ESG & Sustainability

Behind the daily headlines on sustainability and environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues hide complex challenges such as permitting, subsidies, funding and reporting obligations. These matters affect the expectations and demands of all corporate stakeholders.
ESG & Sustainability

Tackling ESG challenges goes beyond mastering the letter of the law, it requires a vision and strategy to ensure sustainable growth.

Our ESG Team provides expert advice and solutions that are tailored to your ESG priorities. From strategic development, due diligence or regulatory optimisation, we give proactive support to ensure that ESG sustainability is built into your strategic planning process. We are here to help you navigate through the changes in the legal framework.

We cover a wide range of ESG topics such as climate legislation, the increasingly complex governance playing field, due diligence, employee benefits and pension related matters. In multidisciplinary teams, consisting of lawyers with different backgrounds and expertise, we provide an integrated approach at all times. Whether it is helping you to identify or evaluate new opportunities or manage risks, we always look beyond today to find the long-term solution.

Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our ESG experts.

Carbon Capture and Storage
CCS, the capture and permanent storage of CO2, is considered an inevitable transitional technology on the way to a climate-neutral industry sector by 2050.
Climate & Competition Law
Competition law and climate change is rapidly developing – both at national and EU level. In practice, climate change may play a role in competition law compliance, as a defence in cartel investigations, or in merger notifications.
Climate Litigation
The Netherlands is a front-runner in climate change civil litigation. Companies should be aware that there have been important developments in this field that are globally relevant.
Climate Tax
Tax often plays an important role when it comes to climate change and climate-related projects and activities.
Employment & Pensions
We provide strategic and decisive guidance to businesses on all employment law challenges with deep expertise and a sharp focus on results.
Environment & ESG
A distinction can be made between climate mitigation (reducing and preventing CO2 emissions), including the transition to renewable energy and energy conservation, and climate adaptation (adjusting the environment to the consequences of climate change).
ESG & Climate Due Diligence
We help you identify environmental, human rights and governance risks in time and make them manageable - within your own organisation and throughout the value chain. This way, you comply with applicable laws and regulations and create sustainable value for your stakeholders.
Governance
Governance and supervision within large corporations and (semi-)public institutions require careful consideration. Supervisory board members often find themselves in a complex position: they must remain sufficiently involved in the company’s management while also maintaining their independent role. Striking the right balance is essential, especially when the pressure is high and the stakes are significant.
Governance stress test
Governance challenges are growing due to shifting regulations, increasing stakeholder pressure and complex international dynamics. Our stress test provides immediate insight into how resilient a company’s governance structure is during events like takeovers, regulatory issues or major legal and legislative developments.
Hydrogen
Hydrogen is generally expected to play an increasingly important role in future energy supply as an energy carrier.
Sustainable Energy
Ever more often, renewable energy projects, including solar, wind and bioenergy, are able to effectively compete with fossil fuel based generation options which, in turn, fuels continually increasing investments in renewable energy projects and technologies.
Sustainable Finance
Sustainable finance plays a pivotal role in steering the global economy toward long-term ESG goals. It encompasses financial services and instruments that support sustainable economic activities and projects, while also ensuring that financial institutions remain resilient in the face of ESG-related risks.
Sustainable Investment
Houthoff advises fund managers and institutional investors on ESG and climate, including SFDR, the Taxonomy Regulation and the Dutch pension funds agreement.
Sustainable Real Estate
Government and private entities are increasingly seeking to protect our country’s overall health, natural environment and quality of life through strategies such as smart growth, new urbanism, and green and smart building.

Publications

13 March 2025
13 March 2025
Factsheet Omnibus proposal
28 December 2024
28 December 2024
Consultation response Bill on international corporate responsibility. Houthoff. (Dutch)
15 November 2024
15 November 2024
The Hague Court of Appeal denies all claims in climate case against Shell
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