Dutch business law firm HVG Law LLP has a core ESG team to assist corporate clients with their environmental sustainability strategies, with particular expertise advising on investments and transactions in innovative green technologies. 

Within the renewable energy sector, a key client is offshore developer SolarDuck. The firm provided regulatory and contractual advice in the client’s provision of its floating solar technology as part of energy company RWE’s bid for the offshore wind farm Hollandse Kust West. 

Key individual Bart Wolters, who handles corporate matters within the firm’s ESG team, advised insect-based ingredient manufacturer Protix with a €50m funding round in equity. The funding supports the client’s expansion as it works to create a circular food system with a low ecological footprint. 

Another client is renewable energy-focused investment and asset manager Taaleri, whom the firm advised in its investment into ecological packaging company Colombier. The investment was the first made by the client’s bioindustry fund, which is compliant with Article 9 of the EU SFDR and will invest in facilities and companies toward accelerating bioindustry production. 

Also within the green innovations space, the firm advised Ioniqa Technologies, which have developed a process to infinitely recycle low-grade PET waste and consequentially replace oil-based raw materials in PET polyester production, on the investment offered by Koch Technology Solutions to scale-up the development of the innovative process.

Pro bono assistance and internal initiatives are a firm part of the team’s commitment to add value to society. As a founding member of Pro Bono Connect, the firm has extended free legal advice to NGOs including Greenpeace International. As a member of EY’s Law Network, the firm also participated in the ‘Ripples’ programme, which partnered it with climate-action initiative Life Terra to plant trees across the Netherlands.