Environmental Law & Permits

Comprehensive advice on environmental law & permits for all project types

Environmental law experts serving Central & Eastern Europe

Considering environmental issues at an early stage of transaction planning is essential to save time, money and unnecessary stress. Given the current European and global emphasis on green initiatives and reduction of carbon emissions, the provisions of environmental law play an increasingly important role in corporate acquisitions, as well as in the planning and implementation of energy and infrastructure projects, project development and commercial and industrial plant permitting, and are crucial for the rapid and efficient implementation of projects.

The multitude of national and European laws as well as the many regulations contained in various different laws makes it increasingly difficult to obtain a clear and comprehensive picture of the legal requirements. Through their years of experience in this field, our environmental law specialists are ideally equipped to filter out and handle the relevant questions; leading your project to success.

Key Contacts

All team members

Areas of specialisation

Environmental Impact Assessments

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA)
EIA determination and complaint procedures

Business Plant Law

Procedures for obtaining general and special plant permits
“Blocking procedures” in connection with plant permits
Procedures to determine health risks in connection with plant permits

Zoning Law

Achieving or preventing decisions under zoning property law
Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA)
SEA determination procedures
Advising on “encroaching residential areas” and on nature conservation interests as part of the zoning process

Water Law

Flood protection and hydropower projects
Subsidies for flood protection, hydropower and infrastructure projects

Nature Conservation

Nature Impact Assessments (NIA)
NIA determination and complaint procedures (also involving the EU Commission)
Defining projects as “within or outside local areas”
Assessing projects in accordance with nature conservation law

Construction Law

Construction procedures; especially in connection with EIA or plant permit procedures
Structuring procedures, e.g. with respect to the legal implications of monument conservation

Waste Law

Plant permits and approval procedures for waste plants
Issues regarding the remediation of contaminated sites

Forestry Law

Procedures for achieving clearing permits
Presentation of public interests
Forestry laws and regulations

Expropriation Proceedings

Expropriation proceedings and reassessment procedures
Property evaluation

Monument Conservation

Exemption procedures
Preventing legal protection

Highways & Roads Regulations

Providing comprehensive legal services.

Railway Construction Law

Providing comprehensive legal services.

Aviation Infrastructure Law

Providing comprehensive legal services.

Energy & High Voltage Transmission Law

Providing comprehensive legal services.

Leading the legal field

Our lawyers are involved in key transactions and matters across the region, bringing their industry expertise and specialised business knowledge to add value to our clients’ work.

Advised on CO2 certificates for natural forest areas

Legal services for the development & construction of designer outlets

Provided environmental expertise on air and noise emissions

Our environmental lawyers advise on a wide range of issues, from water to waste

Natural forest CO2 certificates

Since 2019, we have been advising Schutzgebietsverwaltung Wildnisgebiet Dürrenstein (the park management of the nature reserve Dürrenstein, Austria’s first UNESCO world natural heritage site) on numerous procurement matters, as well as environmental matters.

Most recently, we advised Schutzgebietsverwaltung Wildnisgebiet Dürrenstein regarding CO2 certificates for natural forest areas. The Dürrenstein wilderness area, as a unique natural world heritage site in Europe, is also a pioneer in the field of sustainability and climate protection. Against this background, we support our client with innovative approaches, especially by supporting options for the flora of the protected area to continually absorb CO2.

Designer outlets expansion

Our team advised Koninklijke DSM on the successful EUR 1 billion

McArthurGlen, leading developer, owner and operator of designer outlet centres in Europe and Canada, placed its trust in Wolf Theiss in all aspects regarding the development and construction of its two Designer Outlets in Austria (Parndorf and Salzburg). McArthurGlen is currently planning the renovation and further expansion of DOC Parndorf until 2022 as well as land partitioning.

Our team provides a wide range of legal services, from the environmental, traffic, design and planning based on environmental and planning law to the financing and construction aspects of the project.

Air and noise emissions for food & beverage business

Our team advised the Austrian Burger King franchisee TQSR SPN GmbH & Co KG on trade law proceedings for the establishment of a Burger King location, specifically on objections raised by several opponents.

In the course of our advice, we took into account the applicable building regulations and zoning regulations of Lower Austria as well as the provisions on the establishment and operation of plants under the Austrian Trade Act (GewO). Environmental provisions e.g. regarding air and noise emissions, were also considered.