

Environmental, Climate and Regulatory Law
Environmental and regulatory compliance issues are now part of everyday life for most businesses, be they engaged in evidently hazardous activities or not.
Likewise, developments in the climate change arena are raising new challenges for the business community. Regulatory demands, however, continue to widen in response to increasingly international environmental, human rights and trade concerns and present more and more compliance issues affecting both processes and products, as well as liability issues in business transactions. To steer successfully through this regulatory jungle requires specialist expertise on a global scale.
Allen & Overy’s International Environment, Climate and Regulatory Law Group includes more than 60 specialist, commercially focused environmental and regulatory law experts across the world advising on all aspects of environmental, product and trade law and liability. As one of the first law firms to develop a globally integrated environmental law practice, we are able to provide both transactional and stand alone advice in all the major areas of environmental and health and safety law at national, regional and international levels. We have long-standing expertise in a wide range of regulatory issues affecting our clients’ supply chains and the movement of our clients’ products around the world. We also regularly advise clients on the management of cross-border due diligence and on contractual negotiations in relation to major international acquisitions, disposals and infrastructure projects.
Our geographic reach, including the transfer of knowledge between different offices and jurisdictions, means that we are able to keep abreast of the latest environmental initiatives and legislative developments occurring around the globe. We closely track environmental policy, climate change and trade policy and regulatory developments and are in regular contact with policy makers and regulators whose work impacts our clients' interests. In addition to expertise in our own offices, by virtue of our network of specialist local firms in other jurisdictions, we can also ensure that you get high quality environmental and regulatory advice wherever in the world you need it.
With a mass of new and changing legislation in this area, the boardroom has never had so much reason to pay attention to human rights and other regulatory issues. SEC and new EU reporting requirements (and their global equivalents) on environmental issues, including obligations to report on environmental proceedings, impacts and standards in annual reports and on non-compliance more generally authorities, are just a couple of examples.
Our environmental and regulatory law experts advise on all types of disclosure requirements and associated problems, such as commercial confidentiality. Whether the issue of disclosure arises in respect of a statutory or permit based obligation, as a result of a request from a regulator, or even under pressure from interested stakeholders, our sector specific knowledge helps clients grappling with the legal and commercial implications, particularly in relation to business sensitive matters.
The ability to obtain information from Government and public bodies which may concern your business or the business of others is both a positive and negative development. We can advise on exactly what "freedom of access to information" might mean for you, and how defences, like commercial confidentiality and national security, come into play.
Explore our services
- Crisis Management
- Environmental Health and Safety Regulation and Compliance Law
- Emissions and Carbon Trading
- Environmental Disclosure and Corporate Environmental Transparency
- Environmental and Climate Change Litigation
- Environmental, Social and Governance
News & insights

Blog Post: 27 April 2022
Sustainability/ESG ratings: does the market measure up?
The following article originally appeared in Butterworths' Journal of International Banking and Financial Law (2022) 4 JIBL 245. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations in financial…

Publications: 09 January 2020
European environmental law and policy: What’s in store for 2020?
The start of a New Year is a good time to take stock as to what we can expect in European environmental law and policy over the next 12 months. Unlike previous years, 2020 is already shaping up to be…

Blog Post: 31 March 2022
ISSB global sustainability disclosure proposals published
The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its much-anticipated proposals for a global sustainability disclosure baseline today.

Blog Post: 31 March 2022
Climate change report issued by IPCC Working Group II
The latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assesses the observed and projected risks and impacts of climate change on ecosystems, biodiversity and human society. The…
Transition to a sustainable economy

Sustainability and ESG (environment, social and governance) issues are rising to the top of the agenda.
The transition of the economy to align with the Paris Agreement aims and the UN Sustainable Development Goals is set to dominate the next decade. Explore our insights on developments in the key themes in the sustainability transition.
Related brochures

Our Global Environmental, Climate and Regulatory Law Practice

AO credentials for ESG
Recognition
They have a high-level environmental practice with a lot of excellent lawyers across various offices.
Chambers USA 2021, Environment
They are able to get us to the right folks extremely quickly and ensure we receive timely answers; it is a seamless process.
Chambers USA 2021, Environment
One of the team's greatest strengths is its impressive global practice and knowledge of laws in different regions, offering expert knowledge no matter which country you are doing business in.
Chambers USA 2021, Environment
Great strategic advice and leading transactions very well.
Chambers UK 2021 (Environment)
Very good technical knowledge.
Legal 500 UK 2021 (Environment)
Commercial and responsive.
Legal 500 UK 2021 (Environment)
Recommended content

Countdown to COP and beyond
Read more