Matthew Germain

Matt leads our Environment and Sustainability practice and the Net Zero part of our Decarbonisation team. He supports clients from a wide range of sectors in all aspects of environment and sustainability law, often advising GCs, boards and senior leadership teams on global risk management and governance in this area of law.

His areas of expertise include helping clients with strategic risk and compliance, the law relating to sustainability due diligence, climate change, taxonomies, natural capital, supply chain impact, waste, circular economies and pollution liability.

Matt also supports clients on real estate transactions where he leads on complex contamination liability risk, often involving environmental insurance.

Environmental, social and governance (ESG) is of increasing importance for businesses. As a lead lawyer in our ESG service group, Matt guides multi-disciplinary international teams to support clients as they seek to comply with existing and incoming law.

On natural capital Matt advises on emerging areas of biodiversity law as well as the creation and transacting of environmental credits, including in the voluntary carbon market.

Helping you succeed in tomorrow's world

Alongside my client practice, I have the privilege of leading Osborne Clarke's own net zero and sustainability strategy as the chair of our executive Sustainability Steering Group. The firm recently set science-based targets and is one of the few UK law firms to commit to the SBTi's net zero standard.  This part of my role has really helped me understand the challenges our clients are dealing with in transitioning their businesses to net zero alongside the even greater challenge that climate change brings for all of us and our planet.

"Matthew Germain is a clear expert in the area, giving calm and measured responses on matters of great concern to the business."

Environment client, Chambers and Partners