Germany: Environment
The past year has seen numerous developments in Germany’s environmental policy. Recently announced plans to close all German nuclear power plants by 2022 in the wake of the Fukushima Daiichi crisis, as well as the implementation of the European Commission’s Waste Framework directive, REACH regulations on the safe use of chemicals, and the WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) directive have all created demand for regulatory advice, while cautious market recovery has seen a return to larger projects and transactions. The following 15 lawyers are the most highly regarded practitioners in this busy and dynamic marketplace.
Noerr is the best represented firm in our research, with three of its partners ranking highly here. Martin Ahlhaus is recognised for his “world class” expertise in EU and public environmental law, encompassing WEEE and REACH matters and constitutional and communal finance work. Uwe Erling is also noted for his public and administrative law work and his “top tier” climate change, renewables, air traffic and natural resources knowledge. Petra Samson comes recommended for her environmental, regulatory and public law advice in commercial transactions and is noted in particular for her “very strong” experience in energy law.
Frankfurt’s David Elshorst brings strong real estate and planning law knowledge to the table in his environmental transactional and emissions trading work, and he is one of two lawyers to earn recognition at Clifford Chance LLP. Also listed is Düsseldorf-based Manfred Rebentisch, whose practice focuses on nuclear, waste and emissions trading transactions, and who is hailed as “outstanding” by peers.
Bettina Enderle at Allen & Overy LLP in Frankfurt is noted for her “extremely broad” practice, which encompasses contaminated land, green real estate, emissions trading and REACH compliance alongside environmental liability disputes and litigation, and has seen her act for Pamplona Capital Management, Abu Dhabi MAR and VERBUND AG in recent matters.
Gleiss Lutz fields administrative law expert Clemens Weidemann, whose waste management, energy, REACH, public planning and disputes work marks him out as a “national leader” according to sources.
Baker & McKenzie’s Ulrich Ellinghaus has advised the likes of Hewlett-Packard and Eaton through recent environmental regulatory compliance issues and is internationally recognised for his health and product safety work.
Fritz von Hammerstein represents CMS Hasche Sigle and brings “excellent” energy, mining, and property and public planning expertise to the bear in environmental transactions and disputes, having acted on behalf of K+S KALI GmbH and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company in recent matters.
Wolf Friedrich Spieth co-heads the low carbon energy group and acts as managing partner of the Berlin office of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP. A “major player” in project and infrastructure development, emissions trading and carbon economy matters, Spieth regularly advises clients on the environmental aspects of complex transactions, including chemical and nuclear facility developments.
DLA Piper LLP benefits from the inclusion of German litigation and regulatory group head Ludger Giesberts, whose compliance and environmental disputes work for chemical, energy and public utilities sector clients is “well recognised” among respondents to out survey.
Dirk Uwer’s practice encompasses environmental regulatory and compliance, healthcare and life sciences work and he is a “very prominent and well respected” name at Hengeler Mueller.
Redeker Sellner Dahs name partner Dieter Sellner focuses on emissions control, waste law, mining and atomic energy matters and is “highly regarded” by our sources. Waste, pollution and environmental protection expert Claus-Peter Martens is a “leading” name in planning and development projects and represents Murawo Rechtsanwälte Notare. At Dolde Mayen & Partner, name partner Klaus-Peter Dolde specialises in the environmental aspects public and administrative law and is a “stellar” practitioner according to peers.