Our specialist carbon team in London has been at the forefront of the carbon markets for nearly 20 years decades (from advising on the first CDM transactions through to helping clients to shape the blended compliance / voluntary carbon markets of today). We work closely with our clients to help them integrate emissions costs and constraints into their operating strategy and decision-making processes. We also support clients who trade in the voluntary markets or through regulated trading schemes, and we also advise on the acquisition or disposals of trading businesses. Our experience includes working on industrial and programmatic emission reduction programs as well as forestry and agriculture related projects.

Navigating the intricate and constantly evolving landscape of environmental regulations for businesses can be challenging. We have a wide ranging regulatory practice that can provide targeted regulatory advice on topics such as biodiversity/conservation, deforestation-free regulation, chemical regulation, nuclear, and the disposal and transfrontier shipment of waste. We are also able to support you in engagements with regulators in relation to specific environmental regulatory issues.

Regulatory imperatives and the enforcement of existing environmental requirements are important not only in relation to operational compliance, but also for project development. Project developers need to pay close attention from the outset to ensure that their permitting procedures are sufficiently robust to manage exposure to future third party challenges and associated risks. Operators will want to maintain good relationships with regulators and other stakeholders to optimise their flexibility in planning in any required upgrades. Our team provides strategic legal advice to help you meet these challenges in a timely and cost effective manner. We cooperate closely with technical environmental experts and relevant regulatory authorities.

We work hand in hand with our corporate team to provide specialist environment, health and safety (EHS) input throughout the lifecycle of a transaction. This includes EHS legal due diligence (on which we work closely with EHS consultants); negotiations on the contractual allocation of EHS liabilities through warranty packages and indemnities; and advising on post-completion action plans (where required).

Our advisory practice additionally focuses on complex regulatory analysis, and our team has experience of advising on major safety related incidents as part of our crisis practice. We also advise on the growing trend to impose parent level liability under tort laws or under regulatory duties of vigilance including in respect of supply chain issues.

The growing focus on circular economy has led to continued regulatory developments in the areas of waste management, recyclability, packaging, and batteries, among others.

We provide tailored guidance on these highly complex topics and have experience supporting clients under investigation from their regulators, and in defending prosecutions and/or developing mitigation strategies.