Introduction
The Chancery Lane Project (TCLP), launched in 2019, develops climate-conscious legal drafting. Its clauses are now widely adopted, helping to reduce emissions and embed environmental responsibility into legal practice. Among the most impactful are Marni’s and Isabella’s Clauses, which support property lawyers in addressing climate risk.
Background on TCLP
TCLP was founded to create legal clauses and documents that positively impact climate protection and environmental standards. As these clauses have become widely used, they are making a tangible difference in reducing carbon emissions and improving environmental practices across the legal sector.
Marni’s Clause: commercial focus
One of TCLP’s most recognised clauses is Marni’s Clause, originally drafted to help property lawyers reference climate risk searches in their reports on title. As the use of climate risk searches has grown, so too has the adoption of Marni’s Clause.
In May 2025, the Law Society issued its Climate Change and Property Practice Note, a major development providing property lawyers with clear guidance on addressing climate risks in residential and commercial transactions. The Practice Note includes a section on climate risk searches, suggesting they are a useful tool for understanding climate risks at a basic level. It also provides sample wording for use in reports on title.
Following this development, TCLP updated Marni’s Clause to ensure consistency with the Practice Note. TCLP then consulted Robert Lee, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Birmingham and Simon Boyle, Environmental Law Director at Landmark Information, who had both contributed to the drafting of the Practice Note.
The two main objectives were:
- To ensure Marni’s Clause aligned fully with the Practice Note.
- To retain its relevance by offering more than just a repetition of the sample wording.
Isabella’s Clause: residential focus
To complement Marni’s Clause, TCLP introduced Isabella’s Clause, tailored specifically for residential properties. This clause provides additional detail and helps lawyers draft their reports on title more efficiently, enabling clients to better understand the climate risks identified in searches.
Alignment with the Law Society Practice Note
The Practice Note marked a significant step forward in guiding property lawyers on how to address climate risks. It recommends climate risk searches as a useful starting point and includes sample wording for reports on title. Marni’s and Isabella’s Clauses were updated to align with this guidance while offering enhanced detail beyond the sample wording, making them practical tools for legal professionals.
Conclusion: practical use and future outlook
We hope that both Marni’s Clause and Isabella’s Clause will be widely adopted by property lawyers. Their additional detail supports effective drafting and helps clients understand any climate change risks identified in searches. As climate risk becomes a standard consideration in property transactions, these clauses will empower lawyers to advise clients with clarity and confidence.
Our role in shaping the Law Society’s guidance
Members of Landmark’s Sustainability Team played a key role in the development of the Practice Note. Robert Lee and Simon Boyle were both contributors to the Practice Note and co-authors of the accompanying Technical Note. Their insights helped ensure the Practice Note guidance is both practical and proportionate. For further guidance, explore Landmarks essential resource on navigating the practice note here.
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