Why biodiversity matters for lawyers: understanding links between biodiversity risk disclosure frameworks and business human rights

Emily is an Australian qualified lawyer and holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne, Master of Law (JD) from Monash University and a Master of Law from the University of Cambridge. Before coming to the IBA, Emily was a lawyer in the climate change and sustainability team of a leading Australian law firm, where she worked with clients across a range of sectors to support their decarbonisation strategies and manage regulatory compliance risks. Emily also has experience in environment and planning law, and litigation, and has a particular interest in the intersections between climate change and the global biodiversity crisis and the ongoing emergence of frameworks for assessing and managing nature-related risks. Emily is a member of the National Environmental Law Association (Australia) and has previously held positions as Associate Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law; coordinator of the Climate Law and Governance Initiative; and Judge’s Associate at the Victorian Supreme Court of Appeal (Australia). As a Project Lawyer in the LPRU, Emily leads projects in environment, climate and business and human rights law and is the Delegate Lead for UNFCCC and COP engagement.

Living in Sweden and mainly practicing environmental law concerning indigenous rights to land and water.

Jenni Ramos is the Executive Director of Scope 4 Nature, empowering firms to track their advised and serviced contributions to nature-positive, socially just transitions. A UK-qualified lawyer, Jenni researched nature-related corporate and financial risks at the Commonwealth Climate and Law Initiative, co-authoring the report “Biodiversity Risk: Legal Implications for Companies and their Directors” and commissioning influential legal opinions clarifying directors' duties. Previously, as Head of Content Development at The Chancery Lane Project, she facilitated the creation of climate-related contractual clauses. Jenni trained as a solicitor at Allen & Overy, practised corporate law, and held various roles in contracts, governance, and compliance.

Lara Douvartzidis is a Senior Legal Executive at the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance. Prior to that she worked in the Legal Policy and Research Unit at the IBA in environment, climate and business and human rights law. She has experience as Delegate Lead for UNFCCC and COP engagement and is an Associate Fellow with the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law. She is an Australian qualified lawyer with a practice background in Sydney as a solicitor and Pro Bono coordinator at Johnson Winter & Slattery and at Australia’s Public Interest Advocacy Centre. During her time in private practice, she advised and acted for corporate and pro bono clients with expertise in environment and planning law, dispute resolution and class actions, ESG and modern slavery law obligations and transitional issues faced by clients in these emerging areas. She is passionate about strategic climate litigation trends, First Nations justice, just transitions, and ESG related risk management and compliance. She served as the Associate to the Honourable Chief Justice Kourakis of the Supreme Court of South Australia. She holds an Advanced Masters in European and International Human Rights Law (Ad. LLM) from Leiden University in The Netherlands and a double degree in Law (LLB) and Environmental Policy and Management (BEnvs) from the University of Adelaide, South Australia. She was listed as an Australasian Rising Star in 2021, a Finalist in the Australian Lawyers Weekly 30 Under 30 Awards for Planning, Native Title and Environment Law in 2021, and a Finalist in the Women in Law Awards for Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year in 2020 and 2021.

Sean Lees is the Regional Nature Pledge Coordinator for the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Asia Pacific, where he currently works to promote and reverse nature loss across various fields, including finance, governance and conservation. Prior to this, Sean worked for UNDP as a Business and Human Rights Specialist, serving in this role since 2017. Focused on Asia, Sean has advised policy makers, business leaders and civil society actors on international sustainability standards and principles. Prior to his work with UNDP, Sean served as an attorney to the US Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.

Luis Fernando Macías Gómez. Lawyer Universidad Externado de Colombia, Ecuadorian lawyer by homologation of degrees, Phd in political science Universidad Externado de Colombia - University of Paris III, Master’s in political philosophy Paris I, Master’s in study of Latin American societies option political science Instituto de Altos Estudios de América Latina (IHEAL) - Paris III, Interactive Master in environmental law from the University of the Basque Country. He has practiced law since 1987 and environmental law since 1993; he served as Head of the Legal Office of the Ministry of the Environment (1994-1997), and was also Secretary General in charge of the same Ministry. He founded the firm Macías Gómez & Asociados Abogados, the first firm in Colombia to specialise in corporate environmental law. Currently he is a partner of PPU Colombia after integration with this firm in 2019, and is responsible for the environmental area. Since 1987 he has been a professor at various national and international universities. In 1997 he was appointed member of the Commission for the Review of Environmental Legislation created by Law 99 of 1993. In 2007 he was appointed as an expert member of the advisory group on environmental law of the Department of Sustainable Development of the OAS, an appointment that lasted several years. He was selected by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development as an expert to be part of the group formed under the tutela order T 445/16. He was part of the group of jurists, invited by the French Constitutional Council, who contributed to the drafting of a new global pact for the environment. He is a co-judge of the Fourth Section of the Council of State, President of the Colombian Institute of Environmental Law and Sustainable Development, President of the Environmental Commission of the International Union of Lawyers (UIA). He has published books on environmental law and political philosophy, as well as several articles in national and foreign journals. He has been a lecturer at various conferences in the country and abroad. He is a Member of the French Society of Environmental Law.