We are actively involved in climate policy development at the federal, state, and local levels.

For decades, California, Oregon, and Washington have led the nation in regulating greenhouse gas emissions. We have counseled clients on early-state emission mitigation and offset requirements. We now advise clients on federal and state permitting and reporting requirements, as well as a variety of clean energy, cap-and-invest, and renewable fuels programs.

In addition to compliance advice, we represent clients in transactions concerning allowances and offsets under various regulatory programs. We also counsel clients on trade policy, emissions assessments, carbon sequestration projects, carbon reduction legislation, and clean building requirements.

In recent years, we have seen a political back-and-forth at the federal level about climate-related disclosure requirements. The current administration has questioned the Environmental Protection Administration’s long-standing greenhouse emission reporting requirements, and the Securities and Exchange Commission has refused to defend the previous administration’s climate disclosure rule for public companies. We counsel clients on the uncertain and rapidly changing disclosure requirements.

We also counsel clients on far-reaching greenhouse gas emission, carbon offset, and climate-related financial risk disclosures that California now requires from many public and private companies doing business in the state.

Companies with global operations increasingly find themselves subject to a wide range of reporting requirements established by different countries. Many companies have also made voluntary commitments to make disclosures based on the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures’ recommendations, the Science Based Target Initiative, the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or other voluntary frameworks. We help companies navigate these requirements and protocols.

Clients turn to us for help developing and implementing carbon reduction strategies. We advise on emissions mitigation, carbon-free energy commitments, transactional agreements and deal structures, renewable power purchases, contracting and verification processes, and climate-related regulatory issues. Our clients have included major technology companies, global retailers, and public utilities. We have also helped clients increase carbon-free energy use in regions of the United States, where organized wholesale markets currently do not exist.

Clients seek our help in the development and monetization of carbon offset and sequestration projects. We provide strategic advice to lead investors involved in potential multibillion-dollar projects to generate carbon reduction credits from tropical forest restoration, sustainable agroforestry, and conservation. We have advised clients on Section 45Q tax credits, potential public funding opportunities and opportunities to sell carbon reduction credits, and the assessment of the value and integrity of offset projects selling into the California compliance market.

We live in a time of rapidly developing climate technologies. These technologies focus on reducing or capturing greenhouse gas emissions, or on adapting and strengthening our resilience to climate change. Thousands of companies are developing climate technologies and billions of dollars are being invested.

We support emerging climate technology companies throughout their lifecycle, providing strategic legal and business counseling. Our team has managed thousands of venture capital and private equity financings, from pre-seed to growth stage. Our patent attorneys help clients develop, protect, and monetize their intellectual property.

We also counsel venture capital firms and others looking to invest in climate technology. Our team represents funds, investment advisers, and independent board members in many matters. We have also helped many market-leading companies establish corporate venture divisions.