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ESG

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) criteria are at the forefront of corporate strategies, due to investor, customer and regulator expectations. The topic has been gaining momentum and is expected to accelerate in the coming years.

ESG is broadening its scope of influence to cover all economic and policy sectors now. From energy, finance and urban planning to tax – these are just a few of the areas that are being impacted.

We advise clients – from multinationals to start ups – in all sectors and areas of ESG-related law, including future mobility, climate change strategies, ESG due diligence and risk assessments, corporate digital responsibility, sustainable supply chains, whistleblowing, ESG funds and green real estate finance.

At CMS, our approach is integrated and multidisciplinary – this enables us to anticipate and understand the issues in the rapidly evolving ESG landscape which in turn allows us to develop innovative solutions for and with our clients.

With their in-depth expertise in these areas, our teams of lawyers around the world identify risks and threats while seizing opportunities arising from the increasing focus on ESG for our clients.

Our aim is to help our clients successfully meet the demands of climate change, technological disruption, urbanisation and social concerns.

Please contact any of our ESG lawyers to explore solutions to your needs.

Quotes 2023

Legal 500 EMEA

Green guide - France

CMS
UN Global Compact signatory firm CMS counts on a specialised French team that often advises clients on sustainable finance matters.

In collaboration with the firm’s Spain office, the French team, led by Céline Cloché-Dubois and Alexandra Rohmert, recently advised Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy on the sale of a 3.9 GW portfolio of onshore wind projects worth €580m to SSE Renewables. The portfolio includes projects in France, Italy, Spain, and Greece. The team also recently assisted TKYB with its first sustainability bond worth €100m; it was issued under TKYB’s Sustainable Finance Framework, which is aligned with the International Capital Market Association Green Bond Principles, Social Bond Principles, and Sustainability Bond Guidelines. At least 75% of the proceeds of the issue of the bond will be used to fund green projects.

In 2021, the firm formed a partnership with the French National Forest Office, planting 2.5 hectares of trees and offsetting 407 tonnes of carbon emissions. To measure its carbon footprint and set emission reduction targets, the firm will work together with D-carbonise, a provider of carbon footprint management services.

Firmwide measures include the launch of the CMS Green Globe initiative, a platform which aims to keep clients updated about trends and developments relating to sustainability. It also offers training sessions to clients, helping them stay ahead of the ESG regulatory framework.

Choose an area

Clean Energy, Environment & Climate Change
With more than 450 lawyers in 75 offices across the globe, our Energy & Climate Change Group is one of the largest of its kind.It was founded on g
Governance, Risk & Compliance - GRC
Companies across all sectors and of all sizes are facing increasing pressure from investors, customers and regulators to comply with environmental, so
Social / Human rights
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) strategies often concentrate more on environmental issues. However, social factors are increasingly import
Sustainable Finance
Environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations are integral parts of sustainable economic development and play an increasingly important ro

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19/07/2024
Commission Delegated Regulation on sustainability disclosures for STS se­cur­it­isa­tions...
IntroductionThe Commission Delegated Regulation, supplementing Regulation (EU) 2017/2402 (the “Se­cur­it­isa­tion Reg­u­la­tion”[1]), entered into force on 8 July 2024 (the “Commission Delegated Regulation”...
08/07/2024
Legal guide for company directors and CEOs in France
Because environmental, social and governance (ESG) is such an increasing focal point of good corporate governance, we address ESG duties and responsibilities first. For more general duties and re­spons­ib­il­it­ies...
05/07/2024
ESAs’ final reports on Greenwashing in the financial sector
Back­ground­Man­dated by the European Commission (the “EC”) in May 2022, the European Supervisory Authorities (“ESAs”) published their individual final report (the “Final Report”) on greenwashing...
20/06/2024
ESAs propose improvements to the SFDR and suggests introducing categories...
BackgroundOn 18 June 2024, the three European Supervisory Authorities (EBA, EIOPA, and ESMA, collectively known as the ESAs) published an opinion (the Opinion) on the evaluation of the Sustainable Finance...
15/05/2024
The European Commission reports on the open and targeted consultations...
BackgroundThe Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR1) applies since March 2021 with a view to providing transparency to investors about the sustainability risks associated with their investments...
09/04/2024
Plastics and packaging laws in France
1. What is the general legislative framework regulating packaging and plastics waste? Waste prevention and management is regulated by French Environmental Code (FEC), as modified by the Law on the Circular...
Comparable
12/03/2024
After EU Commission's first decision on Carbon Contracts for Difference,...
The European Commission approved the first Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) scheme under the new Guidelines on State aid for climate, environmental protection and energy 2022 (CEEAG).Fol­low­ing the...
23/02/2024
The CBAM – what is it and how will it affect the market?
Regulation (EU) 2023/956 establishing a carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) entered into force on 17 May 2023. The implementation of the CBAM has been divided into a transitional period (from 1...
19/01/2024
Greenwashing: Stricter EU rules on environmental marketing ban misleading...
On 17 January 2024, the European Parliament voted to adopt the Directive on Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition (the ECGT Directive), which seeks to protect consumers from various misleading...
19/01/2024
CBAM: Just over a week to comply
As the deadline for the first Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) report approaches on January 31st, it is crucial for undertakings engaged in importing relevant goods into the European Union to...
08/12/2023
COP28: Global Health Under the Spotlight
Health took centre stage at the first ever ‘Health Day’ at COP28 on 3 December. The program focused the attention of world leaders on the profound public health-related issues stemming from climate...
24/11/2023
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism transition in effect since 1 October...
On 1 October 2023, a two-year transitional period began for implementation of Regulation (EU) 2023/956, which introduces the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). CBAM levies punitive CO2 charges...