Climate Change is the firm’s newest practice group. The group was formed to address issues brought about by changes in the climate and the objective to reduce greenhouse gases by means of emissions trading.

Examples of the consequences of climate change include, among others, hurricanes, torrential rain, high water levels and flooding, high groundwater levels, erosion, and landslides. The consequences of these events create issues that lead to new regulations for the entire European region and result in changed preconditions for companies and organisations. Climate change also leads to a new area of application for new and existing laws and affects all industries and areas of legal operations. The Climate Change group brings together specialists from different areas of the firm to work together on the business opportunities and strategies that are developed as measures to address climate change.

Derivative trading for emission rights and emission credits requires specific expertise which the Climate Change group possesses. Emissions trading primarily concerns CDM projects (Clean Development Mechanism) and JI projects (Joint Implementation). Legal practice in this area consists mainly of drafting agreements involving the purchase, sale and pledging of emission rights and emission credits. The group’s expertise also includes financing of and investments in cleantech projects and renewable energy projects.

Since CDM and JI projects are often implemented in countries where the firm has offices, the firm is able to offer a unique full service concept including advice on all aspects of international projects.

Assignments regularly handled by the Climate Change-group include:

Banking and Finance:

• Purchase financing and structured financing concerning cleantech projects and renewable projects
• Project financing in conjunction with CDM or JI projects, derivates of emission rights, certified emission reductions and emission reduction units
• Advice on agreement drafting in conjunction with transfer of emission rights, certified emission reductions and emission reduction units
• Pledging of emission rights, certified emission reductions and emission reduction units

Corporate Commercial:

• Joint Ventures in conjunction with the implementation of CDM or JI projects

Corporate Taxation:

• Mergers and acquisitions, re-organisations, financing solutions, tax proceedings and preliminary rulings

Disputes:

• Disputes in court and before arbitration tribunals

Environment:

• Permits for emission of carbon dioxide, allocation of emission rights, emissions trading and electricity certificates
• Application for approval and implementation of CDM or JI projects
• Applications for permits under the Swedish Environmental Code for business concerning the production of renewable energy
• Regulatory issues, increased risk of ground contamination spreading, environmental damages, changed use of land, increased existence of water activities

EU and Competition:

• Advice concerning changed conditions due to new or amended legal instruments from the EU as well as court proceedings

Funds and Investments:

• Establishment of Carbon Funds
• Financing issues in conjunction with acquisitions

Insurance:

• Changed insurance terms and conditions, litigation and disputes and settlement in conjunction with damage

Mergers and Acquisitions:

• Acquisitions and transfers, joint ventures, re-organisations, due diligence and mergers

Real Estate:

• Construction contracts in conjunction with CDM or JI projects, changed conditions concerning development plans, unusable building rights and encroachment matters
• Disputes connected to properties, construction contracts, etc.

Securities:

• Capital procurement by means of emission rights pledging, certified emission reductions and emission reduction units