Service

Climate Change and Sustainability

Get the support you need on your decarbonisation journey. We can help you navigate complex and evolving climate-related regulations and opportunities.

How we can help

Our specialist team understands the opportunities, risks and compliance requirements of Australia’s energy transition.

We can help you navigate complex climate regulations, ensuring compliance with the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme, Safeguard Mechanism and other regimes. We stay ahead of policy shifts, engaging with regulators such as APRA, ASIC, ACCC and CER. We also advise on international developments, helping clients capitalise on opportunities under the Paris Agreement’s climate finance and cooperative approaches.

Beyond compliance, our expertise extends to carbon and environmental markets - working with project developers, intermediaries and corporate buyers. We support the development of innovative financial products and decarbonisation projects, ensuring robust climate-related disclosures and effective risk management. Our team also represents clients in climate litigation, helping them anticipate and mitigate legal, financial and reputational risks.

Services

Meet your emissions goals while ensuring compliance. Seize investment opportunities and stay on top of evolving climate regulations.

Carbon and environmental markets

Advising on legal frameworks, trading strategies and risk management for carbon credits and biodiversity credits.

Clean energy and decarbonisation projects

Supporting clients across the project lifecycle, from strategic planning and investment options to project structuring, environmental considerations and carbon credits.

Climate finance and investment

Assisting clients with carbon market derivatives, green and sustainability-linked products and financing and M&A environmental issues.

Climate law and policy

Helping clients navigate climate regulations, compliance and policy shifts to align with climate goals and disclosure standards.

Climate litigation

Supporting clients in climate disputes, managing climate-related and greenwashing risks and advising on strategies to help with climate disclosure.

Climate Change and Sustainability experience

Salubris

In relation to the proposed establishment of ACCU project development vehicles in partnership with various separate First Nations groups.

A First Nations client

On establishing an indigenous-led ACCU project vehicle, joint venture arrangements with an international carbon credit trader and financier, ACCU purchasing and pastoral landholder agreements.

SustainCERT

On developing a new Impact Unit product. We advised on the regulatory requirements for this product and developed registry documentation to track proof of custody and transactions.

Carbon Asset Solutions

On the development and implementation of its carbon sequestration methodology to generate high-quality carbon credits.

A global resources company

On drafting its master carbon credit purchase agreements and advising on a number of negotiations with key counterparties.

TEG

On entering a long-term carbon credit offtake agreement with Beyond Ag Pty Ltd for selling and purchasing ACCUs from an innovative biological waste carbon credit project.

Port Hedland Green Steel

On various aspects of its proposed project in the Pilbara, WA to produce Hot Briquetted Iron (HBI) with increasing amounts of domestically produced renewable hydrogen.

An energy company

On regulatory issues, including AER exemption, for Australia's first installation of a photovoltaics and battery storage system at a multi-tenanted property powering communal and individual units.

Norsk Hydro ASA

On its $150 million 'Regrowth Kurri Kurri Project' involving remediating, redeveloping and rezoning its 2000-hectare former Kurri Kurri Aluminium Smelter Site for conservation purposes.

Tellus Holdings

On the development and expansion of the Sandy Ridge Project in WA which is Australia’s first geological waste repository and circular economy facility.

A waste-to-energy company

On project financing options and planning and environment law considerations for a proposed waste-to-energy facility in Victoria.

BP and Macquarie Group

On the Australian Renewable Energy Hub, focusing on project structuring and approval pathways for developing power and hydrogen transmission infrastructure.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia

In relation to structuring and advice on carbon market derivatives and ACCU financing involving secured prepayment structures.

Major Australian and offshore banks

On the development of green and sustainability linked fixed income products including green and ESG-linked notes, deposits and repurchase agreements.

National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation

In relation to various issuances under its sustainable bond programme.

Deutsche Bank

On restructuring existing hedges that it had previously entered into with AirTrunk to support AirTrunk’s hedging for its $4.6 billion sustainability linked loan.

Global Green Growth Institute

On project financing options and planning and environment law considerations for a proposed waste-to-energy facility in Victoria.

A carbon project developer

On tripartite arrangements to support an impact investment fund providing finance to underwrite the purchase of a pastoral property to enable the development of a carbon farming project.

GreenCollar

On transactional and regulatory matters, supporting its international projects business and new product development like the NaturePlus crediting scheme.

Australian Government Department of Climate Change

On preparing guidance for Indo-Pacific partners on IPCOS readiness for international carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

LRI

Supporting least developed countries in the COP negotiations, including advising on the establishment of a loss and damage fund.

A global resources company

On the developments and outcomes from the 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP28), as well as the implications of those outcomes.

Green Climate Fund

On several programs including the establishment of a results-based payments pilot and assisting with the review and drafting of governance documents and policies.

Various Governments

On the development of climate law and policy and the implementation of emissions trading schemes or tradeable offset markets.

An Australian gas company

On its response to a s.33 notice from ASIC seeking information about potential greenwashing in its corporate disclosures.

An Australian corporate

On Safeguard Mechanism reforms, emphasising a careful approach to minimise greenwashing risks amid high regulatory scrutiny and litigation potential.

An environmental crediting standard developer

On greenwashing risks stemming from public statements in relation to a new environmental crediting standard and options for mitigating these risks.

A global beverage company

On the management of a potential claim for substantiation from the ACCC in relation to the environmental and carbon neutral credentials of its products.

A global resources company

In delivering strategic litigation training and reviewing key legislative changes that may impact litigation risk, while developing a strategic approach to managing that risk.

A carbon project investor

On the performance of carbon services obligations under lease arrangements.

Testimonials

Client first thinking

I'd say in Australia they're now the premier firm.

Chambers Asia-Pacific 2024

Awards

Band 1 in Climate Change

Chambers Asia-Pacific and Global 2024

Explore Insights

Related insights

Key Contacts

People who perform

Upholding standards, pushing boundaries

Ilona Millar

Partner
Sydney

Christopher Marchesi

Special Counsel
Perth

Louise McCoach

Special Counsel
Sydney