DLA Piper was an early signatory of the UN Global Compact having participated since 2013 and is an early adopter of the initiative’s enhanced reporting requirements. Ahead of COP26, the firm was appointed as official provider of legal services to the conference by the UK Government; global head of sustainability and resilience Jean-Pierre Douglas-Henry led the firm’s involvement at the summit in November 2021.

Co-chair of the energy and natural resources practice and international head of ESG, Natasha Luther Jones, has been involved in several major green deals in the UK, including assisting Elgin Energy on the country’s largest PV solar transaction to date. Luther Jones’ team has also worked on the decarbonisation of the fashion industry by supporting H&M on two significant partnerships with global solar energy companies.

Energy expert Andreas Gunst has also handled major renewables projects, such as advising BASF on financing for the Hollandse Kust Zuid offshore wind farm. Once operational, this will be the largest offshore wind farm in the world. Another highlight for Gunst was his advice to the National Grid on its joint venture with BP, Shell, Equinor, and Total for The Teeside Carbon Capture Use and Storage Project; the project is one of the first of its kind on the UK.