Martijn Wilder is head of the Firm’s Global Environmental Markets and Climate Change practice and is also experienced in broader environmental infrastructure and agribusiness. He is regarded as a legal pioneer in the development of legal mechanisms and regulations underpinning the emergence of international carbon and broader environmental markets. He is ranked as a Star Individual (the highest ranking available) by Chambers Global, is listed among the best lawyers in his field by Best Lawyers Australia 2009 through 2013 and is listed in the International Who's Who of Business Lawyers 2009-2013. Martijn serves as chair and/or board member of numerous climate change and emissions trading advisory groups and taskforces, including as board member of Clean Energy Finance Corporation, director of Low Carbon Australia, chairman of the NSW Climate Change Council, on the governing board of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), a governor of WWF, and chair of the R.M. Williams Agricultural Holdings Henbury Project Steering Committee. Martijn is also a professor of Climate Change Law at the Australian National University.

In 2012, Martijn was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in recognition for "service to environmental law, particularly in the area of climate change through contributions to the development of law, global regulation, public policy and the promotion of public debate, and to the community".

Practice Focus

Martijn advises clients on all aspects of environmental markets, particularly legal issues relating to climate change and emissions trading. He has advised governments and international agencies on the development and design of climate change and emissions trading laws, the building of market infrastructure and the procurement of carbon assets. Martijn regularly works on international carbon transactions and has advised on a broad range of investments and fund raisings in, and the establishment of funds for the broader environmental markets areas. Martijn also advises clients on a range of environmental issues including the environmental aspects of large infrastructure projects, state environmental laws dealing with pollution and environmental protection. He advises on federal environmental law issues relating to the environmental assessments and project approvals (EPBC Act), natural heritage, oceans policy, biodiversity and world heritage listings. Clients particularly seek his legal advice on emerging areas of carbon law and policy, and the emerging opportunities in relation to the new environmental infrastructure in relation to renewable energy networks, electric vehicles, sustainable land management and agribusiness.

Representative Legal Matters

• Advising governments and multi-lateral financial institutions on the design and implementation of climate change law and policy including the UNFCCC and Kyoto frameworks, the design of post-2012 legal frameworks and climate mitigation strategies.
• Providing advice on the development and implementation of the Australian Government's Clean Energy Act and Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI). This includes working with indigenous groups on the development of emission reduction projects (such as under the CFI) and securing traditional ownership rights over carbon and other environmental services.
• Advising governments, funds and companies on the development of carbon projects (CDM, JI, forestry, carbon capture and storage and REDD+) and the trading in carbon and broader environmental rights (AAUs, CERs, ERUs, EUAs, VERs, biodiversity units, renewable energy credits and other domestic units).
• Advising on the development of environmental markets infrastructure including trading frameworks and exchange platforms, market registries and escrow arrangements.
• Advising on the establishment of environmental markets funds (especially in relation to carbon, forests, renewable energy and biodiversity investments) and their ongoing procurement programs.
• Working with clients on broader corporate transactions in the environmental markets area including IPOs, private fundraisings, syndications, acquisitions, equity investments and joint ventures and the sale of businesses and assets.
• Acting as counsel on the development of "green projects" including renewable energy and bio-fuels projects, the roll out of electric vehicles and the development of smart grids and renewable energy networks.
• Advising on large scale sustainable land management, forestry and agribusiness. This has also involved developing carbon and water value in relation to such projects and advising on public-private partnerships to develop ecosystem and biodiversity corridors and reserves.
• Advising on agricultural funds and agribusiness transactions.
• Undertaking developing country capacity building in relation to developing domestic legal capacity, domestic projects and training the local private sector, with a key focus on the Clean Development Mechanism and REDD.

Admission

High Court of Australia~Australia (1997)
Federal Court of Australia~Australia (1997)
New South Wales~Australia (1993)

Education

University of Cambridge  (LL.M.) (1994)
Hague Academy Centre for Studies and Research in International Law and International Relations (1994)
Australian National University  (LL.B. Honours) (1992)
University of Sydney  (Bachelor of Economics Honors) (1989)