The Definitive Guide For Attorneys In South Africa
The Definitive Guide For Attorneys In South Africa
Cullinan and Associates Incorporated (“Cullinans”) practises exclusively in the field of environmental, sustainable development and green business law and its team of ten environmental law specialists is probably the largest in South Africa. The firm has been a leader in its field for more than 20 years and is still the only South African law firm certified as carbon neutral. Cullinans has offices in Cape Town and Durban and has clients throughout Southern Africa, including clients in the waste management and recycling, renewable energy, and hospitality sectors. Cullinans also acts for municipalities such as the City of Cape Town, non-governmental organisations and private individuals.
The directors of the firm are Cormac Cullinan, Gregory Daniels and Sarah Kvalsvig and they are supported by a team of specialist environmental lawyers consisting of three senior associates, one associate and three candidate attorneys. Cullinans works closely with EnAct International, a specialist environmental law and policy consultancy, which is staffed by the firm’s lawyers, and led by Ingrid Coetzee, a governance specialist para-legal who has 25 years’ experience in environmental governance and sustainable development.
The firm prides itself on its specialist expertise, and its ability to “think out of the box” and to innovate. It has won numerous awards (including a coveted Mail & Guardian Greening the Future commendation within the category “Companies and Organisations with Innovative Environmental Strategies that Improve Business Performance” and South African Environmental Law firm of the year awards for 2013 and 2014 (see www.cullinans.co.za).
OVERVIEW OF EXPERIENCE
Our staff have worked in more than 20 countries and have a wealth of expertise in environmental law and policy. Nine of our attorneys and candidate attorneys either have a Masters Degrees in environmental law, or are in the process of completing one.
Cullinans advises on all aspects of environmental law. It also has a busy environmental litigation practice, provides on-going support to clients to enable them to maintain compliance with environmental and health and safety legislation, and offers specialist corporate and commercial law services to “green” businesses. The firm also has a growing practice in the field of renewable energy. (For additional information about the firm’s expertise please visit our website at: www.cullinans.co.za).
The lawyers in the team also have extensive experience in working for the public sector on policy development, legislative drafting and institutional reform, mainly through their involvement in Cullinans’s sister organisation EnAct International. EnAct is a governance consultancy headed by Ingrid Coetzee, who has approximately 25 years’ experience of working in the environmental sector within all three spheres of government. This experience includes advising on the development of green procurement policies and the implications of the Public Finance Management Act and the Municipal Finance Management Act; developing the National Framework for Sustainable Development (“NFSD”), the National Strategy for Sustainable Development (“NSSD”), national and provincial policies, the drafting of national, provincial and municipal legislation dealing with environmental and land use issues and advising on institutional reform in public sector organisations concerned with the environment. As a consequence of being involved in the NFSD, NSSD and other policy processes, we are familiar with relevant government policies and the linkages between them.
PRACTICE AREAS
Agriculture, Aquaculture, Forestry and Fisheries
We have drafted and advised on agriculture, forestry, aquaculture, and fisheries legislation for 20+ years.
Cannabis and natural medicines
Leading team of cannabis legal experts. Drafting comprehensive cannabis legislation, serving multi-nationals, growers, strategic advice, compliance, and more.
Climate change, air pollution and noise
Climate change, air emission licensing, ambient noise control, environmental authorizations, and more.
Coastal and marine
Coastal and marine environment experts: Drafted key legislation, advised on policies, coastal protection, leases, fishing rights, and more.
Contaminated Land
Experts in contaminated land: remediation, sale, purchase, risk assessment, liability, and cost recovery strategies.
Conservation, biodiversity and animal wellbeing
Comprehensive conservation and wildlife law expertise: legislation drafting, international treaties, endangered species, protected areas, and more.
Due diligence
Seasoned in pre-acquisition environmental due diligence for global corporations, guiding buyers, sellers, and drafting environmental warranties.
Environmental impact assessment and land development
Expert counsel on land use, environmental impact assessments, legislation, authorizations, appeals, precedent-setting cases, and hazard protection.
ESG and compliance
ESG commitment for over 25 years: legal and ethical support, compliance, interactive system, and successful representation.
Heritage law
Cultural heritage expertise for 20+ years: reviews, grading, protection, appeals, and safeguarding Indigenous Peoples’ heritage.
Mining, oil and gas
We have successfully halted inappropriate mining, preserving agriculture land, and legal representation for clients. Precedent-setting cases.
Occupational health and safety
Occupational health and safety compliance expertise, legal guidance, representation in workplace accidents, and Major Hazard Installation Regulations.
Recycling, EPR and waste management
Recycling and waste management expertise: legislation drafting, licensing, compliance, EPR, contracts, and liability advice.
Renewable Energy
Expanding renewable energy practice: IPP guidance, site acquisition, legal structures, community participation, and financing agreements.
Water law
Comprehensive water law and policy advice: water use licenses and rights, registration, effluent, wetlands, and Water Tribunal appeals.
Rights of Nature
At the forefront of developing innovative means of respecting the laws of Nature, including protecting land and sacred sites from development.
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