

Environmental law
For many years now, numerous legislative approaches for protecting the environment have been adopted that go substantially beyond the simple granting or revoking of permits. Permits themselves – the granting of them, their maintenance on the sale or restructuring of a company and the consequences of their revocation – nevertheless play a very significant role for our clients. Our expertise covers the entire spectrum of environmental legislation, including the German Federal Immission Control Act (Bundesimmissionsschutzgesetz) and legal requirements relating to water supply and wastewater removal.
We also advise on liability risks and renovation requirements relating to existing contamination in the soil, groundwater or buildings.
Today, chemicals law is predominantly governed at EU level, via the REACH, CLP and Biocidal Products Regulations, for instance. Having advised leading waste-disposal and recycling companies, among others, we have also gained expertise in recycling law, which is equally increasingly being centralised at EU level.
Ultimately, environmental law plays a key role in climate protection and the German government's efforts to transform the supply of the energy market (Energiewende). We are, for instance, currently closely involved in issues relating to the trading of emission certificates, mining and nuclear law, as well as legal questions relating to all aspects of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz).
Explore our services
News and insights

News: 11 May 2023
Allen & Overy advises palero on the acquisition of Tech Power Electronics Group
Allen & Overy has advised private equity investor palero on the acquisition of Tech Power Electronics Group (TPEG) from Schwa-Medico.

Publications: 09 May 2023
Germany to tighten energy efficiency requirements for buildings, companies and data centres
In April 2023, the German government proposed new legislation that aims to significantly increase energy efficiency requirements for buildings, companies and data centres. The government’s proposals…

Publications: 20 April 2023
Introduction to the EU’s Emissions Trading System
The EU emissions trading system (the EU ETS) is one of the key pillars of the EU’s policy to combat climate change and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from regulated sectors.

News: 13 April 2023
Allen & Overy advises Riverside on the acquisition of Dastex
Allen & Overy has advised private equity investor The Riverside Company (Riverside) on the acquisition of Dastex Reinraumzubehör GmbH & Co. KG (Dastex), a leading specialized independently owned…
Recognition
The practice advises […] municipal authorities on urban development […] in an environmental and planning law context.
JUVE 2015/2016, Öffentlicher Sektor