Sydney, 5 March 2008 – Baker & McKenzie's Global Climate Change Team was awarded "Top Legal Advisor of CDM/JI Projects by Number of Deals 2007" at the prestigious New Energy Finance Awards held in London last week. The Firm’s Partner Graham Stuart, recently appointed Head of the Firm's London Climate Change Practice, accepted the award.

Baker & McKenzie is the first firm to receive the award under this new category since New Energy Finance launched its league tables two years ago. New Energy Finance is a specialist provider of information and research to investors in renewable energy, low-carbon technology and the carbon markets.

Commenting on the award, Head of Baker & McKenzie's Global Climate Change Practice, Martijn Wilder, said: "Baker & McKenzie was the first firm to establish a global climate change practice and we are extremely proud of our achievements to date.  This award recognises our depth of expertise in CDM and JI deals across multiple jurisdictions. Working with our clients we have closed more deals in more jurisdictions than any other firm." 

"We remain the firm of choice for global investment banks in the carbon market as we continue to advise market leaders on new and ground breaking deals. Our team has advised the Asian Development Bank on their new carbon funds, the World Bank on its Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, Credit Suisse on its recent acquisitions from EcoSecurities and the European Carbon Fund on its China-based Anshan CDM transaction."

The accolade confirms Baker & McKenzie's position as a market leader in the area of climate change and clean energy. It follows recent results published by international legal directory, Chambers Global, which ranked the team in the 2008 directory as "Band 1 – Global Climate Change Firm" and Partner, Martijn Wilder, ranked "Band 1 – Global Climate Change lawyer." Click to review Global Chambers commentary on Baker & McKenzie's climate change practice.