Discover the diversity and dynamics in the team - between water law, circular economy and sustainability

Our colleague Sandro combines environment and law at KPMG Law – with modern technology, sustainability and interdisciplinary cooperation.

Sandro, what exactly do you do at KPMG Law – and how did you get into environmental law?

I am a lawyer and senior associate at KPMG Law in Hanover and advise in the public commercial law team, particularly on environmental law – often at the interface with regulated industries or the public sector.
My focus is on product and plant-related environmental law with a strong focus on sustainability. One particularly exciting project was the analysis of the production of green hydrogen from wastewater. This involved reconciling modern technology with an old legal framework – legally challenging, but extremely instructive from a technical perspective. The project shows how the circular economy can work and how we help to make new solutions legally viable.

What makes KPMG Law a special employer for you – and how does cooperation with other disciplines work?

I appreciate the mix of professional challenges, a focus on the common good and interdisciplinary work. At KPMG Law, I advise on socially relevant issues and at the same time enjoy a modern, flexible working environment with a lot of personal responsibility – including remote work. The close cooperation with colleagues from various legal fields and external units such as certification bodies is particularly enriching. In environmental law in particular, auditors are often in demand – and KPMG brings this expertise together under one roof. For me, this means that I can clarify complex issues quickly and thoroughly with the right contacts, without long external consultations. This not only makes my day-to-day work easier, but also broadens my own view of economic relationships. Clients benefit from holistic advice that efficiently combines legal, tax and economic aspects, saving time and resources.

What does your typical working day look like – and what helps you stay connected in the digital team?

My day usually starts with a cup of tea – small routine, big effect. This is followed by an email check and prioritizing my to-dos. The substantive client work is as varied as it is exciting: I draw up legal opinions or court pleadings, work on transactions, coordinate with colleagues on strategy or content and present the results of our work to clients. This variety ensures that no two days are the same. We don’t miss out on personal interaction either: despite working together across locations, we meet regularly for team meet-ups or take the opportunity to have lunch together. We stay closely connected digitally through weekly team calls, clear structures and very good technical equipment – this is how collaboration works at eye level, even across distances. And at the end of the day, there is often time for family, friends or sport – which I really appreciate.

How does project work actually work for you – and what helps you when things get stressful?

A clear distribution of tasks is crucial, especially for projects with a tight timeframe. Our project work is organized as follows: Partners or senior managers usually take on the strategic management, while I, as a senior associate, am responsible for the content – from the first draft to the final coordination. We ensure quality through the dual control principle. For collaboration, we use tools such as Word in SharePoint to edit documents simultaneously; we clarify more complex issues directly via Teams.

A typical project is, for example, a legal due diligence in the M&A sector: we carry out a legal review of a target company on behalf of a client – in other words, we analyze notifications, contracts or technical documents and assess possible (environmental) risks. This can cover a wide range of topics, from soil protection law and water law to waste or explosives law. We summarize the results in a report, which serves as the basis for a decision as to whether the client wants to buy the company or not.

When things get particularly stressful in such phases, a well-structured calendar, to-do lists and conscious breaks help me. Ten minutes of fresh air or a night away often bring more clarity than another hour at the screen. Which is also motivating: As a team, we can rely on each other – we pull through together, meet deadlines and celebrate our successes together at the end. This togetherness makes all the difference for me.

What makes your team special – and how do you keep your finger on the pulse professionally?

Our team thrives on a strong mix of experience and innovative spirit. We have a collegial atmosphere in which we can rely on each other – even under stress. I also appreciate the fact that any problems are addressed and discussed transparently.

I learn from more experienced colleagues every day – be it through the dual control principle, structured feedback sessions or by discussing new legal matters. I often come into contact with topics that I never saw during my studies. In one project, for example, I dealt intensively with the legal requirements for the construction of a mountain dump (landfill site) – more exotic legal matters such as mining law played a role here and environmental issues were also relevant. This was essentially new territory for me, but that’s exactly what makes it so appealing: getting to grips with new, highly specialized topics and developing the best legal solutions for clients together with the team.

We also benefit from regular training, including on soft skills. I found training courses on business knowledge or negotiation skills particularly valuable. They not only help us to sharpen our own legal profile, but also promote mutual understanding within the team – for example, when it comes to clearly communicating complex content or developing a strategy together with colleagues from other disciplines. This results in stronger cooperation and more efficient collaboration in day-to-day project work.

Where else will your professional journey at KPMG Law take you?

Having already been able to contribute to KPMG Law as a research assistant, trainee lawyer and finally lawyer, I would like to further expand my specialist focus in environmental law – professionally, communicatively and strategically. My aim is to further establish myself internally and externally as a permanent point of contact for sustainability-related legal issues.

I am very happy in my current role – it suits my interests, my working style and what I want to achieve professionally. I have the feeling that I’m in exactly the right place. I have already experienced a lot of appreciation and support in the past – I am looking forward to this in the future too

I particularly appreciate the fact that my tasks are not only professionally challenging, but also meaningful – I can really make a difference with my work. Of course, you never know what will happen in a few years’ time – but I know that KPMG Law will always provide me with the best possible support along the way. That’s why I approach whatever comes next with an open and relaxed attitude.