The ESG regulatory environment is rapidly transforming, with ESG reporting requirements like CSRD, EU Taxonomy, CBAM, SFDR and supply chain due diligence requirements like CSDDD. Transparency, accountability and strategic decision making informed by impact risk assessments, like double materiality assessments (DMA) requires companies active in energy and infrastructure to maintain robust governance arrangements.
Now more than ever, credibility in terms of transition planning is essential for infrastructure owners and energy companies to meet growing expectations of investors and regulators. Diligent decision making and risk assessments are necessary to back -up Net-Zero Commitments and intermediate climate goals or other ESG claims.
How we can help
We can help you build practical governance structures, tailored reporting approaches and pragmatic risk assessments allowing companies to evidence credible transition planning. Our support enables you to minimise reputational and legal exposure, and stay ahead as rules shift.
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Work highlights
- Representing Dutch NGO Urgenda in its landmark climate case against the Dutch government
- Assisting de Volksbank with the issuance of EUR 500 million subordinated Tier 2 bonds, the first issue of this type of green bonds by a bank in Europe
- Acting as transaction counsel in the first green and social bond issuance in Belgium, issued by Cofinimmo, the first European REIT to issue green and social bonds
- Advising various clients on the implications of the proposed Dutch Child Labour Due Diligence Act
- Advising impact investors Invest-NL on the implementation of ESG clauses in joint funding agreements
- Advising Royal Dutch Shell on various matters relating to the implementation of a global access to energy project
- Assisting GOGLA, the industry organisation for off-grid energy solutions, with the updating of their ESG policies
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What others say
- Frans van der Eerden "is an excellent adviser who takes a lot of effort to pro-actively approach his clients and to stay involved with them. He cares!"
Legal 500, 2020 - Lauded as an "excellent guy" by his peers, Harm Kerstholt specialises in energy contracting and M&A transactions (Chambers Europe, 2016). Harm is listed as one of the 10 most innovative legal practitioners in the 2020 FT Innovative lawyers report for his efforts to integrate ESG principles and 'soft laws' into his energy practice.
- Jens Mosselmans "is very knowledgeable" and "a fantastic expert in procurement and genuinely lovely to work with"
Chambers Europe, 2020 - Freerk Vermeulen is recognised as a "very good Supreme Court lawyer" (Chambers Europe, 2019). Interviewees say: "He is down to earth, practical, pragmatic and has a very good track record."
Chambers Europe, 2016
- Frans van der Eerden "is an excellent adviser who takes a lot of effort to pro-actively approach his clients and to stay involved with them. He cares!"