Practice area: Sustainability

Sustainability

  • 3 October 2024
A man holding a mug while conversing with a woman in a lounge setting, surrounded by plush chairs and lush indoor plants.

Supporting your sustainability journey

Sustainability is now a core consideration across the UK real estate market. With buildings responsible for a significant proportion of global carbon emissions and regulatory expectations continuing to evolve, owners, investors and developers are under increasing pressure to respond – while still protecting value and meeting commercial objectives.

Our real estate sustainability lawyers advise clients at every stage of their sustainability journey, from early strategy and compliance through to delivery on the ground. Whether you are navigating ESG requirements, net zero targets, biodiversity net gain, or green regulation, we provide clear, pragmatic legal advice that supports long‑term decision-making.

Working across all real estate sectors, including commercial, residential, rural, planning and construction, we bring together the expertise needed to embed sustainability into transactions, developments and asset management. Our advice is grounded in the realities of the UK market and focused on helping you move forward with confidence.

With government net zero targets fast approaching, we’ll guide you in building a strategy that helps you meet your sustainability goals – and we’ll work with you along every step to get there. So whether it’s a large scale development or you’re looking to let a building, we’ll be there from heads of term stage through to completion.

Get in touch to hear more from our sustainability experts.

  • Drafting for a sustainable future

  • Biodiversity

  • Green regulations and certifications

  • Renewable energy infrastructure

  • Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure

  • Natural capital

Sustainable City Charter

We are pleased to be a signatory to the Sustainable City Charter, supported by Westminster City Council and the Westminster Property Association. This commitment reflects our approach to achieving net zero, and we look forward to working along with the other Charter signatories in continuing to reduce emissions in areas including energy use, procurement, construction, deliveries, transport, and waste.

Sustainable City Charter logo

Rooftop solar: Unlocking a major opportunity for commercial real estate

Why does rooftop solar remain significantly under deployed across the sector?

Read the article
Solar panels on a roof

Making renewable energy work

Solar energy is changing how owners, developers, investors and occupiers think about real estate.

Solar energy
Solar panels on a roof

Sustainability briefing sheets

A modern building with large windows and vertical slats stands amidst lush green trees, sunlight filtering through leaves, creating a vibrant, serene urban environment.
Financing biodiversity net gain requirements: who pays?
Modern brown buildings with rooftop greenery overlook a landscaped park, featuring winding paths and lush trees under a partly cloudy sky.
Biodiversity net gain (BNG): planning updates and practical issues
An electric car is charging via a wall-mounted charging station in a modern garage with wooden paneling and potted plants.
Electric vehicle charging points: a practical guide for property owners
Vertical garden wall displaying lush green plants; suits contemporary walkway with overhead hanging greenery, bright natural light filtering through glass ceiling, creating a serene, natural atmosphere.
MEES and EPCs for commercial property in England and Wales
Skyscrapers in a cityscape; the foreground buildings are covered with lush greenery, while other modern glass structures reflect sunlight. Surrounding the buildings are city rooftops and a clear blue sky.
NABERS explained: a briefing note for UK commercial property
A building features lush greenery and plants densely covering its staggered balconies, creating a vertical garden against a clear, bright sky.
Landlord and tenant ESG requirements in real estate
Vines cascade down a modern building's glass facade, reflecting a bright blue sky dotted with clouds.
Construction ESG: design, performance and contractual considerations

Meet our team

Louise Irvine
Louise Irvine

Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer, Commercial Real Estate

Louise Irvine

  • 21 September 2024
Louise Irvine

Louise is a Senior Knowledge Development Lawyer in the Commercial Real Estate team where she keeps the team’s knowledge and resources up-to-date in relation to legal and market developments. Working as a fee earner for ten years before moving into the knowledge team, Louise has an excellent understanding of both real estate and the commercial challenges faced by clients.

She frequently provides legal training to all levels within the Commercial Real Estate team, alongside providing support on the wider skills needed by lawyers such as drafting, grammar and psychological safety. Taking pride in being approachable and responsive, Louise enjoys working with many teams across the firm and finding pragmatic solutions that allow clients to achieve successful transactions.

Louise has a strong interest in sustainability and provides training both internally and to clients on sustainability legislation and trends and on green lease drafting. This often sees her collaborating with clients and suppliers to work towards mutual net zero carbon goals. She also follows the latest legal technology trends and enjoys looking at how to eliminate risk and improve efficiency within the team.

Edward Glass

  • 29 August 2024
Edward Glass

Edward Glass is Counsel in the Commercial Real Estate team and is experienced in a broad range of commercial property work, including acquisitions and disposals, development projects, real estate finance and leasing, where he advises across all property sectors. He also advises on the real estate aspects of corporate transactions.

He has a particular focus on sustainability trends in commercial real estate and contributes to various industry publications, such as EG and Property Week. In particular, he advises on green leasing, ESG regulation in the built environment and the co-location of renewable energy infrastructure with commercial real estate. Edward is also interested in the impact of technological innovation on the industry, particularly in the context of ESG factors.

Keeping abreast of trends impacting real estate sectors, Edward is able to advise his clients accordingly and ensure they are always ahead of the curve with industry developments. This is especially important with the ever-changing environment for sustainability and technological innovation.

Edward plays a key role in our graduate recruitment programme and mentoring trainees once they have joined the business.

Victoria Towers

  • 29 August 2024
Victoria Towers

Praised for providing ‘invaluable and dynamic input to her clients’ businesses’ (Chambers UK 2026), Victoria is Head of the Commercial Real Estate team and Co-Head of Industrial and Logistics. She specialises in development, investment, acquisitions, pre-lettings and complex forward funding transactions.

Ranked in the leading legal directories, clients note: ‘Not only is Victoria an excellent lawyer with in-depth knowledge of our business, but she is always seeking to further develop this knowledge and understand how she can add more value’ (Chambers UK 2026). With extensive experience across the real estate sector, she has particular expertise in the industrial and logistics market, acting primarily for developers and investors. Her experience also extends to the office, restaurant and leisure sectors.

Victoria works closely with clients to understand their strategic objectives and provide clear, commercial advice that supports their long-term goals. She is known for her hands-on approach and for helping clients navigate complex transactions and development projects.

Victoria leads the Commercial Real Estate team’s sustainability offering, working with clients on sustainability initiatives across their portfolios and advising on the evolving regulatory and commercial landscape affecting the built environment.