Offering deep expertise on the structuring, establishment, and operation of investment funds, Martin Mager at Linklaters is highly knowledgeable on a diversity of matters across green energy and impact investments.
For HSBC Asset Management, Mager assisted in the fundraising of its Impact Basked I fund-of-funds and in the establishment of its Impact Basket II fund. The article 9 SFDR-aligned funds will allow institutional investors to support the growth of green private equity, infrastructure, and impact assets.
A key client is impact fund BlueEarth Climate Growth Fund, which pursues equity investments in growth-stage climate-focused companies. Mager provided legal, tax, and ESG advice on the structuring, set-up, and fundraising of the article 9 fund, which will invest in companies helping promote the net zero transition, climate resilience, and circular economy across North America and Europe.
Helping lead the conversation regarding Luxembourg’s green legal landscape, Mager is an active member of the climate measurement and reporting working group at the Luxembourg Sustainable Finance Initiative and a recognised thought leader on topics including the regulatory guidelines of using ESG- and sustainability-related terms within funds’ names.
At Seyfarth Shaw LLP, Ameena Y. Majid was appointed as the firm’s first impact & sustainability partner, and founded and co-chairs the firm’s impact & ESG group. Bringing her track record in employee benefits and executive compensation, she advises companies on integrating sustainable practices into their business operations, focusing on human rights, environmental impacts, and governance issues. Her practice includes assisting clients with ESG risk assessments, compliance with global standards, and navigating evolving regulations to enhance their sustainability performance.
Majid is also a driving force for internal change, committed to advancing the integration of sustainable practices within the firm’s operations, and wider community engagement. She serves on multiple advisory boards and committees, where she helps shape industry standards and best practices in sustainability, including her board membership at Able Made, a public benefit corporation and sustainable fashion brand.
Actively involved in advancing the ESG agenda through thought leadership, education, and advocacy, Majid regularly speaks at conferences, in webinars, and podcasts, and contributes to publications on navigating the ESG landscape and other sustainability related topics.
Head of ESG and sustainability, Leah Malone at Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP advises clients on navigating complex ESG regulatory requirements and integrating sustainability principles into their business strategies, particularly in the context of mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, and corporate governance. Her clients include prominent names such as Blackrock, Mars, Cisco, and Apollo Global Management.
Malone’s thought leadership on these subjects is evident in her media interviews with Bloomberg Law, Reuters, Wall Street Journal, InvestmentNews, Politico and others. She regularly shares her expertise in webinars, and has been a speaker and moderator at conferences including the National Association for Corporate Directors’ Summit, the Society for Corporate Governance’s National Conference, Stanford’s Directors’ College, and Corporate Board Member’s Annual Boardroom Summit. Her recent contributions to publications include an article published by the Harvard Law School Forum detailing recent key decisions shaping the ESG landscape, a Thomson Reuters Westlaw article on SEC Final Climate Disclosure Rules, and commentary on the CSDDD published in Law360.
Sustainability, ESG, and corporate law expert Hanna-Mari Manninen heads the strategic advisory team at Dittmar & Indrenius, bringing an acute focus on the on the integration of green solutions within corporate strategy. Within this work, Manninen leads the team in helping clients across various industry sectors understand the intersection of sustainability with national and EU law and regulation.
Placing a key emphasis on EU ESG regulations – including the CSRD, CSDDD, SFDR, and green claims suite – Manninen helps major clients develop compliance frameworks, understand material risks, and align their operations with regulatory best practice. In this sphere, Manninen helped train the Chemical Industry Federaiton of Finland on sustainability law and regulation, value creation, and green business opportunities.
Helping foster the next generation of sustainability leadership, Manninen regularly partners with the University of Helsinki on pressing green matters, including hosting a course on environmental responsibility issues within ESG. Manninen is also a board member at the university student union’s sustainability-focused real estate asset management body, which is seeking to promote a community-owned and sustainability-focused science and finance sector within Helsinki.
Xavier Marchand at UGGC Avocats is an expert in the renewable energy sector, regularly advising clients on the structuring and implementation of complex projects across the biogas, hydrogen, and onshore wind industries. Marchand is also highly regarded for his expertise in carbon compensation, with a particular focus on the European Union’s Emissions Trading System. Beyond his work regarding the energy transition, Marchand is actively involved in circular economy initiatives, particularly in the field of waste recovery.
Internally, Marchand plays a key role within the firm’s green team, contributing extensively to its sustainability strategy. Externally, he serves as vice-president of Biogaz Vallée, an innovative network dedicated to fostering the development of the biogas industry in France. Marchand is also a frequent participant in sustainability-focused conferences, including Neutrality, a national forum addressing voluntary contributions to carbon neutrality.
A sustainability ambassador at HFW, Jason Marett specialises in sustainable finance matters. Possessing deep experience in the space, Marett has advised UN-backed funds on major sustainable finance programmes and provides counsel to major commodity clients on a range of issues, including EU Deforestation Regulation obligations.
Beyond client work, Marett delivered the firm’s global training module on sustainable finance and has taught the sustainable finance module for the LLM course at Fribourg University since 2021. A prominent thought leader, Marett regularly publishes on sustainable finance topics, particularly in relation to greenwashing risks, the sustainability-linked lending market, and Swiss sustainability regulations.
José María de Paz leads Pérez-Llorca’s ESG advisory practice and has a deep understanding of the impact of current legal frameworks on climate change management, sustainable finance, and the energy transition. De Paz regularly advises major clients on sustainable strategies and compliance frameworks, offering legal counsel on the application of ESG criteria with a focus on both preventive and corrective measures to support sustainable business operations.
Notably, de Paz coordinated the firm’s publication on Legal Studies on Sustainability, Climate Change, and ESG Criteria in Spain and the EU, which serves as a seminal work in the Spanish market. De Paz has also authored pieces including a legal briefing on the European Court of Human Rights’ approach to climate change litigation and an article discussing the effects of climate change on corporate governance regimes impacting Spanish companies.
João Marques Mendes heads PLMJ’s energy and natural resources team and specialises in renewable energy mandates, advising clients on complex regulatory matters and in the development and operation of renewable energy projects and infrastructure. Additionally, Mendes plays a key role in assisting clients with the transition to more sustainable operations, including advising Galp on the decarbonisation of the Sines refinery, one of the largest refineries in the Iberian peninsula.
Dedicated to keeping clients up-to-date with recent developments, Mendes co-organised a client conference on the voluntary carbon market and held presentations on climate change, climate litigation, and wider environmental issues.
Externally, Mendes is a member of the Environment and Energy Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce, where he collaborates with other experts to develop policies in environmental and energy law. Additionally, he is the co-coordinator of the postgraduate course in energy law, organised by the law faculty of the Universidade de Lisboa.
A banking and finance specialist, Vanessa Marquette at Loyens & Loeff brings a notable specialism in transactional and regulatory finance matters, focusing her practice on sustainable finance and capital markets landscapes.
Counting leading corporates and financial institutions among her clients, Marquette is an expert on EU regulation and their application to ESG-related financial products, assisting across green finance conditions and sustainable finance disclosures. In the corporate space, Marquette is an expert on directors’ duties, the applicability of ESG requirements, and the scope of emerging sustainability regulation. Marquette is also highly sought-after by impact-focused funds, regularly serving as ESG counsel within this space.
Alongside insights into topics including the green bonds landscape and EU sustainability regulation, Marquette brings a key thought leadership offering within the insurance and risk industries. Marquette spoke on the financial sector’s response to biodiversity loss at the RiskMinds International conference, co-authored an academic article on how eco-labels and green bonds can help green the insurance industry, and is a member of the ESG committee of reinsurance company SCOR.
Laurence Martinez-Bellet, a partner at Watson Farley & Williams LLP, is recognised for her broad expertise in project and asset finance matters within the energy and infrastructure sectors, with a particular focus on the maritime industry. She is frequently involved in pioneering transactions, including advising on the structuring and financing of one of France’s first floating offshore wind farms.
In the offshore space, Martinez-Bellet is an active member of the French Maritime Law Association and the Floating Offshore Wind Committee. Martinez-Bellet also participates in the energy industry organisations Syndicat des Énergies Renouvelables, France Renouvelables, France Hydrogène, and the Franco-German Office for Energy Transition.
José Eduardo Martins at Abreu Advogados brings particular knowhow on the energy transition and ESG. With longstanding expertise across climate change and ESG matters, Martins advises national and international clients on their climate-related projects, specialising in crafting tailored decarbonisation strategies and legal frameworks.
Standing out for his contribution to the development of climate-related legal frameworks in developing countries, Martins acts as general counsel in the elaboration of the Roadmap for Carbon Sustainability in São Tomé and Principe.
A recognised thought leader on sustainability matters, Martins recently participated on conferences and webinars on topics ranging from the voluntary carbon market in Portugal to sustainability governance. Since 2021, Martins has chaired the Environment and Energy Committee of the International Chamber of Commerce Portugal.
Sinéad Martyn at McCann FitzGerald LLP is renowned for her expertise in planning and environmental law. She assists clients in navigating the complex consent framework for key infrastructure projects, particularly those supporting Ireland’s climate goals, such as large renewable energy projects and green housing developments. Martyn is also highly skilled in managing environmental risks and ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
Internally, Martyn is a member of the firm’s climate committee. Externally, Martyn chairs the Irish Environmental Law Association and has been a key advocate for the Women in Solar Energy network. Additionally, Martyn frequently lectures on environmental impact assessments and habitat protection, sharing her knowledge to help shape the future of environmental law.
Araceli Massa Soler is a key member of Deloitte Legal’s sustainability team, leveraging her academic background to advise clients on a wide range of sustainability matters. Massa Soler frequently supports clients in the financial services sector on compliance with sustainable finance regulations and assists in drafting sustainable finance plans and reviewing and assessing ESG policies.
Internally, Massa Soler plays a central role in the firm’s sustainability team, which delivers cross-functional services aligned with evolving ESG regulations. Externally, she lectures on sustainable finance as part of the insurance sector professionals’ course organised by ICEA and regularly speaks at conferences and panel sessions on sustainability regulation and ESG considerations in M&A transactions.
Massa Soler also regularly contributes to thought leadership in the green transition space, including authoring an article for El Economista on advancing a sustainable economy through non-financial disclosure regimes.
A highly respected environmental and health and safety lawyer, Caroline May serves as chair of Norton Rose Fulbright’s environment, planning, and health and safety practice across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. With over 30 years of experience, she has become a recognised leader in her field, offering specialised expertise in sustainability and ESG corporate reporting. Appointed as Norton Rose Fulbright’s first sustainability partner, May plays a key role in shaping the firm’s global sustainability strategy, helping businesses navigate complex ESG regulations including the CSRD, ISSB standards, and the EU Deforestation Regulation.
A prominent sustainability thought leader, May holds several influential roles: She chairs the Law Society of England & Wales’ Climate Change Working Group, is a director of leading sustainability NGO Aldersgate Group, and co-chairs the Legal Sustainability Alliance. Additionally, she chairs the firm’s sustainability committee for EMEA, guiding its internal initiatives towards net zero.
May regularly presents at major events, including the ESG and Sustainability Reporting Summit in Berlin and the World ESG Summit, and contributes to environmental initiatives such as The Language of Green Demystified, which simplifies ESG concepts for legal professionals.
An expert advisor to energy companies, developers, and municipalities across energy law and regulatory matters, Keesjan Meijering at AKD brings extensive experience on contract and development agreements concerning solar, wind, storage, and heat projects.
In a landmark sustainable development mandate, Meijering is assisting the municipality of Utrecht on contracting and concession matters concerning the development of its major aquifer thermal energy storage system, which will provide renewable heat to the city’s homes and offices. Further demonstrating his deep ability across the energy transition landscape, Meijering is acting for Lightsource bp on project development and contracting maters for its 75 MW solar and BESS project in Boesingheliede.
Meijering makes a major thought leadership contribution across the green energy landscape, authoring academic insights on topics including the legal and regulatory developments impacting solar projects and the impact of the Dutch Heat Act. As a key figure within the renewable energy space, Meijering is a member of the law and regulation programme council of heating market foundation Stichting Warmtenetwerk, serves as a member of the advisory board of energy cooperative eCoBuren, and is a guest lecturer at TILT in the field of regulating the energy market.
Irene Meingast co-leads SAXINGER Rechtsanwalts GmbH’s cross-practice ESG team and is highly experienced in ESG due diligence, environmental impact assessments, biodiversity protection, and the environmental law aspects of public construction projects. Recent highlights include advising two of the country’s largest property developers on major green projects incorporating climate-friendly energy supply concepts. Meingast’s work also focuses on sustainability reporting processes and related ESG advice.
Meingast plays a key role in driving sustainability initiatives within the firm, having initiated its sustainability report and regularly co-authoring its client-facing ESG newsletter, which covers topics such as emerging regulatory developments. Externally, Meingast regularly hosts and speaks at ESG events, including sessions focused on supply chain sustainability.
Juana Valentina Mican joined Brigard Urrutia’s environmental practice in 2014 and is currently a senior associate in the environment and sustainable business team as well as ESG & impact investment practice. She has over 10 years of experience advising clients on environmental matters that apply to their projects and operations, including advice on compliance with environmental regulations. More recently, she has been focusing her practice on environmental sustainability.
Complementing her client work, Mican regularly contributes to the firm’s environmental and sustainability-related legal news updates and often speaks at a range of green events. On World Environment Day, she participated as a panellist in an event organised by the Universidad del Rosario and the National Environmental Forum discussing the development of environmental legislation in Colombia. She has also recently spoken about sustainable finance at one of the firm’s own webinars, and shared her expertise on changes brought by the EU in relation to ESG criteria and its impact on Latin America at a forum held by the Alliance for the Legal Ecosystem for Sustainability in Latin America (led by the Global Reporting Initiative).
Marisa Mirador in Cuatrecasas’ public law team brings a particular focus on environmental law. With extensive experience in sustainability, urban planning, and administrative law, Mirador is a leading advisor to public entities and national and international companies across environmental, renewable energy, and natural resources projects. Mirador stands out for her extensive experience in the licensing and development of renewable energy and gas projects, making a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the industrial and agricultural sectors.
Mirador is a member of renewables sector association APREN, the International Chamber of Commerce Portugal’s Environment and Energy Commission, and the Association for the Development of Urban Planning and Construction Law.
Alongside her work, Mirador is a visiting lecturer at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, teaching a master’s course in sustainable town and land planning. A regular author, Mirador has produced several articles on environmental topics, ranging from renewable energy to the circular economy.
With almost 30 years of experience, Vladimir Miranda spearheaded the formation of TozziniFreire Advogados’ climate change and carbon market practice group. He is also the coordinator of the agribusiness practice at the firm. He often advises clients in the Brazilian carbon market and is involved with drafting new regulation in the area.
Outside of his work for clients, Miranda is a member of the Climate Working Group (CT Climate) of the Brazilian Corporate Council for Sustainable Development.
Standing out for his thought leadership contributions, he has co-authored publications on topics ranging from an ESG law guide to multiple discussions of regulatory and legal paths for decarbonisation in Brazil, including for the agriculture sector. He also spoke about decarbonisation in the real estate industry at a conference organised by Finvest Climate and the Center for Real Estate at MIT.
As Australian head of renewables at DLA Piper, Chris Mitchell is an indispensable advisor to local and international clients on market-leading M&A deals and investments in the clean energy and sustainability sectors. With key recent clients including investors (BlackRock), energy companies (Tenaga Nasional Berhad), and power developers (BlueFloat Energy), Mitchell is not only a key advisor on renewable energy acquisitions and investments in the region, but also a leading partner to developers on financial and transactional mandates.
He bolsters his client work with a leading thought leadership contribution, co-authoring articles on diverse topics including offshore wind planning and policy, renewable energy tax proposals, and public net zero investment streams.
Attesting to his renown within the sector, Mitchell regularly participates in industry discussions on the future of Australia’s renewable energy sector. At the Offshore Wind Conference Australia, he spoke on impending regulatory challenges in the country’s renewable energy strategy, leveraging his insight into Australia’s offshore regulatory regime and how its impacts compare with the global context.
