Environmental

Broad-based Expertise in all Areas

As a key element of public business law, environmental law plays an important role at Gleiss Lutz. We advise clients extensively on all environmental law aspects of construction and planning, questions of emissions protection and waste disposal issues. We are also actively engaged in product-related environmental matters, covering both specific industries and sector-independent regulation. 

The Legal 500 Deutschland 2024

“Strong knowledge of the field, highly practical advice, precise responses to requests. Fast and efficient. (client)”

General environmental law

When implementing business projects, clients require specialist advice on environmental law. We work with them to develop practical solutions that minimise legal risks while taking full advantage of all legal options and advise extensively on waste management law, plant permits as well as soil and groundwater pollution, hazardous building materials etc.

Our lawyers have many years of experience in dealing with authorities, planners and technical experts as well as the necessary environmental expertise to handle major corporate and real estate transactions.

Product-related Environmental Law

Product-related environmental regulations are steadily increasing, both across industries and sectors. They govern, for example, the collection, treatment and recycling of waste electronic equipment and batteries.

Our advice covers all aspects of environmental regulation, regarding products, accompanying materials and packaging as well as material product requirements. We also help clients fulfil legal registration and reporting requirements and advise on questions of product labelling and end user information as well as statutory recovery obligations.

Compliance

In response to climate change and environmental problems, EU and national regulatory requirements are becoming ever more complex. As a result, businesses face a growing regulatory burden, underscoring the importance of environmental compliance advice.

We develop and optimise tailored compliance programmes for companies to help them avoid intervention by public authorities, such as the revocation of licences and permits and even criminal sanctions.

Emissions regulation

The key aims of emissions protection law are to reduce air and noise pollution. It also regulates the protection of soil, surface water and groundwater from contamination.

We advise clients on all matters relating to the Federal Emissions Protection Act and its supplementary regulations and administrative provisions, providing support with relevant approval procedures, e.g. in connection with plant construction. We also advise on international conventions that regulate the cross-border prevention of (air) pollution.

Construction and planning

We assist clients with all environmental aspects of the construction and planning process, building permit procedures as well as environmental issues in connection with zoning plans and the relevant negotiations with local authorities.

A key focus of our practice is advising clients on establishing and expanding commercial, industrial and large-scale retail projects, as well as renewable energy and development projects.

News

Germany’s Best Law Firms in Handelsblatt: Gleiss Lutz is Law Firm of the Year for Competition/Antitrust and for Restructuring and Insolvency Article
‘Best Lawyers’ in Germany – 14 Lawyer of the Year Awards and 372 recommendations Article
Gleiss Lutz advises KSBG on sale of STEAG to Asterion Industrial Partners Mandate
Gleiss Lutz advises Heidelberg Materials on acquisition of RWG Mandate
The Green Deal and EU State aid legislation: new Commission guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy Article
“Green Deal” leads to radical changes: Commission’s new draft guidelines on State aid for environmental protection and energy Article

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