environmental law
Schoenherr's experts provide legal advice in all environmental law matters, such as climate change, and in planning and permitting projects.
"This large international firm has an excellent reputation for its environmental practice. The team offers a full service in environmental and energy regulatory matters."
Schoenherr is highly specialised in the field of environmental law, including climate change, planning and permitting, and is acclaimed for advisory in respect of infrastructure projects (motorways, railways, airports), renewable energy projects (hydropower, wind parks, PV, power2x, etc.) and the permitting of large industrial and commercial infrastructure.
The team also provides advice on special industries, including pulp, paper, automotive, steel, mining, waste, wastewater, food, glass, energy, utilities, entertainment and research. The team is most prominent in EIA proceedings and nature conservation as well as planning and permitting issues, but is also highly specialised in climate change and emissions trading issues, clean-up proceedings, water rights and waste management law, forestry law, chemical and product law, public environmental liability, environmental criminal law, compliance and comprehensive due diligence.
our services
- planning
- construction
- all kinds of permitting procedures (plants as well as products)
- environmental impact assessments
- clean-ups
- Administrative and the Constitutional Court procedures
- environmental liability advice
- strategic advice
- legal opinions
- due diligence
- compliance
- preparing and assessing draft legislative bills
- entertainment: We are experts in obtaining permits for all kinds of entertainment and sports events.
- ski resorts: We regularly advise operators of ski resorts and ski lifts on environmental issues.
- waste management: We specialise in regulations of waste, waste management, and the recovery of energy from waste products. We also act for public bodies and assist them in laws pertaining to waste collection, recycling and disposal.
news
newsletter
Hungary toughens criminal penalties for environmental offences
Hungary has amended its Criminal Code (Act C of 2012), significantly broadening the scope of environmental offences and introducing tougher penalties. The changes mean that environmental breaches previously treated mainly as administrative compliance issues may now also give rise to criminal liability for both the individuals involved and the companies on whose behalf they act.
These criminal-law changes come against the backdrop of a broader tightening of environmental enforcement. Significantly higher environmental fines are already in force as of 25 October 2026, and a national environmental authority is scheduled to begin operating on 1 January 2027. For more details, see our earlier article: https://www.schoenherr.eu/content/hungary-overhauls-environmental-enforcement-and-launches-concession-reviews
info corner
Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz Infocorner
Der mit großem Interesse erwartete Entwurf für das Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz (EAG) wurde gemeinsam mit Änderungen des ElWOG 2010, GWG 2011, ÖSG 2012 und weiterer Gesetze (EAG-Paket) am 16.09.2020 in Begutachtung geschickt. Im Erneuerbaren-Ausbau-Gesetz Info Corner sollen die wesentlichen Eckpunkte des EAG-Pakets dargestellt und praxisrelevante Rechtsfragen behandelt werden.
team
our team
Our team of environmental law experts advises on matters across the CEE region.