Across both the public and private sectors, environmental considerations are a priority.
Whether you are in the public sector or private sector, applying green outcomes to your own organisation or setting policy for others, we support our clients to achieve their green commitments both in their ‘business as usual’ work, as well as with new, leading green projects. As legal advisers, we help clients deliver projects with the “how” – how can it be done?
But we can also help clients with the “what” – what can and should you be doing to achieve green objectives?
A key focus and commitment for us is to support our public sector clients in the critical role that they play in addressing the climate change crisis at both national and local level. We will be providing information and support to those seeking to do more, starting with how to truly embed “green” practices into everyday ‘business as usual’ activities across all practice areas.
How do we achieve this?
We are on hand to assist central government bodies do their part in reaching Net Zero, including advising on:
The construction sector is playing a central role in the shift to a low-carbon economy. The sector’s greenhouse gas emissions are significant; but re-mapping the Built Environment is a key part of the Green Industrial Revolution and our construction lawyers are here to help.
When entering into agreements with providers, contracting authorities can include “green” provisions, which:
The development of “green” infrastructure is a critical part of meeting the UK’s net zero commitments and we have advised on numerous environmentally-focused projects involving water resilience, renewable energy, and electric vehicles. We can assist with the wide-ranging implications of green projects, including planning, subsidy control, procurement and regulation.
Our Planning team are able to help clients to understand and comply with national and local planning policies including:
We are able to advise contracting authorities seeking to incorporate social value into their procurements by advising on:
Our real estate team can assist local authorities and developers with achieving sustainable projects, whether it be incorporating ‘green’ infrastructure such as electric vehicle charging points or renewable energy options into redevelopment schemes, or advising on provisions to include within estate portfolio leases to support environmentally-friendly objectives.
We are on hand to advise local authorities on the new obligations introduced under the Environment Act 2021 in relation to waste procurements, including allowing built-in contract flexibility to create a robust solution which also allows for future changes introduced by regulations under the Act.
We are committed to helping local authorities to meet their green goals and achieve their Net Zero targets.
As part of this commitment, we are offering 10 hours of pro bono legal advice to one local authority each quarter on green projects in the feasibility phase.
As part of our commitment to helping local authorities innovate in the green space, our infrastructure and energy partner, Steve Gummer has teamed up with Steve Cirell to produce a series of thought pieces about what local authorities could be doing to further the green agenda.
Read moreRetrofitting represents the single biggest environmental challenge as the UK seeks to keep its net zero commitments. This series aims to provide legal and policy ideas for retrofit.
Read more14 October 2026
3 March 2026
Author: Kamran Zaheer On 4th March 2026, the European Commission is expected to table a proposal titled the “Industrial Accelerator Act (IAA)”. The IAA is an EU industrial policy measure aimed at accelerating the build out of clean industrial capacity and reducing strategic dependencies in key net-zero value chains. In practice it is expected to…
Read more18 September 2025
Smart metering is becoming a central part of the UK water industry’s digital transformation, offering opportunities to improve efficiency, customer service and sustainability. As water companies move toward smarter infrastructure, legal, regulatory and procurement challenges are emerging, particularly around data management, privacy and system security. Understanding these issues is key for water companies, regulators and…
Read moreSteve, Head of Net Zero at Sharpe Pritchard LLP, has extensive experience in regulated and net zero projects.
He specialises in environmental matters, electricity projects, power purchase agreements, and district heating. Steve advises on PPP structures, complex project finance, and works with public authorities on subsidy control, competition, procurement, and commercial contracts.
Get StartedWe are committed to reaching net zero. As part of this commitment, we work to reduce our carbon footprint year on year, driving sustainability throughout our organisation.
Recycling and reducing landfill through donations of useable equipment
Office supplies delivered by electric delivery vehicles
Our office is powered by 100% renewable electric energy
Powering down to save on energy consumption
Where it’s necessary to print, a new tree is planted for every tree’s worth of printing
