Funds practitioner Penelope Shen has taken up a key role across Stephenson Harwood’s holistic sustainability offering, having established the firm’s Asia ESG working group, which hosts quarterly meetings to facilitate sustainability discussions across its regional offices. In client work, she leads in legal advice and training which support major fund managers and industry actors in integrating responsible and sustainable considerations within their practices.
Shen led the firm’s entry into the Hong Kong Green Finance Association, through which she helped create a platform for sustainable development across the region by serving as drafting partner of a policy paper which explores how Hong Kong can become a green infrastructure investment fund hub. Assuming a key role in supporting major industry associations in their green engagements, she also sits as a member of the Alternative Investment Management Association’s working group on the Hong Kong Securities and Futures Commission’s consultation on climate-related risks and requirements.
Within the legal sector, Shen assists in the firm’s participation in the Hong Kong Chancery Lane Project, helping develop new contracts and model laws which help fight climate change.
David Short at Lux Nova Partners leverages over 25 years of experience in commercial, technology, IP, data protection, and environmental law to advise businesses navigating the net-zero transition in matters ranging from clean energy projects to nature-based solutions.
Short has been instrumental in guiding two of the UK’s most significant biodiversity and nature restoration projects, the Wendling Beck Environment Project in Norfolk and Iford Estate in West Sussex. He also played a key role in developing GE Capital Real Estate’s sustainability programme, is an assessor for the Green Heat Networks Fund, and provides strategic advice to industry bodies including the Better Buildings Partnership (where he sits on the steering group for the Green Leases Working Group), Renewable Energy Assurance, and the Green Finance Institute.
A thought leader in the sustainability space, Short is also a member of the Green Finance Institute’s Zero Carbon Heating Taskforce, and serves pro bono as sustainability and climate change adviser to the Wessex Multi Academy Trust. He helps guide the Trust’s leadership in the development and implementation of its sustainability strategy, mentoring grassroots Eco Leaders across 12 schools in Dorset.
From Singapore, Xylia Sim brings over 15 years of experience advising on major project financings across Asia Pacific and is a key contact within Linklaters’ regional green energy practice. Demonstrating her vital role within a holistic sustainability client offering, she sits on the firm’s Asia ESG steering committee.
Her focus on the green transition of the energy and infrastructure sectors has made her a leading advisor to major regional export credit agencies and multilateral development banks as they transition their financing portfolios to clean technologies and support the growth of the region’s nascent renewables sector.
Sim is also a notable thought leader on emerging and diverse green focuses across the region, co-authoring insights into topics including the green and transition taxonomy for Singapore-based financial institutions, and the impact of Malaysia’s national energy transition and hydrogen economy roadmaps. Helping boost knowledge on the regulatory peculiarities of Singapore’s transition finance market among global clients, Sim was a key voice on the firm’s panel discussion on how financial markets can facilitate the transition to a sustainable economy.
Heading the infrastructure and renewable energy practice at Advokatfirmaet Simonsen Vogt Wiig, Peter Aall Simonsen is a standout advisor on the development and finance of landmark energy transition assets. Possessing deep experience with wind and hydropower projects, Aall Simonsen has also built a significant practice surrounding biomass, green fuels, and electricity infrastructure assets.
A key client is export credit agency Eksfin, whom Aall Simonsen advises as export guarantor regarding its offshore wind portfolio. Within the ongoing representation, Aall Simonsen assists on all aspects of project development and documentation, supporting in the realisation of large-scale and complex offshore wind facilities.
Demonstrating his leading engagement within the clean power segment, Aall Simonsen cooperated with the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities to review all Norwegian hydropower plants and boost efficiency and optimal performance.
As a founder and ongoing legal counsel for the Renewables Norway non-profit organisation, Aall Simonsen engages in presentations and discussions regarding the growth of the Norwegian clean power segment. Aall Simonsen also helps shape a broader understanding of the renewable energy landscape by authoring insights into Norwegian offshore development.
Penny Simpson leads Freeths LLP’s environmental group and chairs its natural capital group, part of the firm’s broader ESG team. With over 20 years of experience, she is a leading authority in natural environment and natural capital law, advising developers, energy companies, and public bodies on regulatory and transactional matters. A pioneer in the natural capital economy, Simpson has been instrumental in helping landowners enhance biodiversity for offsetting. Notably, she secured a landmark victory in 2022’s Harris vs Environment Agency, shaping post-Brexit environmental law. A sought-after expert in complex environmental cases, she also advises on regulatory compliance, health and safety law, and represents clients facing proceedings from environmental agencies.
Extending her engagement beyond this work portfolio, Simpson is a member of the Chartered Institute of Ecology & Environmental Management and an active member of UKELA’s Nature Conservation Working Group. She also regularly conducts training on key environmental issues, including European Protected Species Law and Habitat Regulations Assessments.
As global head of ESG at Simmons & Simmons, Sonali Siriwardena leads the firm’s strategy on environmental, social, and governance matters across all practice areas and offices. Her deep expertise in ESG allows her to support clients, including those with a global presence, in navigating the complex regulatory and policy landscape; she advises them on regulatory developments and risks, while also helping them leverage business opportunities in the rapidly evolving ESG space.
Beyond her legal work, Siriwardena holds key leadership roles in several ESG-focused organisations. She is a member of the UK Financial Conduct Authority’s ESG Advisory Committee, helping shape the UK’s ESG regulatory framework. She also serves as a board member of the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association (UKSIF) and the Blue Marine Foundation (BMF), a leading ocean conservation charity, and is an active member of the City of London Law Society (CLLS) ESG Committee.
With deep expertise in M&A, equity transactions, corporate reorganisations, and regulatory matters, Siren Skalstad Ellensen at DLA Piper is a key advisor to domestic and international clients on important renewable energy and sustainability matters.
In a landmark transaction, Ellensen led the team in representing venture fund RunwayFBU and investment manager Fred Olsen Investments as minority shareholders in the sale of Celsia to ISS. The deal supports the company, an impactful provider of SaaS solutions for corporate sustainability and green reporting, in building its offering.
Ellensen makes a key commitment to supporting sustainability and ESG objectives within the energy sector, participating in the Norwegian Association for Energy Law and the JUC Energy group. Passionately advocating for gender equality in the sustainability space, Ellensen serves as a board member of the Women in Renewable Energy organisation and the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association, which both seek to leverage gender diversity in creating a sustainable future.
Heading Linklaters’ energy and infrastructure sector team in the Netherlands, Gijs Smit is a leading advisor on buyer- and seller-side M&A, joint ventures, and regulation in the renewable electricity and heat sectors.
A major repeat client is leading electricity provider Essent. In a landmark deal, Smit assisted Essent in the acquisition of aquifer thermal energy storage solutions provider Equans Energy Solutions. Also for Essent, Smit advised on the acquisition of a 70% stake in solar panel installation and services company Solar Concept. The mandates help support the client in growing its portfolio of sustainable heat and electricity assets.
Smit is a stand-out thought leader, authoring internal and external insights into topics including ESG, sustainable development, and renewable and green energy. Writing for the Magazine for Financial Law, Smit co-authored an article on the current regulatory framework and challenges in the voluntary carbon market space. Smit is also leading the firm’s pro bono contribution to the University of Oxford’s net zero policy monitor, which is tracking and evaluating the alignment of national legal and regulatory systems with net zero targets.
As real estate practice head at Snellman, Mikael Stabo makes a broad and leading commitment to sustainability, decarbonisation, and environmental responsibility across the real assets landscape. Bringing clients extensive experience on real estate transactions and development projects, Stabo is a key contact on sustainable and environmentally responsible matters.
In a landmark mandate, Stabo led the team advising waste company Svensk Plaståtervinning on the acquisition, development, and operation of a large-scale and modern plastic recycling facility. A further key client is French green energy operator Valroem, whom Stabo assisted in its cooperation framework with Tribrid Renewables in order to develop a 1 GW wind and solar portfolio in Sweden.
Stabo makes a leading contribution within the firm’s programme to decarbonise its operational emissions, providing expert insight into sustainable real estate practices, eco-friendly materials, and green leases. Stabo is also a notable thought leader within the space, regularly participating in internal and external lectures on corporate responsibility best practices and serving on the boards of leading organisations which lobby for cross-border sustainability initiatives.
With deep experience on project consenting, environmental regulatory, and reporting matters, Gowling WLG’s planning and environmental law expert Ben Stansfield is a leading advisor regarding planning matters for major electricity infrastructure projects which make a marked contribution to the UK’s net zero transition.
Stansfield has built up expertise on ESG matters and demonstrates this through a vast thought leadership offering. Stansfield leads on articles covering topics such as ESG trends and environmental crimes, contributes to webinars which discuss trends including the impact of the UK Biodiversity Net Gain rules, and hosts insightful webinars on topics including the embedding of sustainability considerations within sport.
A regular contributor to industry events which seek to propel sustainability dialogue, Stansfield spoke at the Leisure Property Forum on how investor and customer pressure is pushing the real estate sector to improve its environmental impact, led a roundtable organised by the American Bar Association’s ESG and Sustainability Committee on how businesses can best embed sustainability into their supply chains, and wrote an article for the UK Environmental Law Association on the successes of COP28.
Offering clients impactful IP and trade mark prosecution advice within the sustainability space, Thera Adam-van Straaten at Eversheds Sutherland brings a leading focus across green claims and ESG reputation and strategy.
In an ongoing mandate, Adam is acting for a consortium of food and agriculture sector leads in their sustainability measurement joint venture TRACT, advising on clearance and regulation as well as trademark issues. The platform allows users to effectively and uniformly report traceability and sustainability performance across industry supply chains.
An expert in ESG claims, compliance, and risk, Adam moderated a panel on greenwashing at the Air Transport Association symposium and served as a panellist at Dublin International Disputes week, helping contribute to the discourse on ESG risk and litigation. Supporting the firm’s thought leadership contribution, Adam spoke at its seminar on ESG compliance, offering key insights into ESG risk and litigation.
Co-Chair of Mintz’s energy & sustainability practice, Sahir Surmeli, who is also a member of the firm’s securities as well as technology groups, has focused his practice on clean energy and sustainability matters for over two decades. With clients ranging from start-ups, investors and entrepreneurs to private and public companies, he has handled numerous venture capital and private equity financings, M&A deals, IPOs and follow-on public offerings in connection with the energy transition.
Surmeli is also a regular author for the firm’s energy and sustainability related blogs and newsletters, and has acted as moderator and speaker at the firm’s annual Energy Transition Summit. Notably, he has been recognised for influencing the cleantech sector via social media.
His engagement extends to memberships in the Innovation Task Force of the Northeast Clean Energy Council, and the MIT Energy Club. He has also been a judge at the Cleantech Open Northeast Regional Finals; a judge and Mentor Committee member at the Ignite Clean Energy: MIT Enterprise Forum Business Plan Competition; and served on the advisory board of the first annual ClimaTech conference in Boston in 2024.
Paula Susanna Amaral Mello is an integral part of Pinheiro Neto Advogados’ leading and longstanding environmental and climate change practice. She concentrates her practice on environmental law and sustainability with a focus on complex litigation, consulting, and legal due diligence. Her wide experience includes advising clients on environmental licensing, management of contaminated areas, pollutant emissions, carbon capture and storage, forestry and climate matters. Notably, she has been involved in drafting bills of laws associated with new sustainability projects.
Besides having authored a book about environmental protection, she also teaches ESG post-graduate courses at Pontifical Catholic University of Paraná and regularly shares her knowledge at sustainability-related events. She has recently spoken about the European Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), sustainability in connection with production and conservation, and the impacts of European rules arising from the European Green Deal on the activities of Brazilian companies.
Leading the renewable energy department at Advokatfirmaet Haavind AS, Aksel Tannum is a standout advisor across regulatory, contentious, and transactional mandates in the clean electricity space.
A major client is Eolus, whom Tannum is representing in a dispute regarding the validity of the licence for the Øyfjellet wind plant. The matter is crucial in navigating the development of renewable energy in a manner aligned with native rights.
In the solar power segment, a key client is major Norwegian landowner OVF, whom Tannum assisted in their entrance into the Geisli Energi joint venture with Hydro REIN. Tannum advised on transactional and operational agreements for the joint venture, which will pursue the development of an up-to-655 MW solar power portfolio.
Tannum oversees the firm’s relationship with industry association Renewables Norway, through which he helps advance dialogue on Norway’s green transition. As part of the relationship, Tannum and the firm assist in legal queries and in addressing strategic challenges related to the existing legal framework. As a leading voice within the sector, Tannum is a member of the Norwegian Bar Association’s energy law committee.
Fabian Teichmann, founder of Teichmann International, is a leading advisor in the evolving field of sustainable finance, with a strong focus on integrating ESG criteria into investment strategies. Recently, Teichmann has expanded his practice to encompass sustainable tourism and conservation.
Notably, Teichmann was engaged by ICC Armenia to develop a sustainability action plan aimed at integrating sustainable supply chain practices within Armenian small and medium-sized enterprises.
Teichmann positions the firm as an active participant in key sustainability initiatives, including the United Nations Global Compact, where he contributes to pioneering industry discussions. A recognised thought leader in sustainability law, he regularly publishes articles and reports, including a recent analysis of the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act and strategies to prevent greenwashing.
With 15 years’ experience, Inês Teixeira at DLA Piper ABBC leads complex climate-related litigation in the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court, and the Court of Justice of the European Union.
Notably, Teixera is advising a number of major clients, including one of the largest renewable power producers in Iberia and renewables association APREN, on administrative and judicial challenges against the Portuguese tax authority’s decision to impose property tax on wind farms. The challenges hold significant implications for the renewable energy sector by calling into question the tax regime for green energy projects.
Committed to aligning internal operations with the United Nations Global Compact and the Sustainable Development Goals, Teixera plays an important role in advancing the firm’s Sustainability Plan and is a key member of the Business Council for the Sustainable Development of Portugal.
An expert across energy and finance matters, Kumaran Thavarajah at Kromann Reumert specialises in the structuring and financing of energy transition projects. Owing to his expertise assisting developers, sponsors, banks, and investors across commercial and project agreements, project finance, and M&A, Thavarajah is a key contact on high-value and complex deals.
Leveraging his core expertise in the carbon storage market, Thavarajah assisted North American climate-positive infrastructure company Fidelis New Energy in the negotiation of a large-scale, long-term carbon storage contract with its anchor clients.
Thavarajah also boasts deep familiarity in the renewable power generation space. Key clients include Andel Holdnig, whom he advised on the negotiation of project agreements within its joint venture with Better Energy to develop a 2 GW solar pipeline across Denmark.
Thavarajah is highly sought-after for his insights, speaking at industry events hosted by maritime company DNV and private equity firm Axcel on the carbon capture and storage segment, and running workshops on project finance and bankability for major sponsors including Vestas, Topsøe, and Eurowind.
Heading the energy and environment practice at BAHR, Jon Christian Thaulow brings leading domestic and global clients incisive advice on transactions, investments, and project development matters across the electricity and renewable energy segments.
A key client is Aker Carbon Capture, whom Thaulow represented in the sale of 80% of its business to SLB and in the subsequent establishment of a joint venture for their carbon capture business. The deal is vital in accelerating the roll-out of carbon capture solutions, allowing the client to play a critical role in the fast-moving and essential carbon removal space.
Thaulow is also a key advisor to impactful sustainability projects, assisting HUB ocean – a non-profit member of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution – in its mission to utilise data to heal and restore the ocean. Supporting the organisation, Thaulow has assisted on issues concerning ocean data publication, licensing, and copyright.
As a notable thought leader across the sustainability space, Thaulow is a regular speaker at legal and business community events which promote decarbonisation, including the Petsem and Solstrand energy sector conferences.
Sarah Thompson leads Arthur Cox’s cross-disciplinary ESG group and is a key contact for clients seeking to navigate complex sustainability regulations and integrate ESG principles into their operations. As a core part of her practice, Thompson frequently advises on the EU Taxonomy and Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation.
A prominent thought leader in the field, Thompson served as a panelist at the Sustainable Finance and Fintech discussion during Ireland’s Climate Finance Week. Thompson also presented a case study on ESG in legal practice as part of the ESG MOOC — a course designed to guide participants through the evolving sustainability legal landscape. In addition, Thompson contributes to the preparation of the firm’s ESG newsletter and provides regular updates to its ESG Hub.
Alongside acting as global co-head of A&O Shearman’s environmental and sanctions practice, Matt Townsend is also one of the founding members of the firm’s global ESG group. With nearly 30 years of experience in environmental and climate law, Townsend is a leading advisor on a wide range of sustainability and regulatory matters, spanning climate change, carbon trading, supply chain risk management, and circular economy programmes. Recently, he played a key role in advising credit providers on the financing of the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project in Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s largest commercial-scale green hydrogen facilities.
His leadership in sustainability matters extends beyond his client work. He serves on multiple industry and advisory bodies, including the City of London Law Society’s environmental working group and the Financial Markets Law Committee’s ESG working group. He is also a member of the Legal Sustainability Alliance’s executive committee and an advisory board member for the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development on ESG guidelines for the CEE region. A regular commentator on emerging climate and sustainability trends, Townsend remains an influential voice in shaping global ESG standards.
