May 27 2008
Sullivan + Worcester LLP announced today that it has formed a Climate Change Group to address a variety of business, legal and risk-management issues arising from the global need to preserve and protect the environment.
The Group comprises lawyers from the firm’s environmental, regulatory, corporate and securities practices from the Washington, D.C., Boston and New York offices. Led by Washington, D.C.-based partners, Jeffrey M. Karp and Jerome C. Muys, the Group has advised clients on gaining approval of the first carbon-offset credits under California’s new program; negotiating long-term power purchase agreements and developing new clean energy generation facilities; introducing and marketing green, energy-efficiency and conservation products; and addressing sustainable-building initiatives.
“Members of our Climate Change Group negotiated one of the first carbon-credit contracts in the United States. There are few other law firms with experience in these transactions. Our understanding of the complex intersection of energy and environmental regulation and policy and our firm grasp of trends in the venture capital, private equity and commercial banking arenas enables us to provide solution-oriented representation and facilitate opportunities for clients to participate in climate-related programs, businesses and markets,” said Jerry Muys.
Current opportunities and incentives for investment in the climate-related energy and technology sectors are broad and diverse. Incentives range from tax credits to loan guarantees to R&D funds, and the technologies range from safeguards against major blackouts to breakthroughs in renewable forms of energy and energy conservation.
“The diverse talents of the partners in this group enable us to provide comprehensive representation to address the myriad issues that arise from today’s heightened emphasis on sustainability, energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” added Joel Carpenter, co-managing partner of Sullivan & Worcester.