The desire to move towards net zero is reshaping the way businesses invest, develop, and operate across the energy, real estate, and environment sectors. Clients face mounting pressure to decarbonise, comply with evolving regulations, and secure assets that will stand the test of time.
Whether adapting portfolios to meet new energy efficiency standards, financing and delivering sustainable developments or carrying out substantive green refurbishments, clients turn to us for clear, commercially focused advice. The need to future-proof real estate assets and manage environmental risk is driving demand for tailored legal strategies that address both immediate challenges and long-term opportunities.
We support clients at every stage of their built environment needs - from strategic planning all the way through to project delivery. Our experience spans energy efficiency projects, green construction developments, renewable energy, and nature-based solutions such as reforestation. With teams operating across borders and disciplines, we provide seamless support on all aspects of the built and natural environment, including matters such as sustainability-linked loans, acquisitions of green buildings, energy efficient developments and large-scale energy transition projects.
Clients choose us for our deep sector insight, collaborative approach, and ability to anticipate what’s next. By combining legal expertise with commercial understanding, we help clients build resilient, sustainable businesses ready for the future.
Our Services
- Advised DBS on a large £400m office development financing including achieving BREEAM compliance.
- Advised Tristan Capital on the lettings aspects for The Welcome Building in Bristol targeting net zero carbon in operation and BREEAM 'Outstanding'.
- Advised Aquila Energy Efficiency Trust, a London-listed investment trust, investing in energy efficiency assets, on its London IPO to the Main Market.
- Advised various real estate clients on EPC and MEES requirements, including compliance with current obligations and the future requirements (both enacted and expected) between now and 2030.
- Advised on a sustainability-linked loan to refinance the acquisition costs of a warehouse property. The facility agreement integrated ESG targets, with a focus to increase Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) ratings and maintain current BREEAM Excellent ratings.
- Advising a market leading commodities trader on its South American reforestation projects, including advising in connection with the financing and sale and purchase of carbon credits on the voluntary market and the related security arrangements.
- Advising on the “Lee Valley Heat Network” which will see hot water piped from North London Waste Authority’s Edmonton energy-from-waste facility to Enfield council’s new £1.5billion housing development. The Combined Head & Power (CHP)-enabled Edmonton EcoPark has the capacity to supply low carbon heat to 5,000 homes. This included drafting and negotiating the offtake arrangements.
- Advising the contractor on the construction, operation and maintenance of a 60,000-tonne capacity Energy from Waste facility in Exeter.
- Advising a global commodities trader on a master sale and purchase agreement relating to Australasian compliance market carbon allowances.
- Advising on a multi-million USD facility, with the proceeds to be used under a prepayment agreement with an Australasian forestry company for the purchase of carbon credits, with local security.
- Acting for a contractor in relation to a dispute with its joint venture partner in respect of the design and construction of a clean electricity transmission link.
- Advised on the contract for construction and delivery of plant and materials to Dong Energy for the Burbo Bank offshore wind project.
- Acting on a large number of power station disputes, including for a subcontractor in a claim against the main contractor in respect of the construction of a hydroelectric power station, a Local Authority in relation to a dispute arising out of the construction of a waste to energy plant, and a number of contractors on various biomass plants.
- Advising a market leading commodities trader on its South American reforestation projects, including advising in connection with the financing and sale and purchase of carbon credits on the voluntary market and the related security arrangements.
- Advising a global commodities trader on a master sale and purchase agreement relating to Australasian compliance market carbon allowances.
- Advising on a multi-million USD facility, with the proceeds to be used under a prepayment agreement with an Australasian forestry company for the purchase of carbon credits, with local security.
Awards and Recognition
"Stephenson Harwood sees right through the complexity and is able to distil it in a way that makes it easy for us to understand."
"The firm shows a high level of detail and diligence. They have a commercial approach to transactions. The team has a high client focus and is extremely responsive."
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