the aim of contributing to a sustainable, effective fisheries maangement and the protection of marine habitats and species in European ....more
Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, UK Branch - Client Earth
£20,000 21/12/2016
To support participation in the Marine CoLABoration in phase two of the initiative (2017-18).
J J Charitable Trust - to defend the UK Climate Change Act
£25,000 25/10/2016
Towards legal costs in defence of the provisions of the Climate Change Act.
Mark Leonard Trust - to defend the UK Climate Change Act
£25,000 12/10/2016
Towards legal costs in defence of the provisions of the Climate Change Act.
Friends Provident Foundation - ClientEarth - Using the law to drive corporate and investor action on climate change
£95,000 13/09/2016
The long-term goal of this project is to establish climate change as a material financial risk under existing laws. Such an innovative concept has become crucial to achieving a resilient economic ....more
Samworth Foundation - Environment & Conservation
£40,000 25/02/2015
24
Contribution towards core costs
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to ClientEarth
£750,000 12/12/2013
Towards core leadership capacity to increase the number of legal interventions made on behalf of NGOs and individuals, and to help the organisation become more sustainable.
Esmee Fairbairn - Grant to ClientEarth
£465,000 25/03/2010
36
Towards Unrestricted core costs Towards supporting the core costs of legal work that enforces environmental protection standards.
Show more rows

Data sourced from Donors via 360 Giving

How do they operate?

Energy Transition

Description: The EU energy market is distorted by large market players who dominate and erect barriers against efficient, flexible, clean and decentralised technologies, preventing the creation of green energy markets. Clientearth are removing these barriers by improving the quality of legal, policy and regulatory frameworks and increasing the accountability of authorities in decision-making and finance. Within the power sector, coal is by far the most intensive greenhouse gas emitter and is a major

....more
Climate and the Paris Agreement

Description: For many governments, the economic and political incentives, and the legal obligations, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are weak, and action to reduce emissions is discouraged by industry lobbyists. Most companies do not acknowledge that they have any legal obligations in relation to climate change. Clientearth accelerate transition to a decarbonised economy by driving climate laws and policies in line with the Paris Agreement. Companies engaging in carbon intensive activities do so using

....more
Pollution and Health

Description: Air pollution is the world's top environmental health risk and has been linked to more than 400,000 early deaths annually in Europe. Clientearth increase pressure on governments to implement adequate air quality plans and to adopt enforceable legislation to reduce pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions from polluting sectors. Many chemicals that are harmful to human health and the environment are still widely used, even when safer alternatives exist. Clientearth use EU laws to expose this

....more
Forests

Description: Forested countries often lack robust legal frameworks to protect forests and people from the impacts of deforestation. Clientearth build the legal capacity of civil society to influence forest law reform to ensure more sustainable and equitable forest governance. ClientEarth is working on the implementation and enforcement of legislation on illegal logging and advocating for the development of new requirements for companies placing commodities associated with deforestation on the EU and UK

....more
Oceans Protection

Description: Marine ecosystems face a myriad of pressures, including fishing activities and plastics pollution. Clientearth are promoting stronger laws to reduce plastic supply and make producers bear the real cost of plastic on the environment. They are supporting a Marine Protected Area network to protect vulnerable marine species and habitats. One of the biggest impacts humans have on the ocean is through fishing, and unsustainable fishing continues to be the most immediate and significant threat in

....more
Wildlife Protection

Description: Biodiversity is under increasing threat; 1 million species of plants and animals face extinction, many within decades. Clientearth enforce EU biodiversity laws and hold Member States to account. Agricultural spending amounts to almost 40% of the whole EU budget, yet the sector does not really engage in mitigating climate change nor biodiversity decline. Clientearth use advocacy and litigation to align the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) with EU environment legislation.

Rule of Law - Justice and Governance

Description: The Aarhus Convention empowers citizens with the rights to access environmental information, participation in decision-making and access to courts to challenge violations of environmental law. The Convention is widely disrespected in the day-to-day functioning of the EU and most Member States. Clientearth work across programmes to level the playing field between civil society, decision-makers and industry by implementing and enforcing the Aarhus Convention. China is the world's largest emitter

....more
Rule of Law - International Trade

Description: International trade agreements often favour the interests of investors over public and environmental interests. Clientearth work to redress the balance between globalised business and environmental protection, to make trade work for the public and the environment as well as economic gain. The UK's exit from the European Union presents a constitutional challenge to environmental law and governance. Clientearth are ensuring that the UK has strong environmental laws, an empowered civil society,

....more
How effective are they?
Commentary: ClientEarth work across the world on a breath of legal cases that combat environmental injustices and empower judicial authorities to successfully hold up the rule of law in their countries. The details and variety of cases are wide ranging, from the legal support to uphold solid coal and wood burning bans in Poland to bringing cases against the UK Government over its failure to tackle illegal air pollution and the training of new judges in China on environmental law.

Though a quantitative measure of cost effectiveness is challenging, the accumulated impacts of interventions to date have been significant and indicate their long term influence to combat environmentally harmful actions has the potential to save millions of lives

Who works here?

  • LAURA CLARKE
    CEO
Laura joined ClientEarth from her role as British High Commissioner to New Zealand. She has spent 20 years in Government, and diplomatic roles across Africa, Asia and Europe. During that time, she has worked extensively on climate, environmental and sustainability issues. Laura brings a deep understanding of global policy issues and international relations, alongside extensive senior leadership and partnership-building experience, all of which ....more
  • JAMES THORNTON
    Founder/President
James launched ClientEarth in 2007, sparking fundamental change in the way environmental protections are made and enforced across Europe. Now operating globally, ClientEarth uses advocacy, litigation and research to address the greatest challenges of our time – including nature loss and climate change. The New Statesman has named James as one of 10 people who could change the world. The Lawyer has picked him as one of the top 100 lawyers in ....more
  • ELSPETH JONES
    Interim Deputy Chief Executive
Before joining ClientEarth, Elspeth practiced at the commercial bar in London, specialising in commercial contracts, shipping, insurance, construction and international arbitration, and regularly appearing in court. She has also worked as the Executive Director of the climate change and tropical forests charity Size of Wales, and spent four years as a trustee and then Vice-Chair of the Sumatran Orangutan Society. She has undergraduate and ....more
  • AMY ROSE
    Director of Litigation, Compliance & MEL/Legal Director
Before joining ClientEarth, Amy was the Head of Litigation at Altisource Portfolio Solutions in Luxembourg, where she managed a large and diverse portfolio of multinational cases. Prior to moving to Europe, she worked as a general commercial litigator at the global law firm of Squire Sanders (now Squire Patton Boggs) in San Francisco, California. She graduated with honours from Boston College with a degree in political science and international ....more
  • DIMITRI DE BOER
    Chief Representative - China Office
Before joining ClientEarth, Dimitri worked as senior adviser on environment and climate change for the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in China for 12 years. He also worked as consultant for the World Bank, European Union, and the Chinese government. Dimitri volunteers as vice-chairman of the Board of China Carbon Forum, an independent platform which aims to foster trust and co-operation among China’s stakeholders for ....more
  • MARIA-KRYSTYNA DUVAL
    Director of Climate and Energy
Prior to ClientEarth, Maria-Krystyna advised the New Zealand Government on the economic, social and wellbeing impacts of climate and environmental policy. She spent ten years in private practice in Paris, London and Hong Kong advising clients on international arbitration, international law, international human rights and constitutional law. She has also worked for several international organisations on women’s economic empowerment and economic ....more
  • SIMON FLETCHER
    Director of Operations
For over 21 years, Simon worked in a variety of senior leadership roles in the global law firm of Clifford Chance, advising senior management on operational management, business development and client relationship management. He was also the Secretary to Partnership Council where he was responsible for oversight on governance and risk management as well as establishing and then leading the firm’s corporate foundation and responsible business ....more
  • STEFANIE PFEIL
    Global Director of Development
Originally from Germany, Stefanie has worked in senior fundraising and communications roles in the NGO sector since 2006. She started her fundraising career at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and switched to international development after completing a Master’s degree in arts management. She worked as Director of Fundraising and Communications at War on Want from 2006 and joined the International Rescue Committee UK as External Relations ....more
  • UGO TADDEI
    Director of Nature and Health
Before joining ClientEarth, Ugo was a lawyer with the Italian law firm SLCG in Florence and Milan (Italy), practising in commercial litigation and arbitration. He is a qualified lawyer in Italy and graduated with first class honours in both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies. He holds a degree in law from the University of Florence (Italy) and a degree in environmental law and policy from the University College London (LLM). He was ....more
  • EMILY THOMAS
    Head of Philanthropy
Prior to beginning at ClientEarth Emily was at The Natural History Museum, London, working with a variety of trusts and individual donors and was part of the 2017 capital campaign to transform the Museum’s main gallery Hintze Hall. She began her career at The National Trust in 2008 and has since worked at international development and conservation organisations managing and developing multiple funding streams.
  • RACHEL HEWITT
    Chief Financial Officer
Prior to joining ClientEarth, Rachel spent 10 years working at international NGOs as Finance Director/Chief Operating Officer, at CARE International UK and International Rescue Committee UK; and held a number of senior finance roles at The British Council. She is also currently a Trustee at Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX). She is a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and holds a BA (Hons) degree in French and Management Studies from ....more
Commentary: A large team of qualified lawyers and staff are located across the globe with offices in London, Brussels, Warsaw, Berlin and Beijing that run projects in multiple countries

Source: Giving is Great

How is it governed?

Trustees (14)
Current Trustees appointed
Gender Split
Based on 13/14 persons

Age Range of Trustees: 45-81
  • ALEXANDER LYMAN REID Appointed: 2023, Occupation: Attorney
  • ASSAAD WAJDI RAZZOUK Appointed: 2020, Occupation: Chief Executive Officer
  • BRIAN ENO Appointed: 2012, Occupation: Producer, Musician, Artist
  • CHAMPA KHIMJI PATEL Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Executive Director
  • DR KILAPARTI RAMAKRISHNA Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Lawyer
  • EMMA HOWARD BOYD (Chair) Appointed: 2024
  • FRANCES BEINECKE Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Environmental Advocate
  • GEORG STRATENWERTH Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Partner In Private Equity Firm
  • HILARY FRANCES WILD Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Chartered Accountant
  • SARAH BUTLER-SLOSS Appointed: 2015, Occupation: Founder Director Of Ashden
  • SIR MARTIN GREGORY SMITH Appointed: 2016, Occupation: Company Director And Investor
  • SONIA MEDINA GOMEZ Appointed: 2017, Occupation: Executive Director Of Climate Change At Children’S
  • THOMAS CHARLES RIVETT-CARNAC Appointed: 2024, Occupation: Founding Partner
  • WINSOME MCINTOSH Appointed: 2006, Occupation: Executive
Legal constitution
  • Charitable company registered in England & Wales on 26/03/1996, number: 1053988
  • Registered at Companies House on 19/10/1993, number: 02863827
Gift Aid
  • Registered with HMRC for Gift Aid
Policies in force
  • Bullying and harassment policy and procedures
  • Campaigns and political activity policy and procedures
  • Complaints handling
  • Complaints policy and procedures
  • Conflicting interests
  • Financial reserves policy and procedures
  • Internal charity financial controls policy and procedures
  • Internal risk management policy and procedures
  • Investing charity funds policy and procedures
  • Investment
  • Paying staff
  • Risk management
  • Safeguarding policy and procedures
  • Safeguarding vulnerable beneficiaries
  • Serious incident reporting policy and procedures
  • Social media policy and procedures
  • Trustee conflicts of interest policy and procedures
  • Trustee expenses policy and procedures
  • Volunteer management
Filing Record
20 returns made; AR11: 0 days late, AR07: 119 days late, AR06: 35 days late, AR05: 275 days late, AR04: 1 days late,
Main office

The Joinery
34 Drayton Park
London
N5 1PB

Objectives

(I)TO PROMOTE AND ENCOURAGE THE ENHANCEMENT, RESTORATION, CONSERVATION AND PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT, INCLUDING THE PROTECTION OF HUMAN HEALTH, FOR THE PUBLIC BENEFIT; (2)TO ADVANCE THE EDUCATION OF THE PUBLIC IN ALL MATTERS RELATING TO THE LAW, PRACTICE AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT; (3)TO RELIEVE POVERTY THROUGH THE PROVISION OF LEGAL SERVICES TO THOSE WHO CANNOT OTHERWISE AFFORD THEM; (4)TO PROMOTE, ASSIST, UNDERTAKE AND COMMISSION RESEARCH INTO THE LAW, PRACTICE, AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN CONNECTION WITH THE ENVIRONMENT AND MATTERS RELATING THERETO, INCLUDING THE IMPACT, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, OF ANY HUMAN ACTIVITY ON THE ENVIRONMENT AND TO DISSEMINATE THE USEFUL RESULTS OF SUCH RESEARCH.

Defined Area of Benefit:

NOT DEFINED

Data Sources

Charity Commission for England and Wales
360 Giving

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