GREEN GUIDE EMEA 2023: Czech Republic
HAVEL & PARTNERS s.r.o., attorneys at law
HAVEL & PARTNERS s.r.o., attorneys at law was the first law firm in the Czech Republic to join the UN Global Compact and accordingly embeds key principles of sustainability into its practice, advising clients on emerging green opportunities. The firm established an ESG team to provide clients focused advice on sustainability-related requirements across environmental regulations and liabilities, renewable energy regulations and project development, and green finance.
Recently, the firm advised municipal body Technologie Hlavního města Prahy on its transaction with electricity distributor PREdistribuce, whereupon the future renewal of Prague’s public lighting system will ensure selected lamps have sufficient power supply to serve also as electric vehicle charging points, thereby supporting the transition to electric vehicles within the city.
The firm also advises clients in connection with the development of renewable energy. For Arbol Capital and Dracanus Group, the firm assisted with the acquisition of three hydropower plants in order to secure a green provision of electricity for the client’s development projects. Jan Topinka, a member of the firm’s dedicated ESG team, acted for renewable energy developer and operator Solek Group on two programmes of green bonds worth CZK5.5bn to finance the development of solar PV plants in Chile and the EU.
To help Plant-for-the-Planet establish itself in the Czech Republic, the firm provided the client with pro bono legal advice; the organisation seeks to plant one trillion trees through educating youth, working with companies, and crowdfunding reforestation programmes in developing countries.
Outside of specific mandates, the team regularly contributes articles in the firm’s magazine, supporting clients on green queries including on topics such as ESG reporting.
The firm is a founding member of emissions-tracking platform Climate & Sustainable Leaders Czech Republic, which supports the reduction of the carbon footprint of the Czech economy by motivating and assisting companies to transition to sustainable modes of operation.