Energy & Sustainability

Sustainability and decarbonisation now sit at the centre of how organisations plan, invest and govern. Decisions taken today, around assets, procurement, funding and development, will be judged against increasingly demanding regulatory standards and long-term net zero commitments. For public bodies, registered providers, developers and investors, the challenge is not whether to act, but how to do so lawfully, proportionately and at pace.

Alongside the climate emergency, ESG requirements have driven significant regulatory and structural change. Boards are expected to demonstrate corporate sustainability compliance, supply chains are subject to closer scrutiny, and disclosure obligations continue to expand. Many organisations find themselves balancing ambitious policy objectives against funding constraints, resident engagement, procurement risk and operational delivery.

This is where we advise. Devonshires acts as sustainability and decarbonisation lawyers to organisations making real-world decisions in complex environments. We provide clear, grounded net zero legal support at the point where strategy meets implementation - whether you are planning a large-scale retrofit programme, restructuring governance arrangements, or embedding ESG obligations into long-term asset and investment strategies.

Our advice is practical and forward-looking. We help you understand what is required now, anticipate what is coming next, and structure projects so they remain compliant, fundable and deliverable over time. The focus is always on helping you move forward with confidence, rather than creating unnecessary legal drag.

Our Services

We deliver sustainable energy legal services across the full lifecycle of sustainability and decarbonisation projects. Our clients include registered providers, local authorities, developers, investors, funders and managing agents dealing with portfolio-wide change as well as discrete, high-value projects.

Our work includes:

• ESG legal advice to support the development and implementation of ESG strategies, including embedding sustainability into board agendas, governance frameworks and reporting structures.
• Structuring and procurement of ESCO arrangements, energy supply agreements and customer supply agreements, with a focus on risk allocation, regulatory compliance and long-term operability.
• Advising on tenant consultation requirements, tenancy variations and housing management implications arising from decarbonisation and retrofit works.
• Updating management company structures, funding and maintenance arrangements, and joint venture documentation to support sustainable delivery models.
• Planning and procurement for sustainability projects, including the creation of compliant frameworks and dynamic purchasing systems, preparation of procurement documentation and management of procurement risk.
• Drafting and negotiating construction contracts and standard-form documentation that incorporate decarbonisation and performance obligations, alongside dispute resolution where delivery issues arise.
• Green finance and funding legal support, including advice on grant funding applications such as the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, Green Homes Grant Local Authority Delivery Scheme and Sustainable Warmth Competition.
• Solar PV and renewable energy legal services, covering lease, licence and concession arrangements, lender and third-party consents, and longer-term asset management considerations.
• EV infrastructure legal guidance, advising on the legal and practical issues surrounding the provision of EV charging facilities and adoption of new technologies to improve carbon efficiency.
• Planning advice, including negotiating and drafting planning obligations, undertaking due diligence on permissions and conditions, site assembly, and advising on local authority powers, procedures and policies.
• Asset management advice on regulatory change, resident engagement, cost recovery mechanisms and service charge structures linked to decarbonisation and retrofit programmes.

Throughout this work, we act as decarbonisation legal experts, ensuring sustainability ambitions are translated into legally robust structures that stand up to scrutiny and support delivery.