Offering expertise across advisory and contentious mandates, Jacob Schall Holberg at Bech-Bruun is a leading authority on environmental law and regulation, nature and biodiversity conservation matters, sustainability regimes, and green energy and infrastructure planning and construction mandates.
A key ongoing client is Danish transmission system operator Energinet, whom Schall Holberg is advising on the definition and delineation of projects under the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive. The mandate supports the client in its objective to efficiently develop and expand the electricity grid.
Schall Holberg makes a notable contribution to green dialogue within the business and legal communities, leading presentations and discussions on pressing sustainability issues for networks including Danish Environmental Lawyers, Altinget’s Network for Environment and Climate, and the DAKOFA Weaste and Resource Network.
As part of his external engagement, Schall Holberg is an active thought leader on environmental topics, contributing to articles on topics including ESG and packaging extended producer responsibilities. Schall Holberg elsewhere leads seminars and presentations on topics including CSRD, sustainability in procurement and supply chains, and PFAS.
A banking supervisory law expert, Nina Scherber at Lindenpartners is highly sought-after among major financial institutions for advice regarding the implementation of, and compliance with, European sustainable finance regulation. Alongside a particular focus on SFDR, Scherber brings deep knowhow regarding the EU Taxonomy and CSRD.
A key client is Berliner Volksbank, whom Scherber assisted with a feasibility study on the legal requirements for the management of an article 8 SFDR portfolio. The mandate supports the client in effectively managing its sustainable investments and ensuring compliance with green best practice.
Scherber is committed to advancing the dialogue within the legal and financial communities regarding sustainability, actively serving within the working groups of the federal initiative on impact investing and supporting the organisation in its push to promote economic activity which boosts ecological and social standards. Scherber also makes a notable contribution within the firm’s through leadership profile, contributing to its regularly updated white paper on sustainable finance, which helps communicate the complexity of regulatory developments in the space, and authoring insights on topics including ESG risk and sustainable finance.
Co-leading Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer’s EMEA ESG practice, Heike Schmitz is a notable authority on EU sustainability regulation and green commercial law matters. Bringing longstanding expertise in the funds space, Schmitz advises asset managers, funds, insurers, and pensions investors on green investments, regulatory questions, and the integration of sustainable and ESG-aligned practices.
A key client is major asset management group Unigestion, whom Schmitz is assisting in the implementation of sustainable finance regulation and responsible investment approaches across its whole business unit range. Within the mandate, Schmitz advises on sustainability-related disclosure and reporting requirements and compliance and supports the client in designing responsible investment strategies that align with articles 8 and 9 of the SFDR.
Schmitz takes a leading role on major sustainability initiatives within the investment community, serving as the co-chair of the Insurance Development Forum’s Infrastructure Taskforce and sitting on the ESG committee of private equity association Invest Europe. As part of her contribution to the ESG working group of the German Alternative Investments Association, Schmitz co-authored the organisation’s position paper on impact investing.
Martin Schröder at SCHULTE RECHTSANWÄLTE is a key contact among pioneering green energy, energy efficiency, and circular economy companies on pressing and business-critical corporate and commercial law mandates.
A key repeat client is zero-emission and hydrogen mobility company Hexagon Purus. Supporting the client in the delivery of technology solutions for fuel cell and battery electric vehicles, Schröder assists in M&A and commercial law matters, in the preparation of sales contracts and in the drafting of framework agreements. Schröder is also acting for hydrogen fuelling stations, tank systems, and transportation systems supplier Hexagon Purus Weeze on all corporate law matters and contractual arrangements.
Schröder is a notable thought leader in the hydrogen sector and recently organised a hydrogen industry symposium in order to bring together legal and academic experts with industry and government stakeholders to discuss regulatory developments, technological advancements, and market trends. To stay engaged in industry discourse, Schröder attends business meetings on environmental protection and sustainability through organisations including Wirtschaftsjunioren and Wirtschaftsrat.
Heading the environment, energy, and green transition team at Castrén & Snellman, Marius af Schultén is a specialist on the planning and permitting of large-scale infrastructure projects. Counting among his clients leading domestic and international energy and infrastructure developers, investors, and asset managers, af Schultén regularly advises on innovative and landmark environmental, project development, M&A, and commercial matters across the renewable energy space.
A key area of focus is the wind power segment, with af Schultén possessing deep knowledge of transactional, permitting, land use, and contentious matters impacting onshore and offshore projects. Complementing this expertise, af Schultén brings clients leading insights into the solar, battery storage, and hydrogens sectors. Beyond the renewables space, af Schultén is also active in the sustainable mining, forestry, chemicals, and aquaculture segments.
A recognised thought leader in the energy transition, af Schultén helps advance the dialogue on how energy and environmental law can help pursue sustainability objectives. Alongside being a member of the Finnish Society for Environmental Law, af Schultén is a vice-member of the grid committee of leading industry organisation Renewables Finland.
A key contact among leading investors, banks, project developers, and energy companies, Thomas Schulz at Linklaters is a standout authority on the construction, financing, acquisition, and sale of renewable power, green fuels, and electricity storage assets.
Schulz offers leading project finance expertise in the wind power space. A major client is clean energy fund manager Nuveen Infrastructure, whom Schulz is advising on the €473m acquisition and project finance of 50% of the shares of the 253 MW Gode Wind 3 offshore farm. Schulz also assisted a consortium of banks on the project financing of the 1.2 GW Baltic Power offshore wind farm.
Demonstrating his leading contribution to sustainability thought leadership, Schulz regularly contributes to the firm’s sustainable futures blog and its reports on the German offshore wind and hydrogen market. Helping build a legal and technical understanding of Germany’s renewable energy landscape, Schulz co-authored a review of Germany’s hydrogen regime in conjunction with Der Betrieb and also edits the Handbook of Wind and Solar Projects, which reviews legal and tax issues impacting renewable energy development.
Eva-Maria Ségur-Cabanac leads on sustainability matters within Baker McKenzie Rechtsanwälte LLP & Co KG’s global financial institutions group, advising EU and non-EU corporates and financial institutions on the evolving ESG regulatory landscape. Her practice focuses on cross-border transactional work, with a particular specialism within the energy and sustainability segment.
A recognised thought leader in the space, Ségur-Cabanac is a regular speaker in Austria and internationally on the EU Sustainable Finance Action Plan and the EU Green Deal. Ségur-Cabanac plays a key role in the firm’s global sustainability solution service line and frequently publishes thought leadership articles on sustainable finance and ESG-related regulatory developments.
An expert across the European and North American markets, Alexander Severance at DLA Piper Denmark specialises in commercial and project agreements, project contracting, and regulatory matters across the offshore renewable energy space.
Building upon a wealth of in-house experience, Severance is a stand-out thought leader in the offshore wind segment. As global co-chair of the Comite Maritime International’s International Working Group on Mobile Offshore Renewable Units, Severance is leading inquiries and legal reforms regarding the position of floating wind turbines and floating substations within existing international maritime conventions. As part of his engagement with the committee, Severance co-hosted a workshop on mobile offshore renewable units at the organisation’s 2024 Colloquium in Gothenburg.
Severance also continues to contribute widely to industry discussion, having spoken in 2024 at ONS Stavanger on legal challenges impacting offshore green hydrogen production and at the Admiralty Law Institute in New Orleans on the place of floating wind turbines in US maritime law. Helping boost academic discourse in the renewable power space, Severance also authored the chapter on US offshore wind licensing for Edward Elgar Publishing.
Ben Sharples heads up Michelmores’ natural capital practice and is a distinguished expert in agricultural law. Besides handling contentious matters in this field, he advises clients on carbon sequestration, payments for environmental services, and sustainability issues. His recent work includes advising the Forestry Commission on evaluating the environmental benefits of halting traditional agricultural activities on a site near the River Stour to prevent leaching.
Alongside his legal practice, Sharples is a pioneer in natural capital policy. He authored a practical guide to payments for environmental services, published by Law Brief Publishing, which serves as a comprehensive resource for understanding the diverse opportunities available in the environmental services market.
In 2024, Sharples delivered a full day of lectures on natural capital issues to an audience of 240, further demonstrating his commitment to advancing knowledge and practice in this crucial area.
Jill Shaw leads A&L Goodbody LLP’s ESG and sustainability practice, specialising in sustainability reporting, disclosure, and due diligence requirements stemming from evolving legislative and regulatory frameworks. Her expertise includes providing in-depth analysis of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, offering corporate groups clear insights into their emerging obligations.
Internally, Shaw is an active member of the firm’s ESG and sustainability group and oversees the publication of its ESG blog, which delivers frequent updates on sustainability-related developments. Externally, Shaw is a sought-after speaker on topics such as greenwashing, CSRD compliance, and sustainability reporting.
Dedicated to keeping clients ahead of sustainability trends, Shaw plays a pivotal role in client education and training on ESG matters. This includes training on EU sustainability legislation and educating clients on navigating the complexities of sustainability reporting.
Emer Shelly is a leading member of Mason Hayes & Curran LLP’s ESG group and draws on her corporate expertise to advise clients on ESG and sustainability requirements from a company law and corporate governance perspective.
Shelly plays a key role in M&A transactions with a particular focus on sustainability issues and advised one of the world’s largest technology companies on the Irish implementation of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive.
Beyond client work, Shelly is a regular contributor of articles and videos to the firm’s ESG Hub, focusing on corporate sustainability reporting. A seasoned speaker, Shelley served as a panelist at the firm’s Future of Energy Investment in Ireland conference, where she discussed the impact of EU corporate sustainability initiatives on Ireland’s energy transition. Shelly is also involved in an Irish Venture Capital Association working group which aims to develop standard policies to support SMEs in adopting sustainability-focused best practice.
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.
