Consulting focus
Procurement
The legal requirements regarding the consideration of sustainability criteria in procurement, for example as a result of the recent amendments to the Federal Climate Protection Act, and the expectations regarding the exemplary function of the public sector are increasing. This increases the complexity of award procedures enormously. We support you in integrating environmental and social aspects into the purchasing and procurement process in a legally compliant manner and in reconciling them with profitability goals.
Supply Chain
As a result of current legal developments, companies are increasingly required by law to comply with due diligence obligations – especially from a human rights and environmental perspective – in their supply chain and to ensure this through an appropriate management system. We advise companies on the legally compliant design and implementation of a supply chain compliance management system and its efficient integration into the existing governance organization. This reduces sanction and liability risks.
Sustainable Finance
The market for green financing is growing. However, regulation in this area is complex and poses major challenges for the financial industry. In addition to traditional green financing, sustainability-linked loans have now also increasingly conquered the German financial market. In some cases, there are already recommendations for best practice, but no green finance standard exists yet. At KPMG Law, we can also advise you with comprehensive expertise on all legal issues relating to sustainable finance.
ESG Due Diligence and M&A
Sustainability is also perhaps the biggest megatrend in the investment industry. As a result, corporate ESG performance – especially legal compliance with sustainability requirements – is moving into the focus of investors and executives. We have developed Legal ESG Due Diligence to meet our clients’ growing need for advice in this forward-looking market. This can be booked as an individual service or as a component of a standard legal due diligence or IPO readiness assessment.
Product Compliance
Manufacturers, importers and distributors of products must ensure that their products comply with the applicable legal requirements. We support companies in positioning themselves in a legally secure manner in relation to the relevant and usually frequently changing product law requirements – throughout the entire product life cycle. This reduces product liability risks and strengthens customer confidence in the products.
Human rights and diversity
ESG criteria also apply to supply chains. Compliance with human rights is an essential expectation of contractual partners and end consumers, particularly in the context of international manufacturing and production processes. We support you in taking all necessary measures to avoid the violation of human rights in your area of responsibility.
Another consideration from an ESG perspective is diversity. Diversity does not just mean avoiding discrimination against individuals or entire groups of people on the basis of certain criteria. It is also and above all a matter of making positive use of the personnel and social diversity that exists in your company and thus leveraging existing potential. Whether, for example, recruiting, remuneration transparency or opening up career paths – we at KPMG Law provide you with comprehensive support in being a modern and open employer.
ESG Corporate Governance
In the course of sustainability efforts and the assumption of social responsibility, the expectations of a company’s management and monitoring tasks are also changing. Our ESG Corporate Governance realigns corporate processes on the basis of sustainability criteria or social and human rights aspects, either in a value-creating or accompanying manner. This can reduce liability risks and reputational damage.
Business Continuity Management
Energy and environmental law
Protecting the environment and climate is the central challenge of our time. In this context, energy and environmental law has gained enormous relevance in recent years and at the same time is subject to constant changes according to European and national regulations. At KPMG Law, we provide comprehensive advice on all aspects of energy supply and generation, climate protection subsidy programs, hydrogen generation and all topics related to electromobility.
Construction and Real Estate
In view of the fact that energy-related CO2 emissions currently account for around 40 percent of the total, the issue of climate protection will be of immense concern to the real estate industry in the coming decades. The regulations for this are already complex and will permanently change the real estate sector. Thus, the sustainability of real estate will increasingly influence the real estate market and thus form the future focus for investors as well as influence financing conditions. Sustainable redevelopment will enjoy special public support and will be the economic goal of stockholders, helping to shape community development. At KPMG Law, we offer comprehensive real estate legal advice combined with cutting-edge PropTech and ConTech tools to successfully navigate the existing and expanding complexities of this topic – for our shared sustainable future.
