Issues relating to the environment and sustainable development are at the heart of our expertise. The firm has developed cutting-edge expertise to assist our clients in dealing with the full range of legal issues associated with the ecological transition.
In a political and societal context characterised by the need to comply with environmental protection issues and meet the challenges of the climate crisis, the acceleration of the transformation of activities in all economic sectors towards more environmentally-friendly modes of production and consumption has become unavoidable.
Ecological transition and compliance with environmental standards are therefore at the heart of our public and private clients’ issues.
Our team supports economic operators evolving in the industrial and services sectors, confronted with a “compliance” target with these standards and wishing to commit themselves voluntarily to cope with the challenges of ecological transformation.
We assist our private and public-sector clients with advice – in contractual matters or audit issues – as well as with administrative or judicial litigation relating to the management of their real estate assets, the environmental risks associated with their activities, and the implementation of their development projects.
Oyat’s highly qualified environmental law team has developed a “Project” approach, combining solid cross-disciplinary legal expertise (public/private law) and the ability to mobilise technical and financial experts able to provide with operational and secure advice.
We work in close collaboration with the Corporate team and the Digital team to secure the project on all issues relating to environmental law. This customised, operational and multidisciplinary approach is a real sign of quality for our clients.
With over a decade of experience advising the public sector, our partners are experts in the field and have built up a solid experience of dialogue with the authorities. They will be able to use this administrative culture to benefit their public and private clients.
TYPES OF INTERVENTIONS
MAJOR PROJECTS & ENVIRONMENT
- Integration of environmental legal issues into plans, programs and major public and private infrastructure or building projects
- Legal framework for projects with regard to applicable procedures and administrative authorization regimes (environmental authorization, protected species, etc.).
- Framework and optimisation of procedural timetables in line with project timetables and constraints.
- Advice and assistance to project owners and operators in the preparation and conduct of public consultation, dialogue and public inquiry procedures.
- Audit of impact studies and assistance in the preparation of regulatory files for “ICPE, IOTA” and other development or construction projects.
CIRCULAR ECONOMY & ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
- Support in defining and implementing “group” strategies for the sustainable recovery of waste (reuse, reutilisation, recycling, recovery and disposal).
- Advice on setting up waste prevention channels (reuse / reutilisation) in the building, infrastructure and public works sectors
- Analysis of sustainable waste management methods (products, by-products, end-of-waste status, waste traceability)
- Cross-border waste shipments;
- Environmental compliance & Implementation of best practices (internal guidelines, etc.)
SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF POLLUTED SITES AND SOILS
- Support policies for the control, land reserve and reclamation of industrial or commercial wasteland
- Support in operating industrial sites, until the termination or transfer of activities, negotiations with administrative authorities
- Valorisation of excavated soil and construction site waste
- Management of the legal and reputational risks associated with environmental liabilities
FACILITIES AND INDUSTRIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
- Strategic support in managing industrial and technological risks or impacts on health and the environment
- Support in the operation of industrial sites until the termination or sale of activities
- Environmental risk management in corporate transactions
- Advice on the preparation and monitoring of risk management documents (safety management systems, technological risks prevention plans, safety studies, health studies) for major industrial sites (“Seveso”, “IED”, INB).
SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT & BIODIVERSITY
- Management of water resources & major projects (“IOTA” authorizations, water development schemes, hydroelectric concessions, micro-power station operating authorizations, ownership rights, terms and conditions for occupying the public river domain…)
- Definition and implementation of “to avoid, to reduce, to offset”. measures & damages to biodiversity
- Environmental damage (civil and criminal environmental law)
- Hydroelectricity and environmental risk management
- “GEMAPI”(water management, aquatic environments, flood prevention) & risk planning
ENVIRONMENT & REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS
- Contractual management of environmental risk & Transactions (drafting and negotiation of environmental clauses and warranties of liability for land sales contracts, due diligence, approaches to regulatory authorities, etc.)
- Integration of circular economy and energy transition approaches into real estate projects
- Advice to owners of properties to be built on polluted land: change of use, third-party applicants, protected species files, environmental compensation, land clearing
- Audits carried out to assist clients as part of acquisition transactions and to check that real estate assets comply with environmental regulations and legislation.
- Assistance in the preparation of regulatory files for the sale of industrial sites and the cessation of industrial activities (ICPE/environmental authorisation files, etc.).
- Waste management litigation
- Litigation relating to environmental authorisations (ICPE, water, protection of nature and protected species, etc.)
- Renewable energy litigation (wind, solar, etc.)
- Environmental civil litigation – neighborhood disturbances / summary expert appraisal proceedings / environmental real estate litigation / environmental liability (Directive 2004/35), general or specific civil liability (moral prejudice to associations, ecological prejudice, group action, neighborhood disturbances, latent defects warranty).
- Administrative litigation (annulment litigation / administration liability / authorisation litigation / failure to act to ensure compliance with the interests referred to in Article L. 511-1 of the French Environmental Code)
- Innovative litigation on “climate justice” & “protection of the right to a healthy environment”.
RANKING & AWARDS
LEGAL 500 EMEA 2024
Romain Canot / Recommended Lawyer
Ranking of the Best Law Firms in France 2024 by Le Point
- Environmental Law / 4 Stars
DÉCIDEURS - LEADERS LEAGUE - RANKINGS 2024
- Energy & Environment – Waste management Law – Law Firm – France – 2024 / Excellent
- Energy & Environment – Classified installations for environmental protection, polluted sites and soil, industrial wastelands – Law Firm – France – 2024 / Excellent
- Energy & Environment – Environmental Litigation – Law Firm – France – 2024 / Highly recommended
Law Trophies 2024
- Environmental Litigation / Rising Team
