--- title: "Environmental and ESG Litigation" id: "2006" type: "expertise" slug: "environmental-and-esg-litigation" published_at: "2026-01-25T17:22:25+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-23T09:10:34+00:00" url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/environmental-and-esg-litigation/" markdown_url: "https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/expertise/environmental-and-esg-litigation.md" excerpt: "Protecting businesses from emerging environmental and ESG disputes The rapidly evolving and increasingly complex framework of environmental law and ESG obligations exposes companies to significant legal risks, with major reputational, financial, and operational consequences. These risks often materialize through permit..." taxonomy_language: - "English" taxonomy_post_translations: - "pll_6976515115bd3" taxonomy_tax_expertise: - "Environmental and ESG Litigation" taxonomy_tax_famille_expertise: - "Dispute Resolution" --- ## Protecting businesses from emerging environmental and ESG disputes The rapidly evolving and increasingly complex framework of environmental law and ESG obligations exposes companies to significant legal risks, with major reputational, financial, and operational consequences. These risks often materialize through permit refusals, administrative sanctions, ecological liability claims, litigation arising from the duty of vigilance, or accusations of greenwashing. Before disputes arise, we assist clients with regulatory compliance assessments, securing ICPE authorizations, managing contaminated land, and implementing sustainability reporting and vigilance plans. In the event of litigation, we act before all relevant courts, including administrative, civil, and criminal jurisdictions. Working closely with our White-Collar Crime team, we represent clients in environmental criminal proceedings and in the negotiation of Judicial Public Interest Agreements (CJIP). ## *our*Capabilities ### (01) Environmental Permits and Regulatory Compliance Litigation When facing challenges to permit refusals, appeals against ICPE decisions, or obligations to remediate sites, we develop defense strategies and represent our clients before administrative courts. Our work also covers the closure of classified sites, disputes involving pollution and environmental harm, and the enforcement of environmental warranty provisions. This expertise provides industrial operators with the legal security they need in a regulatory landscape that is constantly evolving. ### (02) Liability Actions, ESG Disputes, and Duty of Vigilance The growing scope of ESG obligations and the duty of vigilance exposes companies to increasing litigation risks, including ecological liability claims, accusations of greenwashing, and duty of vigilance disputes. We assist businesses in preventing and managing these high-stakes matters, where financial and reputational exposure is significant. Working closely with our White-Collar and Compliance teams, we represent clients before criminal courts and in the negotiation of environmental Judicial Public Interest Agreements (CJIP). Collective excellence at the service of the *highest standards.* Team [Olivier Attias ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/olivier-attias/) [Hélène Billery ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/helene-billery/) [Vincent Brenot ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/vincent-brenot/) [Astrid Mignon Colombet ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/astrid-mignon-colombet/) [Valérie Munoz-Pons ( Partner )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/valerie-munoz-pons/) [Charles Maurel ( Senior Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/charles-maurel/) [Victoire Le Calvez ( Associate )](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/collaborateur/victoire-le-calvez/) Précédent Suivant ## Contact Us ## *our*References Environmental and ESG Litigation #### Industrial company – Environmental criminal law Advising an industrial company on environmental criminal law in an investigation regarding the discharge of effluents into the sea from its French facility. Environmental and ESG Litigation #### Gas operator – FSRU litigation Representation of a major player in the energy sector in various disputes brought against its Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) project in France, in a context marked by Russian gas import restrictions. Environmental and ESG Litigation #### Business aviation manufacturer – Green taxonomy dispute Advising and assisting a business aviation manufacturer in an annulment action before the Court of Justice of the European Union against a delegated regulation adopted pursuant to the European regulation on the European green taxonomy. *Rankings* & Recognitions m - (01)Legal 500 2026 – France Environment - (02)Legal 500 2025 – Global Environment - (03)Décideurs 2025 – France Energy & Environment [More distinctions](https://www.august-debouzy.com/en/distinctions/?search_tax-expertise%5B%5D=environmental-and-esg-litigation) ## *FAQ* ### (01) How can you defend your company in environmental litigation over classified installation permits? The refusal, withdrawal or challenge of an environmental permit can halt an industrial project and expose the operator to administrative and criminal sanctions. Article L. 173-1 of the French Environmental Code, amended by the law of 24 March 2025, punishes the operation of a classified installation without a permit with one year’s imprisonment and a EUR 75,000 fine, and operation in breach of a refusal or withdrawal decision with two years’ imprisonment and EUR 100,000. We intervene from the application stage to secure permits (ICPE, IOTA, environmental authorizations), then in litigation to defend their validity before administrative courts or challenge adverse decisions. ### (02) What environmental and ESG litigation risks does the duty of vigilance create for companies? Environmental liability actions, climate litigation, greenwashing allegations and duty of vigilance claims expose companies to growing legal, financial and reputational risks. Article L. 173-3-1 of the French Environmental Code, created by the Climate and Resilience Act of 22 August 2021, punishes serious and lasting environmental harm (likely to last at least seven years) with three years’ imprisonment and a EUR 250,000 fine, which may be increased to three times the benefit derived from the offence. We defend clients against these actions and assist them in deploying vigilance plans compliant with national and European requirements (CS3D, CSRD). ### (03) How should you handle environmental criminal proceedings or negotiate a CJIP? Environmental criminal prosecutions are on the rise, driven by increased penalties and growing attention from prosecutors. The environmental judicial public interest agreement (CJIP), extended to environmental offences by the 2021 Climate and Resilience Act, offers an alternative to prosecution through a negotiated agreement comprising a fine, remediation measures and a compliance program. Working closely with our white-collar crime specialists, we represent clients in environmental criminal proceedings and manage CJIP negotiations. The goal is to contain criminal exposure while preserving the company’s operational capacity. ### (04) Why choose August Debouzy as your law firm for environmental and ESG litigation in France? Industrials, developers, operators, listed groups and investors entrust us with their most exposed disputes. Our expertise covers environmental permits (ICPE, IOTA), contaminated land, environmental liability, climate litigation, duty of vigilance, greenwashing and environmental criminal proceedings. Preventively, we analyse regulatory obligations and secure frameworks before disputes arise. In crisis situations, we coordinate the legal response, communications and dialogue with authorities to protect our clients’ interests.