Climate Change

"We understand and respond
to the legal and commercial
issues and opportunities
surrounding climate change"

The issue of climate change has risen to the forefront of our social consciousness. The Rudd Government's ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, the preparation of a national emissions trading scheme and the introduction of a national renewable energy target presents significant investment opportunities and challenges for lenders, investors and corporations.

At HDY we have a team of leading experts from our Environment & Planning, Financial Markets & Derivatives, Corporate and Financial Services practice areas to assist companies, lenders and investors to fully understand and respond to the legal and commercial issues and opportunities surrounding climate change.

Our practice area covers:

• advising on high-level trends in climate law and policy
• providing advice on voluntary emissions trading
• advising on compliance with statutory reporting obligations
• developing and structuring carbon trading strategies
• advising on emerging opportunities in environmental markets for funds, property trusts, investors and financial institutions
• drafting commercial agreements for carbon trading
• advising on potential carbon offset schemes and their carbon credit potential
• financing of carbon and renewable energy projects
• advising on the structure and formation of renewable energy investment funds
• structuring and documenting investment opportunities in the alternative energy sector
• providing advice on environmentally sustainable investments

Our track record includes:

• advising property funds on the application of Commonwealth legislation dealing with reporting energy use and consumption
• advising a waste management company on its climate change strategy
• advising an international agri-business company on its climate change strategy and measures for obtaining carbon credits
• advising one of Australia's largest property owners on opportunities in bio-banking and carbon trading

View recent publications

Key Contacts

Nicholas Brunton (Practice Leader)
Grahame Cooper
John Currie
Scott Murray

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