Energy, Environment, Infrastructure

Energy Industry Law

Our services particularly include energy regulatory law, energy contract, and energy sales law.

A particular focus of our work is on energy regulatory law. We assist a variety of network operators and investors with complex regulatory issues – from unbundling and network access to tariff regulation. We advise energy suppliers and companies on all matters of energy sales law and energy antitrust law.

Our focus areas

• Regulation of Electricity and Gas Networks
• Regulatory Administrative and Court Proceedings
• Issues of Network Usage and Network Connection
• Implementation of Unbundling Requirements
• Drafting of Sales Contracts, General Terms and Conditions
• Antitrust Law Advice in Energy Sales

Environmental and Climate Protection Law – Legally Sound Strategies for a Sustainable Future

The protection of the environment and climate is one of the greatest challenges of our time. Politics, municipalities, energy suppliers, and companies all share the responsibility to develop sustainable solutions with innovation and foresight.

European and national legislation is responding with ambitious climate targets and an increasingly complex regulatory framework. This requires proactive legal support to implement projects safely, efficiently, and in compliance with environmental regulations.

We provide comprehensive advice to planning authorities, project developers, investors, and public bodies throughout all phases of their projects – from conception and approval to decommissioning or renewal.

Our focus areas

• Immission and Soil Protection Law, Circular Economy and Waste Law, Hazardous Substances Law
• Complex Administrative Procedures
• Environmental due diligence
• Environmental Legal Support for Compliance Audits
• Advice on European Environmental Law, ESG and Sustainability

Planning and Permitting Law – Legal Certainty for Complex Projects

The successful realization of construction and infrastructure projects requires sound legal planning. We assist owners, project developers, investors, and public bodies in implementing complex projects in all areas of planning and permitting law – from the initial idea to implementation, decommissioning, or renewal.

Our focus areas include supporting demanding infrastructure projects, projects in the field of renewable energies, and real estate.

With many years of experience, interdisciplinary expertise, and strategic understanding, we support projects throughout their entire lifecycle – legally sound, efficient, and future-oriented.

Our focus areas

• Planning and permitting law support for the development of real estate projects, RE and infrastructure projects, as well as in the water and wastewater sector
• Approval procedures in public building law, water law, immission control law, mining law, circular economy law, among others.
• Urban Development Contracts, Development & District Development
• Transaction Support & Public Law due diligence
• Environmental Law, Circular Economy Law, Nature & Soil Protection Law

Concessions & Rights of Way

We provide support for all issues related to concessions and rights of way and assist you with the legally sound planning, negotiation, and implementation of infrastructure projects. We ensure that both legal requirements and economic conditions are optimally considered to avoid delays and risks.

Public Commercial Law

Our legal advice in public commercial law is aimed at municipal enterprises, investment companies, and public corporations. We offer comprehensive support for all legal issues concerning municipal businesses – from the design and modification of corporate structures to the implementation of projects (especially the formation, transformation, and restructuring of companies) and representation in proceedings. The focus is on the customized design of suitable organizational and governance structures, as well as practical solutions for municipal cooperation and investment projects. Where required, we also cover compliance issues.

Our focus areas

• Legal, strategic, and tax law support for the formation, transformation, and restructuring of municipal enterprises and participations
• Selection and Development of the Appropriate Legal Form and Organizational Structure
• Drafting and Review of Articles of Association, Partnership Agreements, Rules of Procedure, and Employment Contracts for Management and Supervisory Bodies, including the Training of Municipal Supervisory Committees
• Legal Conception and Support for Inter-Municipal Cooperations – from Special Purpose Associations to Modern Private Law Corporate Structures
• Judicial and Extrajudicial Representation of Municipal Supply and Disposal Companies in all Relevant Legal Areas

Telecommunications Law

Our legal advice in telecommunications law is aimed at all market participants – especially municipal and private telecommunications network operators, service providers, and municipal utilities as asset owners. We assist you with the legally sound expansion, acquisition, operation, and sale of digital infrastructures, with compliance with regulatory requirements, and the successful utilization of funding programs.

The focus is on strategic, wholesale-capable cooperations, market regulation, M&A, contract drafting, data protection, and compliance in the competitive environment – always with a focus on practice-oriented, economically viable solutions. We also advise on issues related to rights of way under the TKG.

Our focus areas

• Expansion, Acquisition, Sale, and Operation of Digital Infrastructures – with a Focus on Municipal Asset Owners and Public Telecom Companies
• Legal Structuring and Support for Cooperation Models, as well as all Contractual Agreements in the Competitive Environment of the Telecom Industry
• Funding Law Advice, especially on Gigabit Funding 2.0 – from Application to Funding Compliance
• Market Regulation, Network Access, and Dispute Resolution Procedures (Open Access, Tariff Regulation, Fair Competition, Rights of Way)
• Data Protection, IT Security, and Compliance according to TKG, TTDSG, GDPR, as well as for the Application of AI Systems according to the EU AI Regulation

Energy Industry Cooperations and Transactions

Whether for increasing efficiencies or expanding their own business area, the energy industry increasingly relies on cooperations and transactions. We support our clients from initial considerations to implementation. Due to the comprehensive specializations within our practice group, we can take a holistic view of your project from the outset in our analyses and achieve ideal implementation.

Our focus areas

• Comprehensive due diligence
• Energy Law Review
• Structuring of Cooperations with an Energy Industry Background

Renewable Energies, Climate Protection, Energy Efficiency

A central instrument for tackling climate change is energy and climate protection law. We support companies in their transformation to achieve Net-Zero goals and sustainable business practices. Key areas of focus include, for example, the climate-friendly redesign of operational (production) processes or the implementation of requirements from emissions trading law. Innovative energy management, particularly decentralized energy generation from renewable energies, also represents an important component. Here, we offer specialized legal advice throughout the entire project cycle – from grid connection issues and support for EEG tenders, to the structuring of electricity marketing and due diligence.

You also benefit from our multidisciplinary consulting approach when implementing energy efficiency projects, utilizing funding programs, or complying with legal requirements such as the Building Energy Act (GEG) and the Energy Efficiency Act (EnEfG).

Our focus areas 

• Advice on Grid Connection Issues for Decentralized Generation Plants (e.g., RE Plants)
• Advice on Remuneration Law Issues of the EEG or KWKG
• Support for Companies in Transitioning to a Climate-Friendly Supply
• Advice on Fulfilling Climate Protection Legal Requirements, e.g., within the Framework of the GEG or EnEfG
• Advice on CO2 Trading and Requirements from BEHG, TEHG, and CBAM
• Support for the Implementation of Energy Efficiency Systems (according to DIN EN ISO 50001 or EMAS)

Heat Law

The legal framework for the heating sector presents complex challenges for heat suppliers, municipalities, and project developers. We provide comprehensive advice on all aspects of heat law: from municipal heat planning, fuel or heat procurement, to pricing in compliance with antitrust and competition law.

We strategically support projects, draft contracts at all stages of the value chain, and represent your interests in contentious proceedings – competently, efficiently, and with an eye for what is technically feasible. Our clients benefit from interdisciplinary teams of lawyers and business experts.

Our focus areas

• Contract Drafting along the Entire Heat Supply Chain – from Upstream Suppliers to End Customers, including Special Requirements for Industrial Waste Heat, Wastewater Heat, or Biomethane
• Structuring and Review of Pricing Models and Price Escalation Clauses
• Structuring and Implementation of Heat Supply and Contracting Projects, including Sales Assurance, Heat Pump Contracting, and Cooperations
• Contractual Implementation of Heat Network Expansion, the Heating Transition, and Transformation Planning
• Drafting and Negotiation of Concession and Licensing Agreements in the Heating Sector