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.
Lisa Urbas is a member of PHH Rechtsanwält:innen GmbH’s banking and finance team and specialises in sustainability law, supporting large and medium-sized companies in navigating ESG-related legal requirements. Urbas’ work includes advising on ESG compliance and sustainable finance matters.
Beyond her client work, Urbas serves as co-chair of the Sustainability Board of the International Association of Young Lawyers, where she works to raise awareness of ESG issues among young legal professionals.
Bringing a wealth of regulatory expertise across sustainability, renewable energy, and carbon trading, Alec Van Vaerenbergh at DLA Piper is a standout advisor to energy and industrial companies, governments, and international organisations on innovative and critical energy transition and climate change matters.
Van Vaerenbergh is a key partner to major multi-national industrial clients on the development of emissions reduction and compensation projects and programmes. A notable client is BASF Antwerpen, whom Van Vaerenbergh is assisting on project and joint venture agreements, regulatory and subsidy issues, ETS obligations, and contractual negotiations to develop and utilise the Antwerp@C carbon capture and storage facility.
Van Vaerenbergh regularly delivers key sustainability insights for clients, instructing government officials through the Sustainable Markets Initiative; training the government of Mauritius on the carbon markets within the firm’s pro bono representation of the nation at the COP climate summits; and helping AB Inbev’s sustainability managers navigate carbon pricing mechanisms. A key academic thought leader, Van Vaerenbergh also serves as a visiting lecturer on climate law at KU Leuven and lectures at the University of Oslo on the contract-for-difference regime.
At Deloitte Legal, Dominque Vanherck is an expert on EU energy and climate law, serving as a key partner to public and private-sector clients on the development and operation of renewable and green infrastructure projects. As the head of the firm’s climate and energy team, Vanherck is highly sought-after for her advice on innovative matters including renewable energy support mechanisms, energy communities, and hydrogen production and transport regulation.
In a high-profile mandate, Vanherck is acting for the Belgian state on compliance and regulatory matters regarding the strengthening of CO2 performance standards for commercial vehicles and the phase-out of fossil-fuel vehicles. Vanherck also advised the Public Waste Agency of Flanders regarding the implementation of a digital deposit return system for packaging waste, helping the client navigate the implications of waste directives in order to create sustainable and circular solutions.
Vanherck demonstrates a notable thought leadership engagement across the green landscape. Alongside being a member of the editorial board of Die Keure’s Environmental and Energy Law Journal, Vanherck is an affiliated researcher at KU Leuven’s Institute for Environmental and Energy Law.
Ramon Varela heads up Morgan & Morgan’s energy and ESG practice groups. With over 25 years of experience, he has vast expertise assisting clients with major infrastructure projects in the energy and transportation sectors with a notable focus on the generation of energy through major hydro, wind, natural gas, and solar projects. His client portfolio includes developers, operators, EPC contractors, investors and government authorities.
Besides his recognition as having advised the Government of Panama in the drafting and approval of the law establishing the framework regulation for PPP in the country, he also acted for the lenders on one of the largest wind farms in Central America, in Coclé Province, Panama, and assisted AES Corporation in one of the most important hydroelectric plants in the country, the Changuinola project.
Committed to the promotion of a sustainable future, Varela has also spoken about energy and infrastructure in the country at conferences and workshops, discussing investment needs, the energy transition and sustainable projects in Panama.
Camila del Villar is a part of Martínez Quintero Mendoza González Laguado & De La Rosa’s (previously DLA Piper Martínez Beltrán) environmental law and sustainable development practice group. Applying her extensive expertise within the energy, environmental and natural resources sectors, she assists clients with environmental permits, due diligence, and project financing. With her experience in ESG-related matters, she also co-leads the firm’s ESG working group, which coordinates the integration of ESG criteria into the firm’s service offering.
Beyond her client work, she has held a lecturer position for a course on public law and the energy transition at Los Andes University, and has spoken at events organised by industry associations and think tanks, such as a recent webinar on corporate environmental responsibility and a waste management seminar. She also regularly contributes to the firm’s newsletters giving environmental and sustainability-related legal updates.
Hogan Lovells global board member and corporate and finance specialist Adrian Walker has long-time expertise leading on energy and infrastructure matters, focusing his practice on the delivery of projects which support sustainable businesses and leave a positive social impact. Walker continues this long-term purpose as the firm’s head of ESG and co-lead of the social impact and business integrity groups.
Alongside his longstanding experience in the development and financing of renewable energy projects, Walker takes a leading role in spearheading the firm’s diverse ESG client solutions, including helping launch its ESG Risk Reader, which supports companies in identifying and understanding relevant sustainability risks and building targeted and appropriate mitigation measures.
Walker is a notable thought leader across a diversity of sustainability topics, authoring insights into topics including the ESG requirements of China-based offshore wind supply chains. As a leading voice within the firm, he spoke at its 2023 ESG Game Changers summit, which offered C-Suite and ESG-suite participants insights into how to navigate ESG regulation and sustainability trends in order to drive positive change within their businesses.
Kenneth Wallace-Müller at DLA Piper Weiss-Tessbach Rechtsanwälte GmbH is particularly noted for his expertise in power and natural gas, renewable energy procurement, and power purchase agreements. Additionally, he serves as drafting counsel for various market-standard renewables agreements, including the EFET Corporate Power Purchase Agreement and the EFET Certificate Master Agreement.
Internally, Wallace-Müller is a member of the firm’s carbon markets priority and power purchase agreement workstreams. Wallace-Müller also provides legal support to the firm’s international energy and climate change committee, which underpins the firm’s work in meeting its Science Based Targets initiative commitments.
Externally, Wallace-Müller teaches a course on energy markets at the University of Applied Sciences in Wels. He is also engaged in pro bono initiatives, leading a workshop on electricity infrastructure development, market regulation, and renewable energy promotion for participants from Commonwealth nations as part of the Sustainable Markets Initiative.
Marc Walter, head of Wenger Vieli Ltd’s ESG practice group, provides comprehensive sustainability advice across M&A, private equity, and venture capital transactions, with particular expertise in renewable energy, ESG, and sustainable mobility.
Walter co-heads the firm’s sustainability and ESG committee, overseeing its internal green initiatives. Externally, Walter serves as secretary of the board of Stiftung Umwelt Arena Schweiz, a leading centre focused on environmental and renewable energy issues, environmental education, and sustainable mobility in Switzerland.
An M&A and private equity expert, Johanna Wärnberg at Snellman brings a notable focus on green transactions which boost sustainability initiatives and support transition-aligned projects. Offering deep expertise across renewable energy, electricity infrastructure, and recycling assets, Wärnberg is adept at supporting clients in aligning projects with green regulation and sustainable development goals.
A key client is major automotive and industrial company Schaeffler, whom Wärnberg advised on its additional €165m investment in green impact company H2 Green Steel, which will underpin the two parties’ further collaboration in the development of sustainable metal products.
Wärnberg is a noted thought leader in the sustainability space, making a leading commitment by providing colleagues and the business community with expertise on pressing green and environmental issues.
