The Legal 500 Green Guide: EMEA 2024

In the wind power segment, the firm advised Vardafjellet Vindkraft on contractual and regulatory matters regarding the Vardafjellet wind farm. It also leveraged its disputes expertise, successfully defending the client against legal action from a landowner. Further key clients in the wind power space include RES Fornybar Norge and RES Renewable Norden.

Demonstrating its expertise regarding electricity grid regulation, the firm represented Sunnhordland Kraftlag in a dispute before the Regulatory Authority for Energy. The mandate explored the interpretation of regulations concerning construction contributions in connecting the client’s new hydropower plant to the grid.

Also in the hydropower sector, the firm assisted Modalen Kraftlag in interpreting old contracts for the acquisition and lease of the waterfall rights necessary to generate hydroelectric power.

Another key client is solar power developer Solgrid, whom the firm advised on regulatory and contractual issues regarding its new ground-mounted PV plants.

The firm provides its expert outlook to support the development of the local clean energy industry, participating in the Renewables Norway association’s working group on improving the regulatory framework. Additionally, to help boost renewables expertise within the legal sector, it participates in the JUC energy law network.

Seeking to contribute to public debate on some of the most pressing issues in the Norwegian renewable energy market, Naas-Bibow co-authored an article for newspaper Aftenposten regarding the legal aftermath of the dispute between the Fosen windfarms and Sami reindeer herding interests.

Energy team head Marjolein Dieperink is advising insurance cooperative Univé on its project to remediate its agricultural-sector clients’ asbestos-afflicted roofs. In exchange, the client will install and operate rooftop solar installations which generate clean electricity to be sold to cooperative members. The firm is assisting in negotiations with contractors, engineers, electricity offtakers, and roof owners.

It also advised EU co-funded clean energy and innovation fund EIT InnoEnergy on a capital raise from major institutional investors, which helps the client accelerate its investments into the energy transition and industrial decarbonisation. It assisted with establishing the fund structure, negotiating the transaction with the 16 new investors, and managing the position of the existing shareholders.

Ahead of litigation before the District Court of Amsterdam, Patrick Haas has been retained by non-profit foundation Stichting Car Claim to represent the interests of European car owners against Volkswagen Group, Renault, Dacia, and Daimler. The foundation, supported by consumer and environmental organisations, is working to secure damages against the companies’ use of emissions defeat devices.

The firm also provides legal services to non-profit organisation The Ocean Cleanup, which works to eliminate the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. It has assisted in establishing whether the client’s floating installation can be considered a vessel, advised on the legislation and regulation applicable to its ocean system, and drafted the Covenant with the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Through its dedicated ESG strategy team, the firm promotes low-carbon transport and a robust waste management and responsible consumption policy. The firm’s Amsterdam and Rotterdam offices are both located in EDGE sustainable developments, with the Amsterdam office BREEAM Outstanding-certified.

The firm’s green team acted for C-Energy, the clean energy branch of construction group Cordeel, in establishing the contractual structure of its latest heat grid construction project. The team has assisted the client in negotiating contracts with the energy supplier and end-users of the grid, which will decarbonise local heat consumption through being powered by geothermal energy.

Finance expert Dieter Veestraeten continues to assist Belgium-headquartered clean energy company TES regarding its green hydrogen project portfolio, advising on commercial, real estate, contract, and employment law matters. The mandate supports the client in the development of its business model, which harnesses renewable energy generated in geographies with abundant solar and wind resources in order to produce green hydrogen.

Supporting the electrification of the automotive industry, the firm has broad experience advising leading car manufacturers on the development of their green business models. It assisted Jaguar Land Rover Belux with the transition of the Jaguar brand to entirely electric vehicles, and Ford Motor Company Belgium in the launch of its e-models.

Operating in Antwerp from BREEAM Excellent-certified offices, the firm actively follows green best practices in its internal operations. As well as encouraging staff to favour low-carbon modes of transport, it is working to minimise its waste output through reducing its paper consumption, adopting digital communication, and intensifying its recycling programme.

In the solar power sector, renewable energy practice head Aksel Tannum is advising landowner Opplysningsvesenets Fond on its entrance into a joint venture with Hydro REIN to develop a 655 MW solar portfolio. The firm has assisted the client with all legal matters pertaining to the establishment of the joint venture company Geisli Energi and its future operational agreements.

Key renewable energy contact Mari Reitzel Bjerke is acting for Jølstra Kraft in construction work for its hydropower plant. The firm has advised on concession processes, regulatory matters, and land acquisitions for the project, which upgrades the power production at the watercourse to 250 GWh annually while maintaining sustainable fish stocks at the site.

As advisor to the Renewables Norway non-profit organisation, the firm also assists industry members in legal and strategic challenges. In a key mandate for the client, it is advising on issues impacting the development of a legal framework for the renewables industry, particularly in setting a framework for offshore wind on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Helping diversify Norwegian industry and the country’s renewable energy capacity, the firm continues to contribute to the Norwegian Federation of Industries and Innovation Norway’s ‘Entry Programme Offshore Wind’. As exclusive legal contributor, it has developed instructional modules on contracting and procurement strategies, helping offshore contractors transition their businesses to clean energy services.

As part of its near-term sustainability strategy, the firm is working to further reduce its carbon emissions and paper consumption, having already reduced such by 40% from the baseline. Having moved in 2022 to BREEAM-certified offices, it is also improving its sustainability performance across procurement, waste management, and transport.

A key contact for corporate and regulatory advice in the renewable energy sector is Jørn A. Uggerud, who is assisting Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners in its first large-scale hydrogen and ammonia project in Sauda. The project, which the client is developing through a joint venture with Trafigura and Hy2Gen, will have an electrolyser capacity of 240 MW and produce 600 tonnes of green ammonia daily.

In the offshore wind sector, the firm assisted Source Galileo Norge and Odfjell Oceanwind in the establishment of their Utsiravind joint venture. Following the entrance of Ingka Investments and Kansai Electric Power Co into the joint venture, Utsiravind will compete for the Utsira Nord offshore wind public tender. The firm’s advice has concerned regulatory matters as well as joint venture, investment, shareholder, and sale and purchase agreements.

The firm is also acting as external counsel for industrial carbon capture and storage developer Borg CO2, which will support the decarbonisation of the Norwegian economy through capturing and storing up to 90% of the carbon emissions from industrial sites in the Viken region. The team has assisted in drafting all agreements between the client and its main shareholders, energy services player Baker Hughes and the Port of Borg.

Alongside holding significant expertise in wind power litigation, key contact Kristin Bjella is a leading authority on electrification and the electricity market, coordinating the firm’s assistance to transmission system operator Statnett.

To help boost the development of the clean energy sector, the firm engages with academic thought leadership in the field. Uggerud contributes to the “Designing a Refined Legal Framework for the Regulation of Offshore Wind” research project at the University of Bergen and participates at the HyValue hydrogen research centre.

To complement its demonstrable expertise in wind power and power-to-X projects, the firm is positioning itself as a leading firm in climate litigation. Recent hire Jenny Sandvig is a key contact in climate-related disputes and is representing the NGOs Greenpeace and Nature and Youth Norway in their lawsuit and injunction proceeding against the Norwegian State to prevent three new oilfield developments.

For key client RWE, the firm is assisting in a bid to exclusively develop and operate a 3500 MW bottom-fixed and 1500 MW floating offshore wind project on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. These large-scale bids have the potential to both address a significant portion of the EU’s target offshore wind capacity and help demonstrate the potential utility of floating offshore wind technology.

In another ongoing matter, energy practice head Peter Aall Simonsen is advising sustainable fuel company Biojet and investment bank SEB Markets on all agreements to plan, construct, and build biofuel factories. The factories will support the transition of the biofuels industry away from feedstock and food crops to instead convert forestry and wood-based construction waste to fuel, thereby relieving stress on food production and land use.

As well as being Eco-lighthouse certified for its environmental management system, the firm is reducing the climate impact of its supply chain through selecting suppliers which have acquired the same standard. Through its waste management system and travel policy, it has reduced its total emissions by 75% since 2015 and offsets residual emissions with carbon credits.

To make an impact in the broader community, it also provides economic support to the youth environmental group Miljøagentene.

From Oslo, recent hire Snorre Valdimarsson advised renewable energy company Scatec on establishing a joint venture for its Release concept, which will bring re-deployable, containerised hybrid solar PV solutions to developing economies. The firm assisted the client regarding Climate Fund Managers’ entrance into, and $102m funding of, the Release Solar joint venture.

In an ongoing matter which supports the growth of the hydrogen economy, Stavanger-based Ole Christoffer Ellingsen represents green technology company Fortescue Future Industries regarding the development of a hydrogen production facility in Holmaneset.

Helping decarbonise Norwegian industry, June Snemyr in Stavanger is advising on regulatory and commercial matters for the Northern Lights joint venture: a full-scale carbon capture and storage project on the Norwegian Continental Shelf. Alongside project and corporate advice, the firm assisted in negotiating a landmark CO2 transport and storage service with the Ørsted group and Yara International.

Oslo-based renewable energy practice head Bendik Christoffersen assisted Deep Wind Offshore in sale of 55% of its shares in an early-stage offshore wind portfolio to BP Alternative Energy Investments. Following the deal, the joint venture will own, develop, and construct four offshore wind farms, targeting a 6 GW capacity.

The firm’s ThommessenZero committee coordinates its internal environmental management measures, which have received the Eco-lighthouse certification. Operating from BREEAM Excellent-certified offices in Oslo and Stavanger, the firm has been carbon neutral since 2020 through purchasing green electricity certificates and minimising its energy and resource consumption.

To support the business community in its decarbonisation journey, the firm is a member of marine health start-up Katapult Ocean and sustainable business group Klimapartnere Rogaland, and hosts an annual Green Week to provide clients seminars on diverse climate-related topics.

A key energy and environment contact is Mikael Wärnsby in Malmö, who is acting for Vellinge municipality in the licensing of embankments at Falsterbonäset to protect homes, businesses, and public infrastructure against the impact of rising sea levels. Having represented the client in permit applications and appeals, the firm is now assisting the municipality in the execution of the project.

The team has broad experience advising international clients on project planning and transactional mandates in the renewables sector. A long-standing client is Danish power project developer European Energy, whom the firm assists in permitting and appeal processes regarding its wind and solar projects, including the 128.5 MW Svedberga PV park. A further solar power sector client is Equinor-owned developer and operator BeGreen, which is seeking the firm’s planning, strategic, and environmental advice to support both the establishment of its business in Sweden and the commissioning of its 700 MW PV project portfolio.

Aiding the decarbonisation of heavy transport and the development of a low-carbon fuel value chain, the firm also acts for clean electricity company Trelleborgs Energi regarding its involvement in the Nordic Hydrogen Corridor project and in its intentions to establish hydrogen refuelling stations and implement hydrogen-fuelled vehicles in the Trelleborg municipality.

Further demonstrating its expertise regarding green innovations which help decarbonise industrial processes and hard-to-abate sectors, it is advising electricity and district heating provider Växjö Energi on matters regarding carbon capture and storage and a sustainable aviation fuel plant.

The firm’s internal environmental policy, led by Gothenburg-based environmental law specialist Johanna Lindqvist, is focused on making sustainable choices in procurement and guiding staff toward greener transport choices.

Head of the firm’s business advisory practice Oghogho Makinde is leading the energy and natural resources team in assisting The Ocean Cleanup Interception with its entry into Nigerian waters. The Netherlands based NGO is the recipient of the UN Champions of the Earth Award and aims to combat plastic pollution in oceans internationally. The firm also assists the client with environmental impact assessments and the protection of biodiversity and fauna, among other matters.

Oludare Senbore, who leads the firm’s banking and finance, and corporate finance practices as well as the firm’s power team, is assisting the American Business Council, a think tank focusing on policy issues, with its Sustainability Law Review Project, which aims to promote sustainable practices and contribute to climate and environmental development in the region.

The firm has partnerships with organisations such as the Nigeria Conservation Foundation and GreenHub Africa, among others. It has also participated in seminars and events including Africa’s Energy Transition Forum and the World Circular Economy Forum. In collaboration with the Lagos Chamber of Commerce International Arbitration Centre (LACIAC), it organised a conference aimed at promoting the financing of clean and renewable energy projects as well as raising awareness on climate change and energy transition in the region.

Key contact Adeolu Idowu, who heads the firm’s governance, risk and compliance practice, has been involved in many panels discussing sustainability, ESG, climate change and energy transition, including at Africa’s Energy Transition Forum.

Further demonstrating its thought leadership, the firm recently released a publication titled ‘the ABC of ESG’ discussing the notion of ESG, its implication for businesses, and steps for achieving compliance with ESG rules.

In the context of the new Spanish Law on waste and contaminated soils for a circular economy, which implies that producers are legally responsible for organising the management of waste generated by the products it places on the Spanish market, head of environmental group Arancha Bengoechea is leading the team advising the Association for Textile Waste Management. The client is seeking to create and implement the first Extended Producer Responsibility Collective System on textiles in Spain to organise and finance the management of all textile waste placed on the market by a number of major companies.

In another ongoing matter, Bengoechea is assisting AMBIWASTE with the project Circular Place, which is a social digital marketplace that encourages the adoption of waste prevention policies by connecting producers and manufacturers of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE) to NGOs involved in energy poverty projects which need to acquire EEE for their teaching activities.

Outside of its work for clients, the team regularly demonstrates its commitment to sustainability via events. In March 2023, the firm organised a conference in collaboration with Ecotic, discussing the recycling of electrical equipment waste. Additionally, it sponsored the Climate Launchpad event, one of the largest European competitions for entrepreneurs with ideas to accelerate the green transition.

Key contact Carlos Mínguez leads the energy and natural resources team.

A key client is leading steel producer Celsa, whom the firm assisted in contractual matters concerning the production of green steel and in its contribution to sustainable solutions in the metal industry. Leading sustainability and compliance contact Susanne Munch Thore is also advising the client in the implementation of the Norwegian Transparency Act.

Renewable energy expert Odd-Harald B. Wasenden is acting for green transition-focused state aid vehicle Enova in its provision of financial support packages. Through the firm’s assistance, the client provided state aid to finance the operation of the 88 MW Hywind Tampen floating offshore wind park.

As part of its pro bono programme, the firm is an active member of Skift – Climate Business Leaders. In its work heading Skift’s green purchasing project, it hosts workshops on how companies can leverage the transparency act and data collection to improve their green footprint, and helped launch the client’s joint platform for green purchasing.

In the community, the firm works to promote the dialogue surrounding sustainability and climate change among Norwegian companies. It is a member of the Norwegian hydrogen forum; cooperated with the Norwegian Green Building Council to support the industry-wide adoption of the BREEAM standard; and hosts a green week for clients in March to support them in challenges regarding the energy market, the property industry, disclosure obligations, and corporate decarbonisation strategies.

The firm also places a major emphasis on its internal green credentials. As well as having been carbon neutral since 2019 through purchasing emission allowances, it moved in 2022 into a BREEAM Excellent-certified office in order to further reduce its carbon footprint.

With its energy transition expertise, the firm is assisting Bürgersolarpark, a key solar power player in the country, on the development of a number of large-scale solar park projects. The team has also built up significant experience in green M&A: It is acting for Omnes Capital in its investment in the Austrian-German photovoltaic specialist CCE, which will support its transformation into a leading European independent power producer, as well as providing advice to SachsenEnergie on its acquisition of several solar parks in Germany and Europe, investments which play a key role in the nation’s decarbonisation.

Other clients include Lidl regarding deforestation regulation and Sunfire concerning all matters relating to the research and production of its electrolyser hydrogen production.

The firm also shows further commitment to climate action through its pro-bono work for the Plant-for-the-Planet Foundation dedicated to reforestation to combat global warming.

In addition to achieving net zero in 2020 by reducing and compensating for its carbon emissions, the firm continues to strive towards sustainability via its ARQIS Green Team. The team develops green initiatives with the steer of sustainability expert Jolanda Rose, a recent hire from KPMG, who is implementing digitising processes to reduce the firm’s carbon footprint.

Of note is also the re-launch of b.yond, the firm’s subsidiary for sustainability and green consulting.

Environmental, public and regulatory law expert Friedrich Gebert is a key contact for EU Green Deal, sustainability and ESG matters and regularly contributes to ESG thought leadership.

Currently, it is advising Corio Generation on the acquisition of the 450 MW Sceirde Rocks offshore wind farm, a project which will contribute to the Irish government’s target of 5 GW of offshore wind capacity by 2030.

For Greenlink, the firm is also handling the development and financing of the 500 MW Greenlink HVDC interconnector linking Ireland to the United Kingdom.

In the area of sustainable finance, it recently assisted the managers in the issuance of Ireland’s second sovereign green bond, which will be used to finance Ireland’s transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable economy.

The team includes environment and planning group head Danielle Conaghan, who is a member of Wind Energy Ireland, the Marine Renewables Industry Association, and IBEC’s Environmental Committee, and sustainability and ESG head Alex McLean, who is also part of the firm’s sustainable business committee.

Internally, the firm recently achieved the Zero Waste to Landfill certification for its on-site waste streams, and is committed to achieving zero carbon emissions by 2025.

Notably, it also recently established the Irish chapter of the Chancery Lane Project, whose aim is to develop green contract clauses in support of climate change.

In the renewables space, a major client is adidas. Recently, head of the German energy transition team Maximilian Uibeleisen and others assisted the company in a series of renewable energy projects in Herzogenaurach and other sites in Germany, as well as in a Europe-wide PPA tender as part of the company’s efforts to achieving decarbonisation by reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions and switching to clean energy.

In the field of electromobility, Uibeleisen and others recently advised Vinci in a tender launched by the German government for the construction and operation of charging infrastructure for electric vehicles along German motorways and in regional areas, thus contributing significantly to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.

Globally, the firm has established an ESG External Taskforce, contributing to thought leadership in the sustainability field. The firm is also a member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, the Legal Sustainability Alliance, and Climate Bonds Initiative.

For Vestas, one of Denmark’s leading wind turbine operators, the team advised on the acquisition of the ST3 Offshore plant in Szcecin for over PLN 170m. This new site is intended to meet national and global demand for offshore wind energy, thus playing a key role in achieving Poland’s energy transition goals.

In another recent matter supporting Poland’s transition to a low-carbon economy, the firm assisted Johnson Matthey, a UK leader in sustainable technologies which recently built a factory in Konin, Poland, with its agreement with Axpo Polska to provide the plant with renewable electricity in order to reduce its carbon footprint.

In the field of sustainable mobility, the firm acted for Triggo, a Polish company engaged in the construction of a two-seater, zero-emission electric city vehicle, in its IPO on the Warsaw Stock Exchange.

Further consolidating its commitment to sustainability and climate action, the firm is one of the first in Poland to sign the Greener Litigation Pledge.

Head of energy and climate change Jon Christian Thaulow is assisting Aker Horizons Asset Development with all aspects of its 40 MW green hydrogen and ammonia production facility. The projects, which are vital in Norway’s transition to becoming a green industry-based economy and leading clean energy producer, have required innovative advice on novel regulatory issues, project development, and offtake agreements.

Helping craft novel legal precedents for offshore energy, the firm is also providing Aker Offshore Wind ongoing assistance regarding the development of a new regulatory regime for the award of exclusive rights to offshore wind projects on the Norwegian Continental Shelf.

Through its green finance expertise, the firm makes a key contribution to the decarbonisation of leading Norwegian companies. It advised energy solutions player Aker on the issuances of a total of NOK 2bn green bonds, supporting the client in the decarbonisation of its industrial investment portfolio. It also assisted recycling company Tomra Systems on its NOK 1bn green bond issuance.

Advising on a project which helps restore ocean ecosystems, managing partner Thomas K. Svensen leads the team in providing regulatory and licensing assistance to HUB Ocean. The client is a partnership between Aker and the World Economic Forum which creates tools for offshore industry actors to share and publish ocean data.

The firm minimises its carbon footprint by being located in BREEAM-certified offices, following an environmental policy which targets emissions reductions across its value chain, and sponsoring Trefadder to manage carbon-sequestering forests to offset emissions it cannot abate.

As a member of the firm’s so-called BDO Sustainability Movement, the firm shows commitment to incorporating sustainable practices into its every day operations, implementing waste management and energy-saving strategies to reduce its environmental impact. It also encourages employees to act similarly through hosting regular sustainability training days and webinars.

Having joined the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance in 2021, and guided by BDO’s internal Net Zero Advisory Council, the firm is aiming to reach net zero by 2050.

With particular expertise in the Brazilian market, in a recent highlight, public procurement, international trade and ESG experts Roland Stein and Bruno Galvão assisted the Instituto Mato-Grossense da Carne (IMAC), an autonomous social agency representing the cattle sector in the state of Mato Grosso, one of Brazil’s largest producers, and the Associação Brasileira das Indústrias Exportadoras de Carnes (ABIEC) on all issues related to the EU deforestation-free products regulation.

In the field of electro-mobility, one client is green mobility company FASTNED, for which the team recently handled the development of charging infrastructures for electric vehicles in Germany.

The firm supports the foundation Stiftung Allianz für Entwicklung und Klima, which is committed to global sustainable development and the reduction of CO2 emissions, and has contributed donations to its offsetting partner PRIMAKLIMA, engaged in reforestation and forest protection projects globally.

The team is also prolific in its thought leadership on sustainability matters, including numerous publications, academic work, and the participation in and hosting of conferences, webinars, workshops and roundtables.

Two other key contacts are Florian Wolf, who heads up the ESG group, and antitrust law and ESG expert Anna Huttenlauch.

In a recent highlight, the firm assisted MOL, one of Hungary’s leading integrated oil and gas companies, in developing a complex legal and financial framework in compliance with Hungarian and EU regulatory requirements aimed at enabling the efficient operation of MOL’s solar energy capacity. For Public Power Corporation, a major Greek electricity company, the team handled a number of energy matters related to the client’s entry into the Hungarian market, including assisting with obtaining a licence for electricity trading. The firm also recently provided comprehensive advice to Smart Charging, a company developing software for electromobility and IoT.

A frequent speaker and writer on the subject of smart energy, managing partner Róbert Szuchy participated in the World Energy Justice Congress 2023, an event addressing social justice in energy law.

Internally, the firm’s commitment to sustainable mobility is evidenced by the replacement of office cars with plug-in hybrid vehicles using electricity mainly from renewable sources for urban transport.

Alongside its regular advice to VERBUND, one of Europe’s largest producers of renewable energy, the team also acted for circular economy start-up Refurbed with regard to its corporate reorganisation.

The group’s ‘green’ expertise was strengthened by the arrival of energy market expert Walter Boltz, who notably advises the Austrian government on regulatory green deal and energy transition-related matters together with competition and regulatory practice head Andreas Traugott. Global lead sustainability partner and a prominent speaker on topics surrounding the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan and EU Green Deal, Eva-Maria Ségur Cabanac is noted for her broad knowledge of ESG regulatory frameworks and M&A in energy transition projects.

For the Good Law Project, Friends of the Earth, and ClientEarth, the firm handled on a pro bono basis and won a judicial appeal brought against the UK government’s Net Zero Strategy (NZS).  It also continues its commitment to tracking global clean hydrogen’s legal, regulatory and policy developments through its Hydrogen Hub and Global Hydrogen Policy Tracker.

Beyond its work portfolio and client services, the firm – which is also a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance – is committed to consolidating its carbon footprint reporting process, as demonstrated by its bespoke environmental management system “bGreen,” while also continuing to review its global sustainable procurement processes.

The firm is providing ongoing advice to major waste-to-energy plant Vestforbrænding regarding its carbon capture and storage project. Energy industry group head Johan Weihe has assisted with all legal aspects in the planning of the project, from participation in the DKK 8.3bn CCUS tender with Ørsted Bioenergy & Thermal Power and Aalborg Portland to negotiating cooperation agreements with the distribution grid operator and storage operator. The mandate is vital for Denmark’s nascent carbon capture sector, supporting a landmark project which can help reduce the carbon footprint of energy production.

For the Hempel Foundation, whose objectives include the protection of biodiversity, the firm advised on the purchase of 775 hectares of agricultural land to be rewilded and converted into a nature reserve. It assisted the client throughout the investment process, which provided the financing necessary to fund the preservation of local biodiversity.

In the renewable energy sector, the firm acted for Mitsui & Co in its entrance into a power-to-X project partnership. It advised on the transaction whereby the client purchased a 49% stake in the 304 MW Kassø solar plant and the associated 52 MW e-methanol facility from renewables developer European Energy. The plant, which is an innovative example of a large-scale commercial e-fuel production facility, is capable of producing up to 42,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year.

Through its BB Impact cooperation programme, the firm supports green start-ups in their attempts to create low-carbon alternatives in the economy. Recent companies supported by the programme are developing projects which pioneer reduced-CO2 paint, sustainable meat production, and ocean plastic-based clothing. The firm also provides regular pro bono assistance to the WWF.

Two highlights in the sustainable finance space were the firm’s support to VERBUND, Austria’s largest electricity provider, in the first green bond ever issued in German-speaking countries, and its advice to Rail Cargo Austria on a sustainability linked revolving credit facility, the first ever syndicated loan for the Austrian Railways group. In a particularly innovative matter, the banking and finance team also assisted the Austrian municipality of Stanz with its blockchain-based local renewable energy community, a project implemented in cooperation with the EU.

A multi-disciplinary team acted for Lenzing Fibers on the acquisition of a biomass cogeneration plant from Energie 42 Beteiligungs GmbH, which will enable the environmentally friendly fibre production site to reduce its CO2 emissions associated with energy use by around 50,000 tons of CO2.

On the pro bono side, a team led by sustainable finance expert Emanuel Welten supported CAPE.10 on the financing of social impact bonds and local measures aimed at mitigating climate change.

Additionally, the firm has, as of 2023, joined respACT, an Austrian platform aimed at advancing sustainable business practices by giving its members access to a dynamic community to exchange ideas and innovative solutions. It also continues to work on its BG Future Lab Initiative, a sustainability-focused think tank created by six of the firm’s partners, including EU and competition expert and author of the guide on Sustainability Law Raoul Hoffer, and ESG lead partner and member of the firm’s regulatory practice Johannes Barbist.

In an ongoing matter, he is assisting Ariston Group with an analysis of the green power incentives given to companies which provide greener manufacturing processes. Alongside the analysis, the firm prepared documentation which will help the company achieve a green transition. Bojanovic is also working with EMX Royalty on starting the Green Mine project, which aims to analyse eco-friendly ways of exploration and mining.

In a recent highlight in the renewable energy sector, the team advised R Power, a major Polish company in the solar energy market, regarding its arrival in the Serbian market. The firm’s work for the client included conducting an analysis of the local regulatory framework governing renewable energy projects and preparing the required documentation to obtain an energy license.

In a cross-border mandate, energy M&A specialist Lars Kongsgaard Hansen advised Swedish offshore wind operator Vattenfall on the acquisition of project company Anker Development, which was developing a 765 MW offshore wind portfolio. Alongside performing transactional due diligence, the firm provided the client with regulatory assistance regarding Denmark’s open-door licensing regime.

Supporting Copenhagen’s municipal utility HOFOR in becoming carbon neutral by 2025, the firm is assisting on various questions related to the reception and utilisation of state aid. Recent assignments for the client have included securing aid from the European Commission to operate a biomass-fired CHP plant to replace a former coal-powered facility; assisting regarding the use of state guarantees to erect wind turbines; and advising on the Danish Energy Agency’s decision to suspend wind projects under the open-door scheme.

Demonstrating the firm’s expertise in the sustainable finance market, Anne Cathrine Ingerslev acted for telecommunications company TDC NET regarding its €500m sustainability-linked notes issuance. The mandate supports the client in raising funds toward achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2030.

As a signatory to the UN Global Compact, the firm is committed to incorporating sustainability within its day-to-day operations. In order to build a platform from which it can most effectively reduce its carbon footprint, it is working with consultancy Rambøll to map its direct and indirect carbon impact before producing an emissions report aligned with Greenhouse Gas Protocol standards.

The firm’s green M&A work includes advising R3, a subsidiary of the European electric mobility company DBT, on its partnership with Amundi Transition Energétique and Banque des Territoires, a consortium for the development of the EV charging points throughout France. The team also advised RGreen Invest, who specialises in financing the energy transition, on its joint venture with the battery storage company NW Groupe to create NW Storm. These projects mark an important step in assisting France in its aim to reduce its production of greenhouse gases by 2030.

The firm shows further dedication to the green transition through its internal initiatives: It created a sustainability committee, which works to implement best practices through a blend of waste reduction and utilities conservation. Its Paris office has recently been awarded the BREEAM excellent certification for sustainability.

Of note is also the firm’s affiliation with the Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables, the French Renewable Energy Trade Association.

Currently, the team is advising Engie New Ventures, Montrose Environmental Group, and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Fund on their investment in TreaTech, a Swiss start-up that has devised an innovative technology for waste treatment.

In the renewable energy sector, the firm has gained considerable experience in managing joint ventures. It is advising H2 Energy Europe, a Swiss innovator in the field of renewable energy and hydrogen technology, on a joint venture with Phillips 66 directed at creating a network of hydrogen refuelling points in Germany, Austria and Denmark. For MET Group, an integrated European energy company based in Switzerland, the team assisted on a joint venture with Keppel Infrastructure to invest in both greenfield and brownfield solar and wind assets in Western Europe, including an initial portfolio of 213 MV of solar projects in Italy.

The firm’s ESG department is led by Vera Naegeli, a regular speaker and writer on topics such as climate and natural resources, including co-authoring together with ESG and sustainability expert Marie-Cristine Kaptan a commentary on the new Swiss ESG-related provisions in the Code of Obligations.

Internally, in 2019, the firm completed the construction of a sustainable ecosystem on a 2500m2 area on the roof of its office building. The project was awarded the PropecieRara label, which recognises active work in preserving traditional plant and animal species for future generations.

The firm acted for Saubermacher, one of the leading waste disposal and recycling companies in Central Europe, in the sale of its 100%-shareholding in Redux Recycling, and led on a project for listed Austrian oil, gas and petrochemicals company OMV related to the construction of a waste sorting plant to produce recycled chemical raw materials from plastic waste.

On the green finance side, the team notably assisted RHI Magnesita in a €250m sustainability linked loan facility agreement, while also handling Commerzbank’s adaptation of its master rollover corporate loan documentation in line with the LMA’s green loan principles and sustainability-linked loan principles.

Internally, the firm is committed to achieving a reduction in energy and paper consumption of 25 percent by 2025. Externally, it hosted its own ESG conference for clients in 2023, discussing topics such as sustainability and supply chain compliance, taxonomy, environmental litigation and greenwashing.

In 2022, the team assisted WEALTHCORE with the acquisition of two residential real estate projects adhering to the ‘dark green’ standard under Article 9 of the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR), the highest level of sustainability, and more recently represented an international banking consortium in the issuance of €750m of MREL-eligible Green Preferred Senior Notes issued by Erste Group Bank in Vienna.

In the renewables space, a recent highlight was advising Green Source and Core Value Capital on the financing and acquisition of a 63MW solar park in Hungary.

Notably, using the latest AI technology, the firm has been conducting an audit of its contracts across key practice areas with the goal of refining clauses associated with climate change and ESG.

As part of its efforts to promote sustainable mobility and reduce CO2 emissions in Vienna, the firm recently purchased five electric scooters for its team members, and continues to encourage the use of its MyGreenerFootprint app (designed by the firm) which allows users to explore how to reduce their impact on the environment.

Hungary

In Hungary, CMS provides comprehensive regulatory advice on environmental and sustainability issues. The team also has significant experience in the renewable energy sector, where it advises a range of clients, including banks, power plant developers, operators and investors, on several project financings and corporate acquisitions, particularly in connection with photovoltaic and wind farms.

Currently, the team is advising Green Source on the financing and development of a photovoltaic project in Hungary with a capacity of 49,95 MW. In another ongoing matter, the firm is acting for Futureal Group in a series of carbon offsetting initiatives and the implementation of green lease clauses that comply with ESG standards, while for ALDI, the firm recently worked on the transformation process of the company’s waste management business and conducted a review of green requirements on behalf of the client.

Both internally and externally, the firm continues to engage in various sustainability-related publications and initiatives, such as in 2023 publishing a guide on plastics and packaging laws in Hungary and participating in the regional forum ‘Transition to Green Economy’ organised by the Hungarian Association of Environmental Companies and the Ministry of Energy. László Jókay, whose broad practice spans waste management, soil and groundwater contamination, as well as hazardous substance issues, joined as plenary speaker.

The team also includes head of the Budapest real estate department Gábor Czike, an expert in sustainable development and environmentally-friendly construction, who recently participated, together with Jókay, in a round table discussion on new waste management regulations in Hungary.

Germany

CMS Germany has considerable experience in a range of sustainability issues, where the team routinely advises on renewable energy transformation projects, carbon footprint reduction and environmental due diligence.

In a current highlight, the team is assisting the German Federal Highway Research Institute, in cooperation with two environmental planning and two engineering offices, in a research project related to climate change in road planning, advising on all legal aspects related to the German Climate Change Act, German Environmental Impact Assessment Act, German Federal Nature Conservation Act.

Another client is the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, for which the team provides advice on how to structure carbon contracts for difference.

In the Hamburg office, commercial and corporate law expert and a member of the firm’s ESG Taskforce, Christoph Schröder regularly advises on environmental risks and liabilities as well as supply chain compliance.

Notably, the firm in Germany leads the German chapter of the Chancery Lane Project with the aim of rolling out the project of developing climate protection clauses in a number of commercial contracts to the German legal market.

In the thought leadership space, the team recently implemented ESG tools such as the CMS Green Trail and CMS Green Globe, an interactive platform which informs clients about all major trends and developments in relation to sustainability claims.

The firm in Germany was also recently awarded a silver rating by Ecovadis.

Oman

CMS in Oman is at the forefront of the country’s green transition, having assisted clients in leading renewable energy projects setting the blueprint in the region.

Recently, in a groundbreaking highlight, the firm’s energy and infrastructure team advised the Oman Ministry of Energy and Minerals on the setting up of a legal regulatory framework to support Oman’s ambition of producing 1 million tons of green hydrogen annually by 2030.

In another major ongoing matter, Charles Dolphin is leading the team in assisting the Saudi Power Procurement Company on Round 4 of the National Renewable Energy Program, comprising two solar and three wind projects, with a combined generation capacity of 3.3GW.

Globally, the firm has developed the CMS Green Globe, an interactive platform which allows companies to stay informed about current trends and developments related to sustainability claims worldwide, and avoid greenwashing.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands office of UN Global Compact member CMS, a dedicated ESG Taskforce combines the expertise of its energy & climate change, banking & finance, and corporate groups to advise clients on their clean energy and sustainable development mandates.

Energy & Climate Change group head Cecilia van der Weijden advised clean energy infrastructure fund manager Glenmont Partners on its 15% acquisition of the 731.5 MW Borssele III/IV offshore wind farm from private markets firm Partners Group. With the transaction marking the client’s first Dutch offshore wind acquisition, the team’s advice included introducing the client to the governing legal framework.

In the solar power sector, the firm is advising real estate asset manager Trio Investment on the acquisition and development of a photovoltaic park on the premises of farmed live bait supplier Topsy Baits. The project is an innovative example of land-use efficiency, whereby the solar installation will provide shade to support bait farming on the same site, helping augment the Netherlands’ renewable energy capacity without necessitating the exploitation of further green space.

The banking & finance team assisted logistics specialist Delin Capital Asset Management on a €202.8m green loan, which refinanced and restructured its real estate fund, and in the recent €20m increase to the facility. The loan agreement supports the client in the development and operation of sustainable warehouses and distribution centres.

Toward obtaining a silver EcoVadis rating, the firm is actively working to manage its emissions footprint. Alongside providing an ESG education programme and training for all staff, it is measuring and analysing its greenhouse emissions, lowering its energy consumption while producing renewable energy, reducing and recycling waste, promoting low-carbon transport within an eco-friendly business travel policy, and practicing sustainable procurement.

Rita Ferreira dos Santos, who leads the firm’s energy and infrastructure team, is currently advising WElink Energy on a range of legal matters spanning areas such as energy, construction contracts and real estate. The company owns and operates Solara4, a 200MW PV solar plant considered one of the biggest in Portugal and which is to be further expanded with the addition of wind energy and batteries.

Ferreira dos Santos is also assisting Associação HyLab, which aims to strengthen the hydrogen market in Portugal by addressing the relevant supply chain components to enable a hydrogen-driven economy, across a range of legal matters. Additionally, she provides legal services to Preco Circular Norte on the financing, engineering and operations of a large chemical recycling plant which will produce biofuels, located in the Portuguese municipality of Nelas.

Outside of her client work, Ferreira dos Santos is an ambassador for the Women in ESG Portugal civil initiative. Recently, the firm hosted two conferences with the initiative, one discussing the challenges of the energy transition and the other the challenges of the circular economy. Ferreira dos Santos also recently published an article in ECO on the new proposed legal regime for voluntary carbon markets.

The firm aims to achieve net zero status by 2030.

Notably, the firm is advising Enel Finance in relation to the launch of a dual-tranche sustainability linked bond with a value of circa €1.5bn. The first tranche of bond combines a KPI linked to the EU taxonomy with a KPI linked to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the second is linked to two KPIs related to the company’s decarbonisation path.

In another ongoing highlight, the firm is assisting a syndicate of Italian and French financial institutions with a €188m project financing to extend an existing train network allowing it to carry a further 2.5m passengers per year. This deal supports sustainable infrastructure as it will significantly reduce CO2 emissions caused by other forms of transport.

The firm’s internal green strategy is managed by a Sustainability Steering Committee. All energy delivered to its Italian offices since 2023 is 100% renewable, and the firm’s green efforts have been recognised by Ecovadis.

Externally, the team regularly publishes thought leadership through its ESG Podcast and ESG newsletter.

The firm assisted Conservation International, an environmental NGO, on a blue carbon policy project which aims to identify the main challenges affecting the protection, conservation and sustainable management of the blue carbon ecosystem in Kenya, as well as map out the opportunities to accelerate blue carbon conservation through policies.

Natural Justice, an organisation steered by legal experts which aims to pursue environmental justice, sought the firm’s advice regarding the development of a climate change legal handbook, intended to equip local communities with the tools to effectively respond to climate change challenges. The handbook also assists with the understanding of legal processes for obtaining remedies for environmental breaches.

On a pro bono basis, it acted for Media Legal Defence Initiative (Media Defence), an international organisation that provides legal assistance to journalists internationally, by analysing the legal challenges faced by environmental journalists and defenders, and providing lawyers with the necessary knowledge to defend and protect them.

Key individual Wambua focuses her practice on the environmental and natural resources sectors, and teaches climate law at the University of Nairobi’s Faculty of Law.

In a recently concluded innovative matter, the team provided legal assistance to the European Investment Bank for the issuance of its first Climate Awareness Digital Bond. The client used the so | bond platform, which was launched by Crédit Agricole CIB and Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken in April 2023 and uses the Proof of Climate awaReness (PoCR) protocol, a new type of blockchain validation logic that enables energy consumption comparable to non-blockchain systems and provides incentives for participating nodes to improve the environmental footprint of their infrastructure.

Another longstanding client is Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, a fund manager specialising in greenfield investments in the renewable energy sector, including investments in offshore and onshore wind, solar PV, biomass, and energy from waste. Here, the team was responsible for the implementation of the CI Energy Transition Fund I, one of the largest funds dedicated to clean hydrogen.

Globally, the firm is involved in several sustainability initiatives and continues to support a number of external sustainability organisations. In addition to being a co-founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, it provides pro bono assistance to Plan Vivo, an organisation committed to enabling communities to access carbon finance in exchange for emission reductions generated by sustainable community land use projects. It also recently contributed to a milestone UN resolution recognising the universal human right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment (R2HE).

In 2020, the firm partnered with EcoVadis to monitor its sustainability performance and was awarded a gold medal. It is committed to achieving zero global emissions by 2050.

France

In France, Clifford Chance LLP regularly assists clients with climate change issues, sustainable finance, and green business transformation models. Drawing on the strength of its globally integrated ESG team, it is also known for its adept handling of cross-border green energy projects.

In an ongoing cross-border matter, the Paris team is co-advising Sembcorp and 8 Rivers Capital as sponsors on all aspects of the development of an oxy-fuelled CCGT power plant with a carbon capture and storage capacity in Teesside. Owned by Whitetail Clean Energy, the project has been billed as the UK’s first Net Zero emissions power station.

The team is also assisting the Republic of Namibia with its agreement with Hyphen Hydrogen Energy, which allow it to govern the development and operation of the largest green hydrogen project in sub-Saharan Africa. At peak capacity, the project is expected to produce 2 million tonnes of green ammonia annually for regional and global markets.

In recent years, the firm’s commitment to a greener future has continued to grow; since collaborating with EcoVadis back in 2020 for the assessment of its sustainability performance, it has received a Gold Award and now aims to become net zero by 2050.

The firm is not only a co-founder of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance and regularly hosts ESG webinars, but on a pro bono basis, it also collaborates with Plan Vivo, an organisation committed to helping rural communities access carbon finance through participating in sustainable land-use projects.

Belgium

With deep expertise advising leading European clients on the development and construction of clean energy projects and infrastructure, Clifford Chance’s Belgian office plays a key role in the growth of the region’s renewables sector.

A key client is transmission system operator Elia, whom the firm advised on the structuring and negotiation of the EPCI contract with consortium TM Edison for its artificial renewable energy island. The island, which will be located in the Princess Elisabeth offshore wind zone in the North Sea, will connect a 3.5 GW wind portfolio with the onshore electricity grid. Alongside supporting the decarbonisation of Belgium’s energy mix, the project is envisaged to later link with interconnectors in the UK and Denmark and consequently support the delivery of clean electricity across the region.

Alongside the firm’s Paris office, energy practice co-head Patrice Viaene is advising Hydrogene de France on procurement and contracting matters for a flagship integrated 50 MW solar and 128 MWh green hydrogen and battery storage project in Barbados. The facility aims to be the largest hydrogen power project in the Caribbean and simultaneously maintain local sustainable development: since the facility is located on pastoral land, it will incorporate agrivoltaic PV generation, preserving its economic use for sheep farming.

As a leading member of the firm’s global Clean Hydrogen Taskforce, Viaene is a key contact in thought leadership concerning the European hydrogen market and has also authored briefings on the tendering principles for Belgium’s offshore wind developments.

A firmwide Net Zero Delivery Group works to realise its global Science-based Targets of reducing scopes 1 and 2 emissions by 80% and scope 3 emissions by 47% by 2030. To demonstrate its sustainability commitments, the firm is a member of the UN Global Compact, reports against the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures, and received a gold certification by EcoVadis.

Supporting the development of Estonia’s clean energy capacity, the firm advised French investment company Mirova Energy Transition on its project to develop a 100 MW solar power portfolio. The team assisted the client, a dedicated sustainable investment platform, on the acquisition of the existing project companies and in securing the cooperation of Estonian renewables developer Evecon.

In the onshore wind sector, the firm is advising developer Eurowind Energy on preparing and negotiating land-lease agreements to secure the rights necessary to develop ten windfarm projects. Within the mandate, the firm has provided regulatory, zoning, and land leasing advice.

Senior Associate Siim Vahtrus is a renewable energy and environmental law specialist and led the team in co-authoring an analysis for the Ministry of Finance, exploring the possibilities for developing offshore wind farms in the marine area around Hiiumaa island. The analysis looked at the legal feasibility of spatial planning procedures to support the most optimal expansion of the country’s wind power segment.

Head of ESG and sustainability Mervet Kägu contributes broadly to thought leadership, publishing on impact investing, sustainability regulation, and how companies can operate as responsible businesses. To further share knowledge on how companies can become more sustainable, the Estonian office is a member of the Responsible Business Forum.

Across the region, the firm participated in the Greenspect programme to measure the carbon footprint of its three offices and create targeted policies to mitigate its internal climate impact.  Having followed the European Green Office principles to reduce its operational emissions, the firm was awarded the bronze VEF ESG Quality Certificate for its internal environmental management performance.

Latvia

The Latvian office of pan-Baltic law firm Cobalt is a key advisor to state and private clients in their green transition strategies, assisting with regulation and project developments which are vital to the country’s energy independence and nascent green power sector.

In an ongoing matter, ESG practice head Gatis Flinters is advising Swedish renewables operator Eolus Vind in the development and construction of a 200 MW wind farm portfolio. The firm has assisted on real estate, energy regulatory, environmental impact, planning, and permitting processes, supporting the development of one of the country’s largest renewable energy projects.

A key client is the Latvian Ministry of Climate and Energy, whom the firm assisted in preparing amendments to regulations concerning the price at which public land will be leased for the development of wind farms. The firm’s advice ensured the wind power joint venture between national energy company Latvenergo and the national forestry company, which is seeking to build clean energy security through developing an 800 MW onshore wind portfolio, is compliant with state aid and competitive neutrality rules.

The firm’s Riga office is a founding member of the Latvian Institute for Corporate Sustainability and Responsibility, which brings together corporations, organisations, and experts to promote sustainable business strategies. The firm also provides support to the institute’s Sustainability Index, which provides companies with a free assessment of their ESG performance.

In 2023, the firm participated in the Greenspect programme to assess the environmental impact of its offices across the Baltic region, using the report to understand the largest contributions to its carbon footprint before devising targeted measures to reduce these emissions. The firm is currently pursuing emission reductions through reducing energy consumption, waste, and unnecessary travel.

Lithuania

In Lithuania, pan-Baltic law firm Cobalt makes a leading commitment to the growth of the region’s clean energy sector, advising investors, developers, and industry associations on their critical green projects.

A key client is Danish renewables developer European Energy, whom the firm advised on regulatory, transactional, and project development matters regarding the buildout of a wind and solar power portfolio in Lithuania. The firm’s ongoing advice supports the client in its intended €1.5bn investment in the country’s renewables sector, through which it seeks to build a 1 GW portfolio of wind and solar projects.

Renewables expert Paulius Markovas has wide expertise advising clean energy investors and developers on planning law, environmental regulation, grid development, contracting, and project development. Key clients here include Aura Power regarding its solar power pipeline, and INIKTI regarding its wind and solar project portfolio.

The firm also provides ongoing legal advice to the Lithuanian Confederation of Renewable Resources, assisting its members in legal and strategic challenges concerning the development of biomass, biofuels, solar, and wind power projects in the country. The firm’s advice supports the organisation in its ongoing collaboration with public institutions, where it helps ensure that members’ interests are represented.

As part of its internal commitment to implementing sustainability principles within its daily operations, the firm is working to apply the European Green Office standards of ecological management. Having calculated its greenhouse gas emissions in cooperation with consultancy Greenspect, the firm is currently devising science-based targets to reduce emissions generated in energy consumption, waste generation, travel, and procurement.

Head of the firm’s energy M&A practice Francisco Santos Costa recently lead the team in a multi-jurisdictional matter for Altri Group regarding the structuring and negotiation of a joint venture with Smarttia for the development of a €750m project to produce green fiber in Spain.

In another recent highlight, the firm assisted Natwest with one of the largest energy financing and refinancing transactions in Portugal in 2022, namely, the financing of new projects and refinancing of the debt of Finerge Group, a major renewable energy player in the country.

Internally, the firm created Cuatrecasas ESG which aims to define its ESG policies. Notably, it reduced its carbon footprint by 31% in 2022 compared with 2019 levels.

The firm has also shown its dedication to sustainability externally by promoting and participating in a number of green events, such as a recent conference in Lisbon discussing the new environmental licensing regime in Portugal and its impact on the water and waste management sectors. The team has also demonstrated its expertise in sustainability matters beyond client work through thought leadership pieces discussing topics such as the role of sustainability in shaping the legal industry and legal policies.

In a recent high-profile matter, the team provided comprehensive advice to the government of Albania, which was engaged in the country’s first public-scale tender process for the allocation of onshore wind power support, resulting in the selection of three onshore wind projects for construction with an aggregate capacity of 222.48 MW.

For the Central European Gas Hub CEGH, the Austrian VTP operator, the firm handled the standard commercial agreement on biogas certificates for the recently launched CEGH GreenGas platform for the trading and marketing of renewable gases, including biogas and hydrogen, as well as guarantees of origin (GO) for green gases.

Recently, the firm also advised Ocean Breeze on a PPA with RWE for its offshore wind farm located in the German North Sea, with parts of the volumes used for an electrolyser project.

The Austrian team includes energy practice head Andreas Gunst, an expert in renewable energy and emission reduction projects, and energy and climate specialist Kenneth Wallace-Müller, whose broad practice includes the development and trading of renewable energy, hydrogen and biomethane and gas projects.

The firm is a signatory of the UNGC and has committed to becoming a net zero law firm by 2040. It has also set a science-based carbon reduction target, which was validated by the SBTi in September 2021.

In a noteworthy partnership, the firm also sits on the board of the Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA), an independent, non-profit trade association committed to implementing climate investment policies.

In the pro bono space, the firm continues to support Carbon 13, a climate accelerator and venture builder which seeks to reduce carbon emissions and change global systems for a carbon-neutral future, as well as the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) Global Innovation lab for Climate Finance, which addresses key environmental issues such as energy transition, land use, climate resilience and sustainable infrastructure.

Poland

In Poland, DLA Piper’s environmental protection practice advises local and international clients on the full spectrum of sustainability issues, including climate change matters, energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy projects. Practice head and Polish and EU environmental protection law expert Dawid Krakowiak has particular expertise in the field of greenhouse gas emissions, land contamination, and waste management.

In the renewable energy sector, the team is handling one of the largest acquisitions in the country in the last 12 months, assisting RWE’s purchase of Alpha Solar, a leading developer of renewable energy projects in Poland, with a portfolio of photovoltaic projects with a total capacity exceeding 3 GW. The firm is also acting for global energy company EDPR Renewables in connection with the sale of a 100 per cent stake in a 142 MW Polish wind power portfolio to Orlen Wind 3 for a value of approximately PLN 2.20bn.

In another notable matter, the firm is preparing comprehensive guidelines on energy performance contracts for the Polish Ministry of Climate and Environment.

As part of a multi-jurisdictional research project involving lawyers from the firm’s offices around the world, the Polish team also recently provided pro bono advice to the Norwegian Refugee Council on internal displacement policies in the context of climate change and disasters in Poland.

Globally, the firm continues to be involved in various internal and external sustainability initiatives. It published its second voluntary sustainability report in 2022 and aims to become a net zero law firm, reducing carbon emissions by 90% by 2040. In addition, it has committed to the Legal Renewables Initiative, pledging to source electricity for all offices from 100% certified, non-greenwashed renewable sources by 2025.

The firm is also a signatory of the UNGC and a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.

Hungary

In Hungary, DLA Piper has significant expertise in the renewable energy sector, where it regularly advises clients on planning, authorisation, joint ventures, and other corporate matters. The team stands out in particular for its experience with PPAs, public infrastructure development, concession law and electromobility.

In an ongoing highlight, the firm is assisting solar project development specialist Solin Energy on its cross-border virtual corporate PPA models for a photovoltaic plant project which is currently being developed in Hungary and Kosovo.

The firm’s finance, projects and restructuring group is led by Péter Györfi-Tóth, who also chairs the ESG team in Budapest and advises clients on complex infrastructure projects, including solar power plants and projects related to power generation and transmission. He is co-host of the firm’s regular seminar for energy clients, Energybar (Energiaszelet), together with Gábor Simon, who acts for various companies in the renewable energy sectors.

The firm is a main sponsor of the annual conference of the Hungarian Association of Energy Traders, and continues to contribute to a number of publications on energy, where it also highlights ESG aspects and trends, such as in a recent article published in the DLA Piper Hungary Legal Blog on the development of resilience services as a potential solution to the challenges of the energy sector.

Germany

DLA Piper’s German team routinely provides advice in the renewable energy sector, including in connection with offshore wind and photovoltaic projects.

In a current highlight, the team is assisting GLP and its subsidiary GLP Energy with the ESG upcycling of their logistics properties related to the construction of photovoltaic plants with a total capacity of over 500 megawatts.

The firm also recently acted for German solar and wind farm operator Blue Elephant Energy in the acquisition of a 120-megawatt solar project portfolio through a joint venture with Chilean project developer oEnergy Capital.

Another client is BASF, whom the firm advised on the conclusion of a partnership with Vattenfall related to the tender process for the Hollandse Kust West (HKW) offshore wind farm, located about 53 kilometres off the west coast of the Netherlands.

Head of the firm’s energy team Michael Cieslarczyk is also a member of the firm’s international leadership team of the energy and natural resources sector, and acts as German Counsel to the European Federation of Energy Traders (EFET). His experience spans energy contracts and regulatory advice in relation to renewables projects.

Other key contacts include Guido Kleve, who focuses on product and environmental law, ESG and supply chain integrity issues, and Ludger Giesberts, who has expertise in environmental and planning law issues in infrastructure projects and M&A transactions, as well as in product-related environmental law, waste and disposal law, and soil and water protection.

Globally, the firm is a UNGC signatory, as well as a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance. In 2020, it also committed to the Legal Renewables Initiative and to becoming a net zero law firm by 2040.

Ireland

DLA Piper’s energy and infrastructure practice in Ireland has considerable experience assisting clients with a range of renewable energy matters, including development, project financing, and regulatory advice.

In a recent matter, the firm advised clients Power Capital Renewable Energy and Statkraft, two of the counterparties to Microsoft’s large-scale purchase of renewable energy in Ireland, on a major corporate offtake investment in the country, whereby Microsoft is acquiring more than 900 MW of wind and solar power, contributing to approximately 30 percent of Ireland’s 2030 power purchase target.

Other recent highlights include the team advising on a number of leading solar power projects in Ireland and on several renewable energy acquisitions, including solar and battery storage development sites.

Globally, the firm is committed to becoming a net zero law firm by cutting its carbon emissions by 90% by 2040. It is also a UNGC signatory, a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, and a participant in the Legal Renewables Initiative.

Sweden

In Sweden, DLA Piper assists clients in transitioning toward running a more sustainable business, leveraging the expertise of its banking and finance practice across renewable energy projects and sustainable investments.

Supporting the operation of Sweden’s key onshore wind assets, renewable energy finance contact Björn Sjöberg acted for Energy Infrastructure Partners on its project bond financing for the 253 MW BMB2 North onshore wind farm. In the solar power sector, Sjöberg led the team advising long-standing client DIF Capital Partners on its €150m investment in solar project developer Alight, which will accelerate the build-out of the target’s near-term solar project pipeline.

In a leading asset-backed facility for the sustainable mobility sector, the firm represented electric transport company Einride in its raising of a $350m debt financing which will support the development and expansion of the client’s global heavy-duty electric vehicle fleet.

Demonstrating the firm’s expertise with sustainable finance, the firm represented Mizuho Bank in a SEK500m green loan to ingredients company AAK. The loan, which is compliant with the LMA Green Loan Principles, will further investments in biomass boilers and reduce CO2 emissions at AAK’s production plant in Aarhus, Denmark by around 90%.

As an international member of the UN Global Compact, the firm is committed to responsible business and has a Science Based Target Initiative-approved objective to become net-zero emissions by 2040. Toward this aim, the firm’s Global Sustainability Initiative mandates the use of only renewable electricity from 2025 to complement existing procedures, including a sustainable procurement policy and the reduction and carbon offsetting of business travel.

Denmark

In Denmark, UN Global Compact member DLA Piper makes a key contribution to the development of the region’s renewable energy capacity, with demonstrable expertise in advising clients in the power industry and investment sector on impactful clean energy projects.

Recently, the firm assisted key pan-Nordic client Cloudberry Clean Energy with its first project in Denmark, whereby it acquired an 80% stake in Skovgaard Energy’s onshore wind turbine portfolio. It handled the €200m agreement to acquire 51 wind turbines as well as the negotiation of a development agreement for further renewable energy assets.

In a cross-border mandate, Aarhus-based offshore wind experts Alexander Severance and Martin Juste acted for turbine provider Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy in negotiating a turbine supply agreement with joint venture ELEKTROWNIA WIATROWA BALTICA to serve the 1500 MW Baltica 2 offshore wind project. 107 14 MW turbines will be supplied following the agreement, which expands the client’s presence in the growing offshore wind sector in Poland and the Baltic Sea.

In Copenhagen, energy and private equity specialist Christian Bredtoft Guldmann has deep experience advising on impactful investments in the renewable energy sector. Notable clients include the pension funds P+ and Lægernes Pension, whom he advised on a DKK 1.5bn investment into CIP’s Copenhagen Infrastructure Green Credit Fund 1, which invests in renewable energy, biomass, and energy storage assets. A further key client is farming cooperative DLG Group, whom he acted for regarding its investment into renewable energy cluster developer, owner, and operator BioCirc Group.

As part of its cross-office Science Based Target Initiative-verified goal to become net-zero emissions by 2040, the firm has introduced a Global Sustainability Initiative which commits it to using only renewable electricity from 2025, implementing a sustainable procurement policy, and reducing business travel while offsetting unavoidable emissions through carbon credits.

Norway

In Norway, UN Global Compact member DLA Piper specialises in providing transactional advice in the clean energy segment, with leading clients regularly seeking the firm’s assistance on complex and innovative renewable power projects.

For Cloudberry Clean Energy, renewable energy sector head Kaare Oftedal assisted in the NOK 703m sale of the Åmotsfoss, Selselva, and Nessakraft hydropower plants to Norsk Vannkraft. The transaction provides a long-term operator for the 77 GWh portfolio while allowing the client to redeploy capital into new renewable energy projects.

The firm previously advised the same client on the sale of 50% of the shares in Cloudberry Offshore Wind to Oslo’s municipal power generator Hafslund. Within the joint venture, the client will develop and manage the Stenkalles Grund 100 MW shallow-water wind project in southern Sweden.

In a cross-border mandate, the firm’s energy team acted for Norway-based conglomerate Lentusgruppen in its activities as a developer of, and investor in, renewable energy projects. The team assisted with drafting and negotiating power purchase agreements for bioenergy and solar power plants across Gabon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Sri Lanka.

The firm utilises the expertise gained within its client work to make a contribution to thought leadership in the renewable energy space. Through the firm’s online hub, clients are provided with regular insights into the regulation, policy, and economic drivers impacting the wind and solar industries.

As part of its Global Sustainability Initiative, the firm reduces its business travel and offsets unavoidable emissions through carbon offsets, follows a sustainable procurement policy, and is working toward using 100% renewable electricity by 2025. The policies have been set-out to help the firm reach its global Science Based Target Initiative-verified plan of becoming net zero emissions by 2040.

Italy

Equipped with particular strength in renewable energy and green M&A, DLA Piper’s Italian team is sought out by a spread of corporate clients looking to transition to sustainable practices and make green investments. 

The group’s energy transition portfolio includes assisting Equitix European Infrastructure with its purchase of Enerfarm, owner of five biogas plants and a fertilizer production plant, in addition to acting for NECRI Holdings on its acquisition of OX Holding New Markets’s Apulian wind farm, which has an aggregate capacity of 27 MW. 

In an ongoing matter, the team is also advising Tapojarvy on the construction and operations phases of its recycling project in Italy, an innovative project which aims to manage and recycle the waste generated by AST’s steel manufacturing site in Terni.  

On a global scale, the firm dedicates itself to encouraging the green transition through its affiliation with the Climate Markets and Investments Assocation (CMIA), as well as through its co-founding of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL).

Since committing to the Legal Renewables Initiative in 2020, a pledge to source all electricity for all premises from 100% renewable sources by 2025, the firm is now also on the path to becoming net zero by 2040, hoping to cut its carbon emissions by 90%.

Its dedication to successfully making these changes is displayed through its participation in sustainability and ESG analytics such as EcoVadis and Impactvis, and, as a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, a group which aims to share sustainability practices in the legal sector, it is hoping to encourage other firms to do the same.

Portugal

In Portugal, DLA Piper is a key player in the renewables space with a particular emphasis on solar projects. The firm advises a client base of European energy, automotive and large corporate clients on the energy transition.

The group is currently advising Investec Bank and Kommunalkredit Austria on the financing arrangement of Solara4, a solar farm in Portugal with the capacity to generate electricity to power 200,000 homes, as well as handling the regulatory, contractual and corporate aspects of its Energi Innovation’s photovoltaic assets in Portugal. It is also providing advice to Statkraft Markets on its commercial activities within the Portuguese energy market. Backed by a wealth of experience advising on high-profile finance transactions within the energy sector, Nuno Azevedo Neves takes the lead on these matters.

The firm is also a member of several global initiatives that strive to encourage climate justice, such as the UN Global Compact, the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), the Climate Markets and Investments Assocation (CMIA), and the Legal Renewables Initiative. Through the latter, it has committed to using 100% renewable energy sources by 2025.

It also launched the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance and aims to become net zero by 2040. Its participation in sustainability and ESG analytics such as EcoVadis and Impactvis illustrates its commitment to achieving these goals.

Romania

With particular strength in the natural resources sector, DLA Piper Romania assists a client base comprised predominantly of international investors in all stages of the sale, purchase and development of national and European renewables assets, particularly those relating to solar and wind farms.

The firm’s green M&A work includes assisting PNE with the sale of 5 photovoltaic projects to TotalEnergies Renewables, as well as aiding Boaz Peled and Energy Assets Investment with the sale and development of the Braila 70 MW wind farm to OX2, projects which mark a significant step in Romania’s transition to a sustainable economy.

The firm’s work in connection with PPAs is also noteworthy. In a recent highlight, the group advised Engie Romania on a long-term PPA to offtake the power produced by 5 solar parks. Such contracts having been legalised in 2020 after an 8-year ban in Romania, this is one of the first of its kind in the country.

With expertise in handling energy trading, project financing and PPAs for the renewables sector, Paula Corban-Pelin is a key figure in the practice, serving as lead on the firm’s most complex energy matters. She also heads the Romanian pro bono team and is a frequent guest speaker in the industry.

Going beyond its workload to promote sustainability, the firm is also a member of the UN Global Compact (UNGC), Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA) and Legal Renewables Initiative, as well as a founding member of both the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL) and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA).

Globally, it is also on track to becoming net zero by 2024.

Spain

Drawing on a team of multidisciplinary specialists, DLA Piper Spain’s ESG offering spans the breadth of energy matters with the firm advising on PPAs, green hydrogen, energy efficiency, storage, renewables and EPC and O&M contracts for energy assets. In recent years, it has also seen an increase in the number and size of cross-border transactions it handles, namely in the sale, acquisition and financing of renewables projects.

Its green M&A portfolio includes advising TozziGreen on its joint venture with the Spanish developer Altec, which will see the development of several wind parks with a capacity of up to 150 MWp, in addition to assisting Shell with its acquisition of ten photovoltaic projects from Green Tie Capital, the UK company’s first investment in Spain.

The firm was also involved in supporting the receivables sale and purchase agreement between the European Energy Efficiency Fund and Acciona, which aims to improve the public energy efficiency and consumption of Gijón.

In line with its energy transition portfolio, the firm shows further dedication to achieving a sustainable future through its participation in the Legal Renewables Initiative, through which it has set the target of sourcing all electricity from certified, non-greenwashed 100% renewable sources across all offices by 2025. Additionally, the firm hopes to achieve a net zero status by 2040 by cutting carbon emissions by 90% and, as a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, aims to encourage firms to act similarly.

It is also proudly affiliated with the Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA) and the UN Global Compact, in addition to being a founding member of the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL).

United Arab Emirates

The UAE group at DLA Piper has deep expertise in project financing within the infrastructure and utilities spaces. Adam Haque, who is currently leading various water and green hydrogen projects, stands out for his wider contribution to the development of the region’s renewables space.

In an ongoing matter, the firm is assisting NEOM Green Hydrogen Company with the development of its green hydrogen and ammonia export project in Saudi Arabia, which will be one of the first industrial-scale projects of its kind. It is also acting for Hydrogen Oman in a public tender, which will see the development of several green hydrogen projects, drawing on Oman’s natural wind and solar resources and contributing to Oman’s goal of meeting its 1 MTPA production target of green hydrogen by 2030.

The group also recently advised the lenders supporting ACWA Consortium on the development and financing of the Red-Sea multi-utilities project in Saudi Arabia, which, thanks to its 240MW solar power capacity, 33,000m3 per day desalination scheme, and 1.3GWh battery storage facility, is expected to be able to remain off-grid day and night.

The firm is also taking responsibility for its own impact, pledging to source energy across its global offices from renewable sources, eventually aiming to become net zero by 2040. Through its recent launch of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance, it intends to inspire other firms to act similarly.

Worldwide, the firm is a signatory of several sustainability initiatives, including the UN Global Compact and the Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA), alongside recently founding its own: the Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL).

South Africa

In South Africa, DLA Piper specialises in energy transition work, handling a full scope of M&A, financing and restructuring mandates for banks, financial institutions and energy clients looking for assistance with managing their energy assets. Sustainable finance experts Jamie MacDonald and Pride Jani are both highly active in green energy projects Africa-wide. 

In Johannesburg, the team is currently advising Pele Green Energy concerning the refinancing and restructuring of a renewable energy project in the Western Cape, along with assisting NOA Group Holdings on the formation, structuring and financing of their renewable energy platform, which aims to provide net zero orientated solutions to commercial and industrial clients through wind and solar power. 

Also of note is the team’s green M&A work, which includes working with Dogstar Mauritius, a majority shareholder in renewable energy services provider Starsight Energy, on its merger with South African-based solar firm SolarAfrica Energy. United, the group will have the capacity to provide renewable services across Africa, which, in turn, plays a pivotal role in encouraging a transition to clean energy throughout the continent.  

The firm’s dedication to sustainability goes beyond its work portfolio: Since committing to the Legal Renewables Initiative, a pledge to source all electricity from green energy sources by 2025, it is now hoping to become net zero by 2040. It has also committed to measuring its internal practices through ESG analytics such as EcoVadis and Impactvis.

Its participation in the UNGC and Carbon Markets and Investors Association (CMIA), along with its launch of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance (NZLA) and Global Alliance of Impact Lawyers (GAIL), also serves as a testament to the firm’s dedication to the topic.

Luxembourg

DLA Piper’s Luxembourg office has considerable experience in advising a range of clients, including sponsors, fund managers and institutional investors, on all matters relating to sustainability-related funds.

The firm’s recent work portfolio includes assisting Campbell Global, a subsidiary of JPMorgan Asset Management Holdings, in structuring and establishing a fund that invests in forestry land, verified carbon reduction, sequestration or transformation units, and other climate-solving technologies.

Another client is EIG Global Energy Partners, a leading institutional investor in the global energy sector, for which the team is currently structuring and setting up EIG Energy Transition Fund II S.C.Sp., intended for investments in sustainable energy and related infrastructure projects.

Recognised for her expertise in zero-carbon investments and sustainable investment funds, Caroline Pimpaud regularly contributes to thought leadership by publishing a number of articles and papers, including on the topic of carbon reduction. Recently, she was also invited by the Luxembourg Fund Investment Association to speak about the zero-carbon transition and the EU Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.

The team also includes SFDR specialist Catherine Pogorzelski, who has written around this topic and regularly speaks about sustainable fund structuring and formation.

Internally, the firm published its second voluntary sustainability report in 2022 and continues to work towards the goal of becoming a Net Zero law firm by reducing carbon emissions by 90% in all three scopes by 2040. Externally, it is a signatory of the UN Global Compact, a member of the Legal Renewables Initiative, and a founding member of the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance.

Belgium

With demonstrable expertise advising local and international clients on regulatory and contractual matters, the Belgian office of DLA Piper makes a leading commitment to the development and operation of green and low-carbon projects across Europe.

In an ongoing mandate, renewable energy specialist Alec Van Vaerenbergh is advising the Directorate General and the Cabinet of the Federal Energy Minister on the legal framework for repowering existing offshore wind concessions in the Belgian North Sea. With the current concessions’ lifetime elapsing, the mandate supports the government’s plan to modify and merge the existing concession areas to rationalise wind production. Helping inform the political process through which the modified concessions will be retendered, the firm is advising on relevant renewable energy support legislation, public procurement contracts, and state aid issues.

For Flemish distribution system operator Fluvius, the team is assisting with the installation of a district heating network in Alost, sourcing residual heat from a sugar factory; the joint development of various large-scale district heating projects in northern Antwerp, taking waste heat from sewage; and negotiating long-term production, purchase, and grid connection agreements to create district heating networks from waste heat at Total’s Antwerp refineries. The firm’s ongoing advice for the client is vital in ensuring industrial byproducts help generate low-carbon heat.

An expert regarding the Greek clean energy market, Orestis Omran is acting for renewable energy investment company Euroenergy on the prospective €55m refinancing of eighteen wind and two solar plants in Greece, and three solar farms in Romania. Within the mandate, the firm performed a due diligence review, analysed the relevant regulatory regimes, and assessed prevailing financing conditions.

Varenbergh is a key contact in green thought leadership, having held a workshop for clients on the EU cross-border adjustment mechanism and having authored insights into green product-as-service agreements.

Netherlands

In the Netherlands, UN Global Compact member DLA Piper makes a leading contribution to the sustainability landscape, advising on impactful clean energy project financings and the development of accountable carbon marketplaces.

Renewables project financing expert Gerard Kneppers advised PowerField Netherlands on the €500m fundraising to finance the construction and development costs of clean energy solutions. Supporting the client in its plans to develop a platform which integrates solar, storage, and EV charging projects as an interconnected and sustainable service offering, the firm assisted with legal vendor due diligence, establishing the group structure, and in preparing transaction documents.

The firm is also acting as sponsor counsel to Corre Energy regarding its flagship Compressed Air Energy Storage projects, which convert renewable electricity into compressed air to be stored long-term in underground salt caverns. For the novel project, the team has advised on drafting and negotiating PPAs as well as all construction, land, operation and maintenance, grid, and supply agreements.

In an ongoing matter which helps ensure veracity and accountability among carbon-sequestering agroforestry projects, the firm is assisting Rabobank in building a global and transparent marketplace to create and trade voluntary carbon credits. A cross-practice team acted for the client in its first carbon-reduction unit trade with a major corporate counterparty, drafting the standard documentation, and providing regulatory advice on the status of the product.

The team regularly posts insights concerning diverse sustainability topics, including corporate emission reduction plans, clean energy soft law, and the interaction between COP28 and local decarbonisation issues.

As a signatory to the Business Ambition for 1.5°C, the firm set a science-based target to become net zero by 2040 and, as a member of the Legal Renewables Initiative, has pledged to source all electricity from renewable sources by 2025. It also seeks to divert 95% of its waste from landfill by 2025.

Notably, the firm assisted the Circular Economy Forum Austria, the country’s largest independent multi-stakeholder platform for the promotion of circular economy, in drafting an action plan proposed by the Austrian government and with the foundation of its own non-profit organisation.

The team is also assisting several clean and green tech start-ups such as neoom, which offers decentralised clean energy solutions, and carbonify, whose software handles the processing of greenhouse gas reduction quotas for electromobility and sells them to companies in the mineral oil industry.

As part of its commitment to sustainable and energy efficient urban development projects, the firm also advised Ascott International Management on a LEED-certified project for serviced residences meeting the highest sustainability standards as required by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB).

Banking and finance practice co-heads and sustainable finance experts Andreas Zahradnik and Christian Richter-Schöller actively contribute to thought leadership in the space with a guide on sustainability law and more recently sustainable financing. Richter-Schöller also co-leads the firm’s sustainability group and is a founder of the first national interdisciplinary ESG consultants network ESG Experts Austria.

Internally, the firm operates on 75% hydroelectric and 11% wind energy, and has implemented several environmentally friendly solutions, including a plastic-free and paperless office, and organic and zero-waste packaging fruit deliveries.

Of its energy portfolio, the group is advising Eqiom on the creation of a carbon capture storage site in France, which will be the first of its kind in France, in addition to advising RTE on its offshore and onshore grid connection infrastructure, which will connect the national grid to several offshore windfarms with the capacity of 2.5GW.

With expertise in the management of environmental impacts, the team is also advising FNAC Darty Participations on an environmental auditing matter. Uniquely, the teams’ lawyers are registered as auditors and are ISO17029 certified to perform audits in connection with the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD).

Patricia Savin heads the environment and sustainable development team, and as president of the sustainability organisation ORÉE, she brings with her deep knowledge of ESG developments, regularly speaking at environmental conferences and seminars.

Since becoming a member of the UN Global Compact in 2015, the firm also recently relaunched its ESG Taskforce, through which its sustainability goals will be set and measured. Thus far, it has significantly reduced its waste production and energy and carbon consumption through implementing various measures including recycling programmes and providing EV charging stations and bike storage areas.

Not only was the firm’s office building renovated to meet Haute Qualité Environnementale standards back in 2014, but it also boasts Bâtiment Basse Consommation and Effinergie certifications.

In the renewables space, the team advises Umweltbundesamt, the Austrian Environment Agency, on a number of procurement issues for the EU4Green project, which supports the implementation of the Green Agenda for the Western Balkans. For the same client, the firm also recently handled several procurement procedures related to the EU Water Initiative Plus for the Eastern Partnership programme, which aims to improve the management and quality of water resources.

In another notable matter, the team advised French investment fund Eiffel Gaz Vert on its investment in BIOQUADRAT Energie- und Wassertechnik, an international producer of biomethane and biogas plants based in Austria.

In the field of public transport, the firm is currently assisting Wiener Linien, Vienna’s public transport operator, in several tendering procedures for the extension of the public transport network in Vienna, which aims to reduce private traffic in the city and, consequently, CO2 emissions in the Austrian capital.

The Austrian team includes Christoph Leitgeb, who has extensive experience in investments in green energy projects and environmentally innovative technological solutions for home energy and zero-emission electric vehicles, and transaction expert Wilfried Seist, who routinely advises on ESG/green elements of real estate transactions.