Climate and Clean Technologies

The global transition to a low-carbon, less resource-intensive, and more sustainable economy is well underway. It comes in the wake of the dramatic shift of our energy system toward clean energy over the past decade. From 2010 to 2020, renewable energy went from 10 percent to 20 percent of U.S. power generation and is on track to provide one-third to one-half of our electricity—and perhaps as much as 70-80 percent—by 2030. Cleaner electricity, combined with greater electrification and other carbon mitigation strategies, is critical to stabilizing the climate in the decades ahead.

Following the clean energy revolution, the broader economy is undergoing a green transformation in the areas of electric transportation and charging infrastructure, mobility solutions, food systems, the built environment, and low-carbon technologies and business models. This next phase of the climate imperative—driven by a new wave of economic opportunity, policy incentives, and technologies—is a critical period in our move to net zero. Green investments are at an all-time high and continue to grow. The time to act is now, as we build the economy of tomorrow.

With such great opportunity comes challenges, including how to make the transition in a way that is equitable, competitive, and resilient. As the leading law firm to innovative technology and growth companies, and given our deep roots in the industry dating back to the beginnings of the transition to clean energy, Wilson Sonsini is uniquely positioned to advise the next generation of innovators at the heart of transitioning to low-carbon and clean technologies.

We have built a sophisticated, mission-driven climate and clean technologies practice anchored by experienced, creative attorneys who represent hundreds of innovative companies at every stage—from emerging companies to mature enterprises. The firm also represents leading strategic investors, venture capital firms, private equity firms, project investors, and other lenders actively involved in commercializing climate solutions and project finance. Our attorneys are the bridge from opportunity to successful action in this unprecedented era of change.

Industrial Decarbonization

Wilson Sonsini’s clients are leaders in technology and business model innovations that enable cost-effective reduction of industrial carbon emissions, including from chemical manufacturing, petroleum refining, iron, steel, and cement production, as well as food and agriculture. These industries are using advanced technologies to improve energy efficiency, electrify certain processes, and shift to low-carbon fuels and feedstocks using methods such as:

• Integrating green hydrogen fuels
• Replacing higher carbon fuels
• Advancing completely novel technologies as a replacement to traditional processes
• Developing industry standards and carbon markets

Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS)

An increasingly important component of the low-carbon economy will be the advancement of technologies that remove carbon from energy generation and industrial processes, or remove carbon directly from the air. These technologies may be integrated into an industrial decarbonization strategy or, as in the case of direct air capture, operate independently to mitigate carbon emissions elsewhere in the economy.

Wilson Sonsini’s clients are developing technologies that will be critical to lowering the cost and improving the viability of CCUS. These companies are also deploying the first full-scale projects utilizing these new technologies and accessing capital to finance these projects.

Sustainability and Resource Management

Wilson Sonsini brings to bear our unique perspective and experience working with companies at all stages of growth in helping to advance clean technology. The companies we work with are addressing resource constraints by developing groundbreaking solutions for clean technologies in areas that include:

• Water efficiency
• Recycling
• Biofuels
• Smart cities
• Low-impact mining
• Green chemicals
• Forestry
• Water-to-energy
• Green buildings
• AgTech

A Cross-Disciplinary Focus

The firm’s Climate and Clean Technologies practice encompasses the interrelated areas of:

• Emerging Companies
• Patents and Innovations
• Venture Capital and Private Equity
• Technology Transactions
• Corporate Governance and ESG
• Intellectual Property
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Project Development and Finance
• State and Federal Regulation
• Large commercial and industrial customers’ carbon mitigation transactions
• Project Finance and Tax Equity
• Joint Ventures
• Sustainability and Decarbonization
• Tax and Tax Equity
• Finance and Structured Finance
• Real Estate
• Regulatory and Compliance

The team that supports the Climate and Clean Technologies practice also routinely supports clients in the Clean Energy, Mobility, and FoodTech and AgTech industries.