Environment

Our Environment lawyers are involved in a full range of industrial environmental regulations, including contaminated land, renewable energy, and mining.

Lawyers in the environment practice provide both advisory and litigation support to companies in the industrial sector, to engineering and design companies, institutions in the renewable energy sector, companies in the public sector and insurance companies.

Once the client's needs have been identified, each case is initially reviewed by a senior lawyer (partner or of counsel) who defines the objectives and resources required to answer the client’s request.

Integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) permits (ICPE in France)
  • Assistance in completing applications for IPPC permits (impact assessments, public inquiries, urban planning consents, regulations on greenhouse gas emission quotas, technological risk prevention plans, etc.).
  • Supporting clients and liaising with regulators during application process.
  • Assistance in disputes related to permits (appeals against permits refusal, defense in case of appeals by third parties against permits, etc.).
  • Advice and assistance in respect of incidents in the course of operation (information to the public authorities, etc.).
  • Assistance in disputes relating to operation of a facility (abnormal neighborhood disturbances, noise, pollution, modifications to operating instructions, or conditions, etc.).
  • Advising in respect of permits transfer in the context of corporate or real estate transactions (environmental searches and enquiries, preparation/revision of disposal contracts, drafting environmental warranty clauses, easements, operation restrictions, etc.).
  • Assistance and advice during the shutdown of operation.
Water management
  • Assistance in completing permit applications for water extraction and/or usage facilities, major infrastructure projects, monitoring of appraisal procedures with various authorities (impact assessments, public inquiries, natural risk prevention plans, etc.).
  • Assistance in disputes related to permits (appeals against permits refusal, defense in case of appeals by third parties against permits, etc.).
  • Assistance in disputes relating to operation of a facility (abnormal neighborhood disturbances, noise, pollution, modifications to operating instructions or conditions, etc.).
  • Assistance and advice during the shutdown of operation.
Contaminated land
  • Assistance during the acquisition or sale of a contaminated site (environmental audits, drafting and reviewing of environmental liability warranty clauses, assessing potential environmental issues and their liability implications in cooperation with specialised consulting firms).
  • Assistance before courts (both civil and administrative) in disputes related to contaminated land, and in respect of expert appraisals (court-ordered or in arbitration), determination of liabilities, implementation of insurance coverage.
Waste
  • Assistance during industrial sites construction or renovation (asbestos removal, waste removal procedures), litigation management.
Mining
  • Assistance in preparing operating permit applications.
  • Assistance in awarding contracts for work to secure and restore formerly operated sites.
  • Litigation related to works to restore and secure the site at the end of the concession.
  • Assistance in setting up operation requirements and restrictions.
Renewable energy
  • Assistance in defining the terms for establishing energy production units using renewable sources from photovoltaic, wind, geothermal and biomass combustion installations (legal regime applicable to the use of the area where operations are based).
  • Assistance and advice in obtaining construction and operating permits, management of disputes with administrative authorities, as well as appeals by third parties, drafting and reviewing contracts relating to the construction of electricity production equipment, their installation and commissioning, as well as the building and civil engineering works required for their operations.
  • Assistance and advice with regard to setting up insurance coverage and insurance programs adapted to the activity, the needs of the owner and the legislative and regulatory constraints (master policies, insurance lines, insurance captives, co-insurance, reinsurance).
  • Assistance and advice related to acquisitions of electricity production units from renewable sources (acquisition due diligence, drafting transaction legal documentation, completing formalities following the transfer of ownership, managing legal and contractual warranties, reviewing insurance coverage).
  • Assistance in drafting contracts for the operation of power generation facilities, for power purchase, and grid access.
  • Assistance and advice on the development and marketing of construction products incorporating equipment for the production of electricity from renewable sources (regulations applicable, liability assessement, insurance coverage, contractual warranty).
  • Managing, alongside the firm’s tax department, the tax implications and consequences of setting up and operating facilities.
  • Advised a plastic packaging manufacturing company in ensuring compliance of its site with environmental regulations, and support in dealing with the authorities in charge of enforcing environmental regulations.
  • Advised to an industrial company in respect of a new permit necessary for operating a sugar factory, increasing its production capacity, and modernising its facilities.
  • Advised a mining research company in respect of a dispute relating to the construction of a building close to a former mining site.
  • Advised a sugar factory regarding the application of the regulations on the thresholds of contaminants present in molasses used to process caramel.