Climate regulation
and ESG
We are at the forefront of the major debates and developments on climate requirements and ESG risks.
Climate litigation against production of combustion engines
Defence of Volkswagen AG in climate lawsuits filed by Greenpeace in civil courts, aiming to enforce the phase-out of combustion engines worldwide.
Global ESG heat map
Ongoing advice on ESG, greenwashing, and climate litigation risks across all relevant markets worldwide for one of the largest international DAX companies.
Defence against constitutional complaint
Successful representation of a major federal state in a dispute over the Climate Protection Act before the Constitutional Court against an NGO.
Climate litigation by Peruvian Andean farmer
Defence of RWE in a climate lawsuit relating to alleged climate damage in the Andes.
Cars and
new mobility
The regulatory challenges in the automotive sector exist both nationally and internationally. Before authorities, competitors and courts. We know all the playing fields. And the technical principles.
Diesel
Legal support for and management of one of the biggest crises in the automotive sector in Germany, Europe and more than 30 other countries with courts, authorities and governments.
CO₂ fleet targets and e-mobility
Advice on regulatory requirements and the limits of the EU-wide CO₂ fleet targets, possible fines and the ramp-up of e-mobility.
Autonomous driving, automated driving and teledriving
Support for and implementation of new national and international regulations for autonomous driving, highly automated driving and teledriving in test areas and new mobility concepts.
ECJ landmark cases
Representation before the ECJ in landmark cases on issues key to the future of the automotive industry.
Industry and
the environment
Protecting economic interests:
We have outstanding expertise in assisting with major industrial projects, and can provide advice on the entire spectrum of environmental law on industrial production – from chemicals, steel, and refineries to paper mills, incineration plants and power stations. Including negotiations, hearings and court proceedings.
BREF advice
Advising an international chemical company in the European Sevilla process on setting BREF standards and their implementation in Germany, resulting in a public law agreement to negotiate exemptions with the responsible federal state and the German government.
Advice against plant shutdowns
Prevention of threatened shutdowns of industrial plants and facilities (e.g. chemical industry, food industry, refineries) through negotiations with authorities and the development of transitional permit strategies, often under significant time pressure.
Chemical parks
Assistance with legal and regulatory issues for the restructuring of chemical parks for an international chemical company. Including negotiations with government agencies and federal states, and the conclusion of public law agreements.Oil industry
Conversion of existing large and complex facilities to meet modern precautionary requirements. Successful negotiation of transitional solutions and defence against prohibition and shutdown orders.Industry transformation
Structuring of and guidance on transformation projects for companies in the steel, chemical, refinery and energy sectors for decarbonisation.
Finance and
Insurance
Expert guidance on complex regulation and policy-related advisory. Specialised in regulatory consulting for financial and insurance institutions, as well as governments. Our advisory services are closely aligned with both institutions and policymakers, and backed by over 25 years of experience in public and private banking, insurance and financial market regulation.
Bank levies
Representation of credit institutions in landmark cases over the continuation and reimbursement of bank levies from 2011 to 2014, totalling €2.3 billion, as well as the legality of bank levies from 2020 onward.
Restructuring, transformation, merger
Providing advice to state banks, development banks and savings banks on restructuring, reorganisation, merger and divestment processes, on institutional and regulatory structural issues and amendments to legislation.
Residual debt insurance
Representation of numerous national and international insurance companies in constitutional disputes over the structure and future of residual debt insurance.
The state
and Europe
Expertise in complex regulation and policy-oriented Advisory
The state and Europe set the framework for businesses – through regulation and contracts. For over 30 years, we have provided reliable solutions, backed by in-depth legal expertise and extensive experience of the political process. For both businesses and the public sector.
Expropriation
Constitutional representation against initiatives for the expropriation of companies, land and property.
Defence of property
Structuring, negotiation and conclusion of the development fund agreement between the energy industry and the federal government for the absorption of benefits from former lifetime extensions for nuclear power plants, as well as representation in the constitutional court in the nuclear energy phase-out.
Financial market stabilisation
Providing support during the financial crisis to the Federal Government with the Financial Market Stabilisation Act, Rescue Takeover Act, creation of the Financial Market Stabilisation Agency and follow-up issues (resolution agencies, Single Resolution Fund, etc.).
Freedom of information
Experts on environmental information and the protection of companies’ trade and business secrets against disclosure requests from third parties.
Energy
We know all about the energy transition. We protect companies and we shape: nuclear energy; coal; onshore and offshore wind energy; solar; natural gas; hydrogen; pipelines; power plants; gigawatt factories.
Nuclear power
Advising multiple nuclear operators on restructuring of responsibilities in nuclear waste management and the short-term extension of power plant operations following the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine. Long-standing advice to nuclear operators, including negotiations on lifetime extensions and constitutional complaints over the nuclear phase-out.
Offshore wind energy projects
Permitting process for the He Dreiht offshore wind farm (EnBW), one of Europe's largest energy transition projects (€2.4 billion investment). Advising on offshore wind energy from the very beginning, supporting numerous projects in the North and Baltic Seas. Successful constitutional complaint. Design of regulatory concepts.
Gigawatt Factory
Support for the implementation of Gigawatt Factory projects on LEAG mining sites, with a planned capacity of 7 GW in solar and wind energy.
Coal phase-out
Advising RWE AG in negotiations with the German government on the coal phase-out through a public law contract and the Coal Power Generation Termination Act (KVBG), and also the Commission’s state aid decision.Datteln IV Power plant
Advice and representation in licensing and court proceedings, creation of the conditions for the successful operation of the power plant.Hydrogen mobility
Advice on the use of hydrogen in road and air transportation, as well as mobility by rail and sea.
Infrastructure
and transport
Successfully implementing investment decisions. We support and shape projects during the planning phase and throughout complex permitting processes. We provide innovative input for efficient regulation to secure large infrastructure projects, engaging stakeholders and the public. We defend projects in court.
Fehmarn Belt Crossing
Representation of a ferry port operator affected by expropriation: defending the ferry connection in landmark planning approval and court proceedings.
Airports
Representation in landmark proceedings on the levying and structuring of airport charges. Planning procedures for airport expansions.
Grid expansion
Advising on and defending multiple grid expansion projects in the electricity and gas sectors, including core hydrogen grid projects.
Mining and
raw materials
Dealing with far-reaching impacts: complex approval procedures for open-cast and underground mines, mining damage, the extraction and processing of raw materials, the cessation of mining with far-reaching consequences, the settlement
of financial provisions for land rehabilitation, as well as cavern and geothermal projects – we provide guidance at the leading edge of developments.
Energy sale
Advising a major European energy company on the sale of its lignite division, including five open-cast mines, and all related mining law and regulatory scenarios and issues.
Raw materials consulting
Advising investors on the exploration and extraction of raw materials (lithium, ore, copper, cobalt, nickel, gypsum and gravel).
Coal phase-out
Consulting for RWE AG in the negotiations with the federal government on the coal phase-out through a public-law agreement and the Coal Power Generation Termination Act (KVBG ), as well as the state aid decision by the Commission.
Safeguarding reutilisation
Conception and negotiation for securing financing for the reutilisation of LEAG’s open-cast lignite mines through public law contracts with the states of Brandenburg and Saxony (volume: several billion euros).Flooding of open-cast mines
Comprehensive long-term advice on the flooding of open-cast mines and the creation of lakes in coalfields in eastern and western German with reference to laws on water and mining procedures, regulatory frameworks and public law contracts.
AI and the data economy
The considerable advances in artificial intelligence represent both an opportunity and a risk, making this a classic area for regulation. After all, its task is to enable innovation and minimise risk. Here, too, we are at the forefront.
Consulting
- AI systems in corporate practice
Regulatory advice on the introduction of RAG systems
AI regulation and data management law
- Workshop on AI regulation at KI Park
- Practical seminar on the Data Act
- AI governance in the company
Assistance in times of crisis
When the going gets tough and it’s very urgent. When the very existence of a business or an entire sector is threatened. When political sensitivity, experience, total commitment and a willingness to fight are required – we stand by your side.