Heller Ehrman helps its clients grapple with the burgeoning legal and regulatory requirements affecting carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Our multifaceted Climate Change Practice, combining the disciplines of environmental, energy, insurance recovery, clean technologies, intellectual property, venture capital, project finance, tax, complex commercial litigation, and international dispute resolution, creates substantial resources for clients to comprehend trends, weigh options, and take intelligent action through corporate planning, transactions, and litigation.  This multidisciplinary approach gives our clients the tools to reduce risks and costs – and maximize opportunities – in this rapidly evolving area of the law.

Our climate change representation includes:

• Evaluating the ramifications of local, regional, national and international GHG emission limits and thresholds.
• Advising on corporate governance issues related to GHG risk, including potential SEC disclosure requirements and events triggered by annual meeting shareholder resolutions on GHG emissions.
• Assessing the shorter-term costs and longer-term benefits of reducing GHG emissions voluntarily.
• Determining how to reap economic advantage from the growing number of GHG cap-and-trade schemes and voluntary markets, such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and the Chicago Climate Exchange.
• Assisting both traditional and emerging enterprises to develop renewable and other energy-efficient products and processes, including solar, wind and coal gasification, by helping them establish joint ventures and other strategic alliances, obtain start-up financing, commercialize their products through technology licensing and protect their intellectual property.
• Recovering insurance proceeds for GHG liability or losses.
• Reducing litigation exposure, including advising on how to adhere to existing regulatory schemes such as California’s AB 32 and anticipating new standards.
• Defending clients facing agency enforcement and litigation actions involving GHG emissions.
• Assessing the level of competitive threat to high-emission industries and pinpointing when making energy-efficient investments becomes economically viable.
• Evaluating and commenting on proposed legislation and regulations.