

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).
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News and insights

News: 31 January 2023
Allen & Overy advised international bank Standard Chartered on entering into a joint venture with big German banks to fund the blockchain platform SWIAT.

News: 22 November 2022
Allen & Overy advises NEOM on its USD175m investment in Volocopter
Allen & Overy has advised NEOM, the smart and sustainable regional development project in northwest Saudi Arabia, in connection with a USD 175 million Series E investment in Volocopter.

Publications: 19 October 2022
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.

Publications: 30 September 2022
3 months to go: Are you ready for the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act?
On 1 January 2023, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act will enter into force. In a first step, all companies which have a specific nexus to Germany and normally employ 3,000 people or more will…
Recognition
The practice advises […] municipal authorities on urban development […] in an environmental and planning law context.
JUVE 2015/2016, Öffentlicher Sektor