Environmental
and Urban Planning Law

Every acquisition requires an accurate assessment of present and future environmental risks. We conduct audits covering regulatory compliance in areas such as waste management, soil and water contamination, biodiversity, energy, urban planning, and classified installations. These reviews also integrate ESG considerations and relevant ISO standards. The findings directly inform the drafting of contractual provisions, environmental warranty clauses, and liability transfer mechanisms. This approach ensures that each transaction is conducted with full security and visibility over potential environmental risks.

From the earliest planning stages, we work to secure all required administrative authorizations, including ICPE permits, pollution emission approvals, IOTA authorizations, and building permits. We negotiate easements and land-use restrictions, monitor regulatory developments, and assist clients in their interactions with administrative authorities. In the event of an incident, pollution event, or major crisis, we intervene to defend our clients’ interests and safeguard operational continuity to the greatest extent possible. This ongoing oversight ensures that sites remain fully aligned with evolving legal and technical requirements.

The closure or transfer of an industrial site involves complex administrative procedures, including site remediation, decontamination, redevelopment, transfer of responsibilities, and the implementation of the third-party applicant mechanism. We advise clients on environmental provisions in sale and acquisition agreements, oversee remediation and redevelopment work, and assist project owners throughout the process.

These operations require precise coordination between legal constraints, operational timelines, and financial imperatives. We facilitate the transition from one operator to the next within a fully secured legal framework.

Eco-contributions, the TGAP, sector-specific taxes (including nuclear, oil, electricity, and transport), waste charges, and energy-related levies: more than a dozen environmental tax mechanisms now apply to businesses. We assess their financial impact and assist clients in understanding regulatory developments and implementing an appropriate strategic response.

Solar plants, wind farms, and hydroelectric facilities all require sophisticated structuring to move from concept to operation. We support the development of energy infrastructure projects in France and abroad, covering legal structuring, administrative authorizations, contractual relationships with operators and local authorities, and project financing.

These projects call for cross-disciplinary expertise in energy law, urban planning, and environmental regulation.

Local authorities, businesses, and treatment operators rely on our support for all legal aspects of the waste sector. We assist with public procurement, negotiation and drafting of collection, transport, recycling, recovery, and disposal contracts, whether involving local or cross-border waste streams.

We also assist with facility operations, risk audits, reuse strategies, producer responsibility, and waste traceability. This comprehensive approach enables the development of compliant, sustainable, and efficient waste management systems.

Class actions, noise and odor nuisances, pollution incidents, challenges to permit refusals, and environmental warranty claims: our experience covers the full spectrum of environmental disputes. We defend our clients’ interests in both pre-litigation and litigation phases, during court-appointed expert proceedings, and before administrative, civil, and criminal courts.