TerraLex Success Story for The Nature Conservancy: A Global Collaboration for Environmental Impact
At the heart of the TerraLex global legal network is the power of collaboration — and nowhere is this more evident than in TerraLex’s ongoing partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), a leading global environmental nonprofit. With a presence in more than 70 countries, The Nature Conservancy partners with local communities, governments, and organizations to protect vital lands and waters, advance conservation science, and lead innovative initiatives to combat climate change.
With such a wide geographic footprint and a complex operational landscape, TNC requires reliable, multi-jurisdictional legal counsel to support both its mission-focused projects and its day-to-day operations. Over the past five years, initiated by Nixon Peabody, more than 40 TerraLex member firms, spanning over 20 jurisdictions in the United States and more than 20 countries worldwide, have collectively advised and represented The Nature Conservancy on nearly 100 legal matters. With the support of Nixon Peabody LLP, this impactful, cross-border collaboration was initiated and coordinated by Harry Trueheart, Chairman Emeritus of Nixon Peabody LLP and a past Chair of TerraLex. It exemplifies the unique value of the TerraLex network: providing clients with trusted, locally informed counsel wherever they operate while ensuring a consistent global standard of service.
Comprehensive Legal Support Across Borders, Delivered Pro Bono and Beyond
TerraLex member firms have provided legal counsel to The Nature Conservancy across a wide array of areas, including:
Corporate governance and compliance: Ensuring legal and regulatory compliance in multiple jurisdictions, along with advising on structuring, confidentiality, and privilege issues.
Operational support: Addressing core business needs such as corporate qualification, immigration, labor and employment law, and ongoing regulatory requirements.
Mission-driven legal advice: Advising on matters directly tied to The Nature Conservancy’s environmental mission, including environmental regulations, conservation easements, real estate transactions, land use planning, and project financing.
Risk management and dispute resolution: Assisting with litigation, contractual disputes, real estate conflicts, employment matters, and trust and estate gift disputes.
Specialized advice: Providing counsel on intellectual property, fundraising, grants and donations, maritime law, taxation, insurance, and project risk assessments.
This work was largely provided pro bono, reflecting the deep commitment of TerraLex firms to advancing sustainability and environmental protection. The total value of these services amounts to millions of dollars over the five-year period, underscoring both the scale of the legal effort and the value delivered to the client.
A True Global Network in Action
In jurisdictions where TerraLex does not yet have member representation or when conflicts arise, TerraLex firms have leveraged their trusted relationships with firms outside the network to ensure that The Nature Conservancy receives qualified and experienced local counsel. This reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines TerraLex — a network committed not just to legal excellence but to ensuring clients’ strategic and operational goals are met seamlessly across borders.
A Client-Centered Approach
"This ongoing partnership highlights how TerraLex’s collective legal expertise empowers global organizations like The Nature Conservancy to pursue their critical missions with confidence, knowing they have reliable, top-tier counsel wherever their work takes them. “Working with TerraLex firms has allowed us to navigate the legal complexities of our global conservation work with both confidence and efficiency. TerraLex members have shown responsiveness, local knowledge, and deep commitment to our mission. My experience has been that the TerraLex global legal team is fully aligned with our values." Hans Birle, Associate General Counsel, The Nature Conservancy.
