In this episode, Philippa sits down with Joshua Domb, founder of Gen-R Law – a new firm built on the belief that every area of legal practice can and should be viewed through the lens of climate change and ESG. After a career in white-collar crime and regulatory investigations, Joshua experienced a growing sense of climate anxiety and a realisation that his work wasn’t contributing to the issues he cared about most. During a year of travelling, he confronted that tension and ultimately sketched the blueprint for Gen-R Law in a field outside Auckland.
Joshua shares the thinking behind his “Planet Before PEP” ethos, why he believes lawyers play a crucial role in the global transition, and how a moment of frustration and honesty led to a radically different vision for legal practice.
He explains:
- Why Gen-R Law is built around seven core principles, including donating 10 percent of profits to environmental causes and investing in green-tech start-ups.
- How climate anxiety, travel and a lack of climate-focused legal options pushed him from idea to action.
- What “Planet Before PEP” means in practice, and how values shape client selection and firm culture as Gen-R Law grows.
- How clients respond to a mission-driven law firm and why younger lawyers are actively seeking value-aligned workplaces.
- Why governance is the root cause of most greenwashing issues, and how companies can build credible sustainability claims.
- How supply-chain transparency, careful language, and robust internal processes protect firms from greenwashing risks.
- Why credible ESG and transition strategies must link to business value, with clear timelines, metrics and governance.
- What makes him optimistic, from the global “team” working on climate solutions to the next generation of sustainability-minded professionals.
- Joshua’s top ten books to get educated about climate change – Top ten books to get educated about climate change! | Gen-R Law
A candid, energetic and deeply motivating conversation with a lawyer reshaping what purpose-driven practice can look like in the climate era.
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