A key member of BAHR’s energy and climate change team, Per Aksel Hammer Krog focuses his practice on the green transition and renewable energy sector. Counting major domestic energy transition players among his clients, Hammer Krog is an expect across transactions, corporate structuring, and project development matters in the renewables and green fuels spaces.
For key client HitecVision, Hammer Krog advised on the establishment of the 1Vision Biogas joint venture with major fuel retailer St1 and in the development of its new biogas projects. The mandate is instrumental in supporting the growth of the nascent biogas market, augmenting the production and adoption of renewable fuels. Further major clients include major offshore wind development consortium Ventyr and green energy company Fortescue Future Industries.
A notable speaker across the sustainability landscape, Hammer Krog regularly participates in key committees which help advance industry expertise and develop the regulatory framework surrounding offshore wind. As part of this engagement, Hammer Krog supports Renewables Norway’s sub-committees on the offshore wind space and is a member of Statnett’s committee on the development of the North Sea offshore grid.
Coordinating the ESG and corporate sustainability services at Castrén & Snellman, Anna Kuusniemi-Laine is a highly sought-after advisor among major domestic clients on the integration of ESG objectives and obligations into corporate operations, policies, and agreements.
A key client is forestry and environmental technology company A. Ahlström, whom Kuusniemi-Laine assisted in establishing a corporate sustainability due diligence process plan. Helping the client navigate the ESG regulatory landscape, Kuusniemi-Laine led the team in preparing effective sustainability best practices and solutions and delivered tailored training for investment teams, management teams, and the board of directors at the client and its portfolio companies.
Alongside holding regular training programmes, seminars, and lectures for clients, Kuusniemi-Laine makes an important thought leadership contribution through authoring incisive articles, including co-authoring an article on the implications of the CSDDD for the Helsinki Law Review.
A key contact in Borenius’ energy and infrastructure team, Hanna Lehtinen provides focused advice on sustainability regulatory matters and the development of green industrial and power assets. As a trusted advisor to leading domestic and global clients, Lehtinen regularly advises on the development and licensing of green energy projects.
Possessing in-house experience from the forestry sector, Lehtinen brings core knowledge of the development of green fuel and sustainability-focused projects as well as the implementation of EU sustainability regulation, including the EUDR, CSRD, and Taxonomy framework.
Lehtinen regularly shares sustainability knowledge and best practice within the legal community, serving as a member of the board of the Finnish Corporate Sustainability Law Association. As a key figure within the firm’s thought leadership output, Lehtinen regularly co-authors insights and legal alerts on topics including energy transition investment permitting and sustainability regulation.
At Linklaters, Asia ESG steering committee member and structured finance and derivatives team member Karen Lan is a leading authority on green and sustainable structured finance transactions. Supporting key industry players in understanding how to most effectively create value through emerging green finance opportunities, she regularly provides clients across Greater China with training on topics including sustainability-linked derivatives and carbon trading.
Helping leverage the experience gained in client work, Lam is a member of the Financial Services Development Council’s carbon market working group, which advises the Hong Kong SAR government on best practices in the carbon trading space.
Demonstrating her key voice in the business community, she is also a member of the International Swaps and Derivatives Association, International Emissions Trading Association, and Asia Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association working groups on sustainable finance and the carbon markets.
Having formed Sustainable Law in 2021 in order to provide sustainability-conscious legal advice for green projects and clients, Merete Larsen is a pathfinder in the emphasis on sustainable development within real estate project development and transactions.
In the urban development space, key clients include Carlsberg Byen, whom Larsen advises regarding the development of its new sustainable and nature-focused urban district, and leading property company Balder Denmark, whom Larsen is advising on the project development of its green and energy-efficient Torveporten district. Other major clients include A.P. Møller – Mærsk and the Technical University of Denmark, whom Larsen represents in major asset development mandates.
Larsen places a key emphasis on advancing sustainability discourse within the legal sector, regularly participating in the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in New York. Larsen is also cooperating with the Centre for Law, Sustainability and Justice at the University of Southern Denmark, which will focus on research and development to support the legal profession in meeting future business challenges. Through the centre, Larsen has helped share knowledge regarding the emerging importance of sustainability due diligence within transactions.
Valerie Lawlor, head of McCann FitzGerald LLP’s energy and natural resources group, boasts a leading practice in the renewables sector. With extensive experience advising on clean energy and sustainability projects, Lawlor works with project acquirers and developers, as well as regulators like the Commission for Regulation of Utilities.
Lawlor’s work supports the development of renewable energy projects and helps navigate the regulatory and financial challenges arise. Recently, Lawlor assisted the Electricity Supply Board on its landmark agreement with Ørsted to jointly develop an up-to-5 GW offshore wind portfolio.
In the lead-up to COP26, Lawlor led an ESG seminar series for clients, focusing on how Ireland can achieve its climate targets. She also participates in pro bono activities, including supporting Home Tree, an organisation dedicated to establishing and conserving permanent native woodlands in Ireland. Furthermore, Lawlor is an active member of the Energy Committee of the British Irish Chamber of Commerce, where she engages in policy discussions related to energy.
Wynne Lawrence founded Clyde & Co’s climate risk and resilience practice group and coordinates the team’s advice on emerging sustainability risks and corporate ESG requirements. As a longstanding insurance and reinsurance disputes specialist, she is a key advisor to insurers on climate liability risk exposures and leads the firm’s bespoke seminars and workshops, which are aligned with the Bank of England’s Climate Biennial Exploratory Scenario, for clients across the insurance, transport, and resource sectors.
Lawrence plays a key role within the firm’s external sustainability engagement, supporting its involvement with the Net Zero Lawyers’ Alliance and authoring the firm’s series of reports into climate change and biodiversity liability risks.
Reflecting her reputation as a thought leader on the insurance industry’s engagement with climate challenges, Lawrence sits on the International Underwriting Association’s Climate Change and ESG committees.
King & Wood Mallesons’ Singapore founding partner Michael Lawson brings a wealth of experience in the green transition, with a long track-record advising clients on their landmark wind, solar, battery, waste-to-energy, and carbon project developments. He leads the office’s regional engagements with major clients including offshore energy group BW, renewables investment manager SUSI Partners, and carbon marketplace Climate Impact X.
Lawson is a true thought leader across a diversity of green transition trends, offering insights into topics including EV battery supply chains, carbon market regulation, and the key regional political and economic commitments which are driving the decarbonisation of energy systems, transport, land use, and the built environment.
Demonstrating his leading reputation among major industry bodies on climate action, Lawson hosted the firm’s workshop alongside the Carbon Market Institute which explored how market participants can mobilise investor appetite and existing finance to build confidence in the carbon markets.
With over 25 years of experience, Carine Le Roy-Gleizes at UGGC Avocats is a recognised expert in ecological and energy transition matters. She regularly assists companies in navigating regulatory developments and developing legal solutions to support their transition towards sustainable activities.
In an ongoing matter, Le Roy-Gleizes is advising a major client on the transformation of its fossil fuel exploitation and distribution operations into renewable energy-related projects. Additionally, she frequently assists clients with the development of renewable energy initiatives, particularly in the offshore wind and photovoltaic sectors.
Notably, Le Roy-Gleizes participates in discussions led by the Ministry of the Environment regarding the evolution of environmental regulations. She is also a regular attendee at the Intersol Congress, a scientific event focused on sustainable soil management, and a member of the Club des Avocats Environnementalistes, an organisation dedicated to promoting awareness of environmental and climate issues through the law.
Sharon Lewis established Hogan Lovells (Paris) LLP’s sustainable finance and investment practice and has been pivotal in shaping the firm’s client-facing ESG offering. Lewis is particularly recognised for her expertise regarding landmark green bond issuances.
Keeping up with regulatory developments, Lewis regularly publishes insightful articles on key legislative initiatives, including ESG disclosure, sustainability reporting requirements, and green compliance challenges. Further demonstrating her thought leadership, she organises and actively participates in ESG-focused events, such as a recent discussion on leveraging ESG for business transformations.
Externally, Lewis is a committed advocate for sustainable business practices. She is an active member of the Positive Transformation Club, a network run by Sparknews which unites purpose-driven leaders working to reconcile social and environmental impact with business growth.
Energy expert Hugo Lidbetter serves as head of sustainable infrastructure at Osborne Clarke, providing key expertise for domestic and international clients on legal and policy issues surrounding the decarbonisation of the energy sector. Lidbetter’s particular expertise is in development, construction, and operation mandates concerning electricity delivery projects and renewable and zero-carbon power generation.
As a key voice in the firm’s thought leadership offering, Lidbetter has co-authored insights into topics including barriers surrounding the UK grid connection process, the impact of the Contracts for Difference regime on the offshore wind sector, and the implications of UK political changes on the attainment of net zero carbon emissions.
Helping further boost sustainability discourse, Lidbetter wrote a LinkedIn Pulse news article on the potential impact of the Great British Energy policy in delivering additional renewable energy and making an effective contribution to the country’s decarbonisation targets.
From Singapore, Morrison Foerster’s Per Lindberg acts on landmark and market-leading sustainable energy and infrastructure projects. He is a leading advisor to investors on energy transition transactions, regularly acting on pathfinding mandates which enable the development of wind, solar, storage, e-methanol and renewable gas projects across Asian and global emerging economies.
Linberg brings vital expertise at the cutting-edge of energy transition technologies and is currently advising on transactions concerning renewable energy certificates, carbon capture and sequestration projects, and conservation and carbon sink financing. As a thought leader in this space, he led a webinar into how the voluntary carbon credit market can support the corporate path to carbon neutrality, speaking alongside industry experts from environmental nonprofit The Nature Conservancy, carbon standards body Verra, and natural investment manager New Forests.
Supporting its regional thought leadership offering, Lindberg contributed to the firm’s Asia Funds ESG Survey, which explored investors’ continued determination to support portfolio companies in creating green value. Elsewhere, he shared insights on how the extra-territorial impact of sustainability regulation is a key driver for green change among portfolio companies.
Heading the sustainable business group at Advokatfirman Lindahl KB, environmental law expert Johanna Lindqvist makes a leading commitment to green and sustainable mandates across industry sectors. An expert in environmental permitting, due diligence, and remediation, Lindqvist regularly advises on sustainable development, conscious land and water use, and green regulation. A key client is municipal utility Uddevalla Energi, whom Lindqvist advises on CSRD reporting responsibilities, regulatory scope, and impact measurement.
As part of the firm’s contribution to the University of Oxford’s Climate Policy Monitor, Lindqvist assisted in mapping and reporting on Swedish climate-related disclosure, transition planning, and public procurement obligations. Lindqvist regularly engages with leading sustainability ventures, engaging with the American Bar Association’s responsible contracting project and serving as a member of the Network for Sustainable Business.
Lindqvist is a notable thought leader on sustainability topics, regularly authoring articles for Blendow Lexnova on topics including environmental assessments, water use, and sustainability due diligence. Highly sought-after for her sustainability regulatory expertise, Lindqvist sat on the expert panel on corporate sustainability reporting at the Association of Human Rights Institute’s 2024 conference.
With over 30 years’ experience, global head of Ropes & Gray LLP’s ESG, CSR and Business and Human Rights Practice, Michael Littenberg, is a recognized leader in sustainability, ESG, and corporate social responsibility matters. He advises public and private companies, investment firms, and nonprofits on developing and implementing ESG strategies, managing disclosures, and navigating regulatory requirements.
Beyond his legal practice, Littenberg actively contributes to shaping the broader ESG landscape through his involvement in industry groups and thought leadership. He has been actively involved in the development of climate disclosure legislation in several jurisdictions. As an advisor to the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and other key ESG initiatives, he has helped to set standards and best practices in corporate sustainability reporting.
Littenberg also frequently speaks at conferences, and is a prolific author and commentator on emerging ESG issues and sustainability-related regulations.
Heading the capital markets team at Horten, Lise Lotte Hjerrild is a key contact on sustainability-focused matters across M&A, corporate matters, and ESG compliance. Hjerrild regularly acts for sustainability-conscious companies on impactful deals within the space, including advising impact investor Convent Capital on its investment into sustainable agtech player FarmDroid.
In a further landmark deal, Hjerrild advised responsible infrastructure investment fund Infranode on its inaugural investment in the biogas market, acquiring 49% of the Thorsø and Foersom biogas plants from developer Renegas. The deal supports the operation and future expansion of the projects, which serve as an important example of privately funded and operated biogas assets.
Alongside helping direct the firm’s internal decarbonisation agenda, Hjerrild is a key voice within its Discover ESG webinar series and spoke at its event on integrating ESG within corporate strategy. Hjerrild also actively speaks within the legal and business communities, including at Relevent’s Sustainability in Boards and Executive Management conference and at International Bar Association panels on how institutional investors can drive ESG matters and on how to deal with ESG within private M&A deals.
Pairing investment funds expertise with an acute knowledge of sustainability best practice and regulatory requirements, Victor Louvet at Linklaters is a key partner to major global funds and investors on the structuring and establishment of impact and ESG funds.
A key client is sustainable development impact investment fund responAbility Investments, whom Louvet assisted in the establishment and fundraising of its article 9 SFDR climate fund. The $500m fund will support companies across Asia engaged in climate finance and the delivery of clean energy and environmental services.
In the renewable energy space, Louvet is acting for Aquila Capital regarding the set-up of its AC One Planet ELTIF, which will target investments in renewable energy and infrastructure assets. Within the mandate, Louvet assisted in navigating legal and regulatory requirements while meeting the SFDR disclosures applicable for an article 9 fund.
A notable thought leader in the sustainability and responsible investment space, Louvet regularly engages with industry association LuxFLAG, speaking at its annual Sustainable Investment Week and partnering with the organisation to co-host seminars on sustainable investment regulation.
Renewable energy expert Natasha Luther-Jones is international head of sustainability and ESG at DLA Piper has over 20 years’ experience in assisting domestic and international clients on transactional, development, construction, and operational mandates concerning energy transition projects.
Luther-Jones played a leading role in developing the firm’s international corporate PPA practice, which assists major companies such as H&M in procuring virtual and physical green power to underpin their sustainability objectives. Leveraging this experience, she led on the firm’s own cPPA with NextEnergy, which serves as a key and landmark pillar for its internal decarbonisation journey.
Elsewhere, Luther-Jones plays a key role within the firm’s green energy thought leadership offering, leading its global renewable energy and corporate PPA global guides while also hosting its climate transition podcast.
Attesting to her market-leading reputation on renewable power transactions, Luther-Jones spoke in 2024 on a panel at Solar Finance & investment Europe on realising the potential of the European PPA market, at the Women Powering Smart Energy forum on innovation in PPAs, and on a panel at client Nord/LB’s European Energy seminar on offtake optimisation.
At Morrison & Foerster, Susan Mac Cormac is a prominent figure in sustainability and impact investing, and co-chairs the ESG + Sustainability and Social Enterprise + Impact Investing practices. She advises companies and investors on ESG matters, corporate governance, and innovative financing structures for clean technology and renewable energy projects. Her pioneering work includes advising on the creation of the Sustainability Principles Objectives (SPO) Framework, a first-of-its-kind ESG framework, in partnership with eco-friendly sneakers maker Allbirds.
Beyond her legal work, Mac Cormac is actively engaged in shaping the sustainability landscape. She serves on the boards of the Ceres President’s Council and the Stanford Global Projects Center, contributing her expertise to drive sustainable business initiatives. She also shares her knowledge through teaching engagements at institutions like UC Berkeley and Stanford.
A recognized thought leader, Mac Cormac frequently speaks and publishes on ESG, impact investing, and corporate responsibility. Her insights are featured in both legal updates and major media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg Law.
As sustainability champion at Mewburn Ellis, leading patent attorney Eleanor Maciver makes a marked contribution to the firm’s green transition journey, leading its environmental strategy and coordinating staff activity within its sustainability collaboration group. She is a thought leader on best practices surrounding law firms’ decarbonisation journeys, having written insights for the Legal Sustainability Alliance on the internal measures which best enable the delivery of its sustainability ambitions.
In her legal practice, Maciver supports emerging technology players in building their green products, specialising in how IP can be leveraged in the sustainable chemical and material inventions space to help create and scale-up sustainable polymers, nature-based materials, plant-based foods, battery materials, sustainable refrigerants, and carbon capture and storage.
As part of this expertise, Maciver coordinated the firm’s 2023 Green Channel report, which explored key trends and takeaways from the UK’s green IP pathways. As a thought leader in the cleantech and IP spaces, she has authored insights into topics including the European Patent Office’s cleantech commercialisation and financing report and delivered a green IP masterclass for the Royal Society of Chemistry.
Diederik Maessen at Van Doorne is a key contact on M&A, project, and contracting work concerning transition assets. As a sought-after advisor to leading domestic and multi-national energy companies, Maessen is regularly entrusted to advise on significant and high-value hydrogen, renewable energy, and carbon capture and storage projects.
A key client is energy network operator Gasunie, whom Maessen is assisting in building a national network to transport hydrogen. Having provided long-term advice on the development of the landmark project, Maessen is currently assisting in drafting the commercial agreements regarding the hydrogen transport.
Maessen is also assisting the project consortium in the development of the landmark CO2 next liquid carbon dioxide import terminal, which will receive CO2 from the Porthos CCS project and permanently store it offshore.
Maessen is a notable thought leader within industry discussions, having co-hosted the Dutch Association of Legal Counsels’ roundtable on ESG and sustainability and having chaired the Dutch Energy Transition Forums roundtable on heat developments. Alongside the Dutch Association for Sustainable Energy, Maessen hosted a webinar on the impact of CO2-reduction legislation for market parties.
