The environmental and climate law group at A&O Shearman brings together a diversity of expertise across the sustainability landscape, acting for major sovereigns, corporates, energy and industrial companies, financial institutions, and civil society organisations on forward-thinking mandates. Noted for his ‘timely and valuable advice’, Matthew Townsend heads the practice. Bringing longstanding regulatory expertise, Townsend acts for corporate, industrial, and financial sector clients in navigating CSRD strategy and reporting, mitigating green claims issues, and advising on supply chain human rights and deforestation risks. Danae Wheeler is an expert on corporate and financial ESG advisory and reporting, while Ming Zee Tee specialises in navigating carbon and climate risks and projects.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Matt Townsend offers longstanding experience and is highly commercial and user friendly.’
‘The team is very practical and cuts through a lot of complexity to provide needed opinions.’
‘Matthew Townsend provides timely and valuable advice to help us do business compliantly and ethically.’
Key clients
- Republic of Djibouti
- Xlinks
- The UK’s Transition Finance Market Review
- Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company
- AESC EV
- Maersk McKinney Moller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
- Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)
- Associated British Foods and its subsidiary British Sugar plc
- OFI
Work highlights
Advised the Republic of Djibouti on its strategy for engagement with the International Court of Justice concerning the obligations of States in respect of climate change.
Contributed to a report commissioned by the Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on the legal implications of the implementation of Japan’s emissions trading scheme.
Acted as legal advisor to the secretariat of the Transition Finance Market Review, which was commissioned by the government to make recommendations on creating an enabling regulatory environment and the key tools to unlock transition finance economy-wide.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Danae Wheeler
Practice head
Matthew Townsend
Other key lawyers
Danae Wheeler; Ming Zee Tee