Key climate trends from 1,300+ lawyers

The insights paint a dynamic, complex, and (let’s be honest) occasionally chaotic picture.

Mar 24, 2025

Hi! I’m Matthew Karmel, founder of the planetary lawyer project and Chair of the Environmental and Sustainability Law Group at Offit Kurman. (Any views expressed are my own. Nothing here is legal advice.)

I started my career as an associate with a single pro bono climate client and am now the head of a cutting edge climate-focused practice group at a full-service AMLaw 200 law firm.

I started this newsletter to help you build your own climate-friendly legal career by sharing hard-won lessons from my own career, short interviews with other climate-focused lawyers, legal developments, and relevant job opportunities.

I feel a little bit like I’m hosting Family Feud today…

Every year, we do an annual survey where you get to share your feedback to help make this newsletter better.

If you haven’t done so yet, please fill out the survey.

It is critically important to our work.

And it leads to some of our best content every year because we get to answer your questions.

So please fill it out right now before you keep reading.

Okay, now that we’ve gotten that out of the way.

In our survey we asked you to identify the most important trends and issues shaping the world of Climate and ESG.

Your insights paint a dynamic, complex, and (let’s be honest) occasionally chaotic picture.

Here’s what stood out from your responses:

Changing Regulatory Requirements on Climate Disclosures: The regulatory landscape is evolving quickly. There is uncertainty about the future of some pending regulatory requirements, and that uncertainty is likely to continue. But we also expect more disclosure and reporting requirements to impact companies in the near future.
Voluntary Adoption of ESG Initiatives by Businesses: The flip side? Some companies aren’t waiting for mandates — they’re moving ahead with ESG initiatives voluntarily. Whether it’s genuine commitment or smart branding (or both), this trend is reshaping the corporate landscape. The best part? It’s creating new opportunities for legal professionals to guide strategy and ensure accountability. We’re going to talk about this at the upcoming Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp, and share some tools to embed climate goals into contracts. Join us virtually on April 22/23.
Diversifying Our Idea of Who/What is a Climate Lawyer: Environmental law isn’t just one thing. It never was, but it is changing before our very eyes. We’ve been talking about thinking of climate lawyers as including real estate lawyers working on renewables, employment lawyers working for EV companies, corporate lawyers forming climate startups, patent lawyers handling emerging cleantech, anyone helping a climate cause or company to make a difference, with whatever legal skills are required. Every lawyer can be a climate lawyer, and the industry is seeing that too,
Government Attacks on Climate/ESG and Deregulation: Let’s not sugarcoat it — climate and ESG initiatives are facing pushback in several political corners. From anti-ESG legislation to deregulatory efforts, there are a lots of reasons for concern. Some good news though, we’re going to have a panel on how lawyers can get involved in these issues at our upcoming Climate Pro Bono Bootcamp. It is not to be missed. Still need to sign up?
Local Community Initiatives: Big global policies get the headlines, but local climate and environmental justice movements are driving real, tangible change. I’ve been involved with several “smaller scale” local community initiatives, but the impact of these initiatives have been anything but small. Plus, it feels good to have a direct and immediate impact on your community. We expect these local projects to be even more important in the next few years. (Oh and we’re covering this at the Bootcamp as well. I guess we set a good agenda if we’re hitting so many of the hot trends!)
Impact of AI on Clean Energy: I’m not really sure about the impact of AI on climate, but it is an important issue. Proponents talk about benefits, like AI is transforming clean energy, from optimizing solar grids to predicting climate impacts with stunning precision. Detractors talk about the massive energy usage of AI. How do we navigate this as part of the just transition? I guess that’s why this is such a key trend.

So, what’s the takeaway from all this?

(Besides that you shouldn’t miss the Bootcamp?)

I think the takeaway is that there are big battles being fought over climate and ESG, and that there are also other places where there is no need to fight, just commit resources and move forward.

Both things are critically important, so where are you best suited to help?

Let’s keep the conversation going. What other trends are you seeing?

Insights and Sponsors

This week’s issue is sponsored by Green Pro Bono, a nonprofit that matches lawyers with climate-related pro bono work. There are such a wide range of opportunities for lawyers that want to have an impact to collaborate with Green Pro Bono. Click here to get involved and start doing pro bono climate work.

Now, look no further for insights on all things climate, as well as resources from our sponsors!

Now onto this week’s job opportunities.

Have a lead on a job opening? Share it here.

Did you miss an issue? Want to see all the current job postings? Check out our job board here!

Private Practice

Lateral Hub powers this week's private practice opportunities! Lateral Hub is the online lateral job board for where top-tier large, midsize, and boutique law firms publish openings so you can browse and apply directly - it's free to use, no account required.

You can even get SMS job alerts from Lateral Hub tailored to your practice area and location.

Associate, Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick. SF, DC, NYC, Austin, Houston. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0036 . Orrick is seeking an associate with 3-6 years’ experience in energy and infrastructure joint ventures and/or M&A. Salary Range: $235,000 - $390,000.

Associate, Environmental Transactional. Proskauer, New York. https://lateralhub.com/job/146-0003. Proskauer is seeking a jr./mid-level associate (2-4 yrs) with experience at a large firm in handling the environmental transactional aspects of complex M&A, private equity, financing, and real estate matters. Experience with environmental regulatory compliance matters, brownfield clean-up and other remedial matters, and matters relating to sustainability, climate change and renewable energy is preferred. Salary Range: $215,000- 415,000.

Associate, Environmental, Energy + Telecomm. Robinson + Cole. Multiple Offices. https://lateralhub.com/job/140-0036. Robinson+Cole seeks an associate with 2 to 5 years of experience to join the Environmental, Energy + Telecommunications Practice Group in any of its East Coast offices. Salary range: $185,000 to $202,500

Associate, Energy & Project Development. Morgan Lewis. Washington DC, Chicago, Boston, New York, Houston. https://lateralhub.com/job/169-0048. Morgan Lewis is seeking a junior or midlevel associate with 2-5 years of large law firm experience to join its Energy & Project Development practice group. The successful applicant must possess transactional experience preferably in connection with energy and/or infrastructure, project development, finance and/or M&A. Salary range: $225,000 to $365,000.

Associate, Energy Transactions. Akin. Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston. https://lateralhub.com/job/165-0017. Akin’s corporate practice group seeks class of 2018-2021 energy associates to be resident in the Houston, Dallas or Fort Worth offices. Ideal candidates will have at least 3 years of experience in upstream or midstream energy transactions. No salary noted.

Associate, Energy Regulatory & Markets Group. Latham & Watkins, Washington DC. https://lateralhub.com/job/143-0033/. Latham is seeking an associate with a minimum of 3 years of federal energy regulatory experience, including experience practicing before FERC with respect to power and/or natural gas. Salary range: $260,000 – 365,000.

Associate, Real Estate Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick - all US office locations. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0060. Orrick currently has an opportunity for a real estate associate to join its market-leading Energy & Infrastructure practice, with 3 to 5 years of real estate experience, with a strong preference for experience in the energy and infrastructure sector. Salary range: $260,000 - $390,000.

Associate, Oil & Gas/Energy & Infrastructure. Orrick - Houston or Austin, TX. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0062. Orrick is looking for an associate with 3 to 6 years of experience in energy and infrastructure including oil and gas. Salary range: $260,000 - $390.

Associate, Energy FERC. Troutman Pepper Locke. Washington DC (preferred). https://lateralhub.com/job/110-0132. Troutman Pepper Locke’s Energy Regulatory Practice Group is seeking to add an associate with 3 to 7 years of experience in energy regulatory matters to join our FERC team. The position will be focused on electric matters; candidates with experience with FERC’s electric program are strongly preferred. Salary Range: $275,000 - $370,000.

Associate, Renewable Energy Project Development. Troutman Pepper Locke, Washington, DC, Atlanta, or New York. https://lateralhub.com/job/110-0021 . 4-7 years of project finance and development experience, including experience with M&A, EPCs, O&M, development, supply agreements, power purchase agreements, and project finance, ideally with renewable energy and/or infrastructure projects. Salary Range: $275,000 - $370,000.

Associate, Land Use. Allen Matkins. Orange County. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0031. Allen Matkins is seeking a land use attorney (4-7 yrs) with experience in land use due diligence, processing entitlements, and environmental review under CEQA. Salary range: $250,000 - 315,000.

Energy & Infrastructure/PPA Projects Associate. Orrick - all US office locations. https://lateralhub.com/job/116-0045. Orrick currently is seeking an associate for its market-leading Energy & Infrastructure practice, with experience in the areas of energy projects work relating to renewables and energy storage, and specifically focused on energy offtake. Salary range: $260,000 - $435,000.

Counsel, Environmental & Mass Torts, Norton Rose Fulbright. SF, LA. https://lateralhub.com/job/172-0002 Norton Rose Fulbright is seeking an experienced lawyer with 6+ years of practice in environmental, energy, and natural resources law to advise clients on complex, high-profile, and high-risk issues at both national and international levels. Salary Range: $225,000 - $275,000.

Sr. Associate, Environmental Litigation. Allen Matkins. SF, LA, Orange County, or San Diego. https://lateralhub.com/job/137-0026. Allen Matkins is seeking a senior environmental attorney (7-10 yrs) with a wide range of regulatory defense and administrative enforcement matters, including CERCLA, RCRA, the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, and related California statutes. Salary range: $315,000 – 345,000.

In-House

Paralegal/Legal Secretary. SOLV Energy. San Diego, CA. https://solvenergy.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/en-US/SOLV_External_Career/details/Paralegal-Legal-Secretary_J11227?jobFamilyGroup=4fee9ad0c0671016e757d2c680820000. $65,374–$81,723. 3+ years of experience. SOLV Energy, a solar and renewable energy EPC provider, seeks a Paralegal/Legal Secretary to support legal and corporate affairs, including contractor licensing, bonding, legal research, and administrative coordination for internal and external counsel.

Contracts Attorney. Exponent. Bellevue, WA. https://careers-exponent.icims.com/jobs/1992/contracts-attorney/job. $120,000–$128,000. 2–3 years of experience. Exponent, a leading engineering and scientific consulting firm, seeks a Contracts Attorney to draft, review, and negotiate a wide range of commercial and government contracts, supporting cross-functional teams and ensuring legal compliance and risk mitigation.

Energy Regulatory Counsel. RWE Clean Energy, LLC. NY, TX, IL. https://www.rwe.com/en/rwe-careers-portal/job-offers/details/?id=89257-en_GB&utm_campaign=CMS_Jobsearch&utm_medium=website&utm_source=careersite&jobPipeline=CMS_Jobsearch. Minimum 5 years experience as an energy regulatory attorney. The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois and New York is $132,000 - $198,000. RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of RWE Group, is a top tier renewable energy company in the United States.

Counsel II - Real Estate & Permitting Law. RWE Clean Energy, LLC. IL, TX. https://www.rwe.com/en/rwe-careers-portal/job-offers/details/?id=89476-en_GB&utm_campaign=CMS_Jobsearch&utm_medium=website&utm_source=careersite&jobPipeline=CMS_Jobsearch. Minimum of 5 years’ experience as a real estate development lawyer, preferably with experience in the renewable energy space and must include U.S. based real estate experience. The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $132,000 - $198,000. RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of RWE Group, is a top tier renewable energy company in the United States.

Principal Commercial Transactions Attorney. NextEra Energy. Juno Beach, FL. https://jobs.nexteraenergy.com/job/Juno-Beach-Principal-Commercial-Transactions-Attorney-FL-33408/1224417900/. No salary listed. 5+ years of experience. NextEra Energy, a global leader in renewable energy, seeks a Principal Commercial Transactions Attorney to lead complex commercial, utility, and energy infrastructure transactions, including power purchase agreements, procurement contracts, and construction-related deals.

Senior Project Finance Attorney. NextEra Energy. Washington, DC (with options in Houston, TX; San Francisco, CA; Juno Beach, FL; or New York, NY). https://jobs.nexteraenergy.com/job/Washington-Senior-Project-Finance-Attorney-DC-20004/1247276400/. $196,000–$294,000. 5+ years of experience. NextEra Energy, the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from wind and solar, seeks a Senior Project Finance Attorney to lead complex project and corporate financing transactions, including tax equity deals, capital markets work, and syndicated credit facilities.

Corporate Counsel. Veolia Group. Trevose, Pennsylvania. https://jobs.veolia.com/en/job/trevose/corporate-counsel/3091/19904745728. Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in commercial law, preferably at least 3 years in an in-house counsel. Veolia Group is a global leader in environmental services, operating across all five continents with nearly 218,000 employees.

Assistant General Counsel. RWE Clean Energy. IL. https://www.rwe.com/en/rwe-careers-portal/job-offers/details/?id=88950-en_GB&utm_campaign=CMS_Jobsearch&utm_medium=website&utm_source=careersite&jobPipeline=CMS_Jobsearch. Minimum of 8 years of legal experience as a transaction lawyer. The annual base salary range for this position in Illinois is $160,000 - $240,000. RWE Clean Energy, a subsidiary of RWE Group, is a top tier renewable energy company in the United States.

Associate General Counsel. BlueWave. Boston, MA (Hybrid). https://ats.rippling.com/bluewave/jobs/409e1c77-f450-43bf-9931-9c548f2404c2. No salary listed. 10+ years of experience. BlueWave, a certified B Corp and renewable energy developer, seeks an Associate General Counsel to lead legal support for solar and battery storage projects, handling complex contracts, regulatory compliance, project finance, and strategic initiatives across a growing clean energy business.

General Counsel. Tradewater. Remote, United States. https://tradewater.applytojob.com/apply/ppk4zfHexM/General-Counsel?source=Our%20Career%20Page%20Widget. $180,000–$210,000. 10+ years of experience. Tradewater, a mission-driven B Corp focused on preventing climate change by destroying potent greenhouse gases and plugging orphaned oil and gas wells, seeks a General Counsel to oversee contracting, regulatory compliance, carbon market policy, and corporate legal needs in a dynamic, fast-paced, international environment. Applications are being accepted until March 26th!

Government and Non-Profit

Fall 2025 Legal Intern (Climate - Geneva). Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL). Geneva, Switzerland. https://cielorg.bamboohr.com/careers/109. 2,660 CHF/month (stipend). Entry-level. CIEL seeks a legal intern for its Climate & Energy Program to support research, advocacy, and legal writing on international environmental, human rights, investment, and trade law, offering law students hands-on experience advancing global environmental justice.

Fellow, Corporate Net-Zero Targets. Harvard Law School Environmental & Energy Law Program (EELP). Cambridge, MA. https://eelp.law.harvard.edu/eelp-fellowship-in-corporate-net-zero-targets/?utm_source=eelpLinkedin. Up to $90,000. 0–5 years of experience. Harvard Law School’s EELP seeks a post-doctoral Fellow to conduct empirical research on corporate greenhouse gas emission targets, with a focus on drivers, strategies, and impacts of corporate decarbonization efforts.

Deputy General Counsel. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. Territorial, VI. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/viwapa/jobs/4437771/deputy-general-counsel. Two (2) years experience in law practice, either governmental or non-governmental, with an LLB or Juris Doctorate degree and certificate of admission to the Bar of the U. S. Virgin Islands. $125,000.00 Annually. The Deputy General Counsel is responsible for assisting with all of the legal work, obligations, and relations of the Authority and its Board of Directors and providing legal advice and guidance accordingly.

Assistant Counsel. New York State Department of Public Service. Albany, NY. https://statejobsny.com/public/vacancyDetailsView.cfm?id=182603. $93,530–$117,875. 2 years of experience. The New York State Department of Public Service seeks an Assistant Counsel to support the Public Service Commission through legal research, analysis of utility rate cases and regulatory matters, and providing legal guidance on complex administrative proceedings.

Associate General Counsel / Counsel. Earthjustice. Remote, United States (or based in any Earthjustice office). https://earthjustice.org/job/associate-general-counsel-counsel. $146,700–$206,000. 5–10+ years of experience. Earthjustice, a leading nonprofit environmental law organization, seeks an experienced attorney to provide legal counsel on compliance, privacy, lobbying, and nonprofit governance issues, with a focus on 501(c)(4) operations and risk management across the organization.

Managing Attorney Water and Natural Resources Division 2024-02263.Wyoming State. Cheyenne, WY. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/wyoming/jobs/4682724-0/managing-attorney-water-and-natural-resources-division-2024-02263. 7+ years of relevant legal experience; 8,622.10 - $11,446.91 Monthly. The Wyoming Attorney General's office seeks an attorney to serve as a section supervisor in the Water & Natural Resources Division and represent the State of Wyoming in natural resources litigation.

CEO. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA). St. Paul, MN. https://www.mncenter.org/leadership-search. $160,000-$190,000. No specific experience range listed. Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, a leading nonprofit using law and science to protect Minnesota’s environment and public health, seeks a CEO to lead its legal, policy, and advocacy work, foster an inclusive and collaborative organizational culture, and build strong relationships with community partners, donors, and policymakers to advance environmental justice and climate solutions across the state.

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