Green is a popular color these days. More and more individuals and businesses are reexamining the manner in which their lifestyle and business practices influence and affect the environment. Located in Asheville, North Carolina, one of the premier cities for sustainable lifestyles and businesses, The Van Winkle Law Firm’s Green Law Group brings skilled and experienced legal counsel to individuals and businesses seeking to navigate the intersections where the law and the environment meet.

With attorneys licensed in North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, the Green Law Group provides collaborative legal guidance to businesses and individuals implementing green initiatives and/or selling and producing green services, products and buildings throughout much of the Southeast.

What is green?
Green practices, often referred to as sustainability, always aim to provide high-quality goods and services while simultaneously decreasing the impact on the environment and conserving its otherwise depleting natural resources. Green practices are inherently incorporated in every stage of any enterprise.

Why go green?
Green practices will provide numerous advantages for any businesses or individuals. The basic reduction of energy consumption and tax credits will have obvious immediate benefits in themselves: a clear goal of sustainability will also enhance company standing and therefore general interest. All of these practices go into creating a better environment for the present as well as the future.

How Van Winkle can help:
The issue of sustainability is here to stay, but it is also constantly growing and changing…emerging not as a remote, particular arena but as an all-encompassing issue that requires proper consideration. Businesses and individuals are looking for answers to the continuous stream of legal issues green practices involve.

Van Winkle has extensive experience in many practice areas and industries to support clients in going green in the most productive, rewarding way possible. Whether legal consultation is needed dealing with advertising claims, food product labels, conservation easements or green building, Van Winkle can provide thorough support with large projects or assist on a periodic consultation basis.

Major Legal Areas and Issues

Businesses Involved in Production of Green Products or Selling a Green Service

Business Set-Up

Setting up joint ventures to maximize green governmental and private incentives
Preparing company documents with a green focus, including Bylaws, Shareholder Agreements and Operating Agreements
Selling securities to investors

Business day to day activities

Sustainability tax credits and incentives
Product labeling and packaging
Environmental permitting
Advertising rules
Contracts for green services or green products
Computer and internet issues
Leasing or purchasing real estate
Protecting intellectual property through trademarks, copyrights or licensing
Employment law

Business Disputes

Litigation, mediation and arbitration

Mergers and Acquisitions

Negotiation, structuring and execution of sales and purchases of green ventures

Industries

Commercial Real Estate and Land Use

Developers
Realtors
Brokers

Types of work:

Contracts for buying green homes or businesses
Green community developments, planning and covenants
Home Owners Associations
Land Conservation Easements
Environmental regulation and clean-up
Site approvals, permits, licensing
Working with green realtors

Construction and Professional Design

Architects
Engineers
Surveyors
Property owners
Contractors

Types of work:

Sustainable construction/building codes
Architectural/engineering/construction contracts
Competitive bidding/public works
Construction claims resolution/litigation

Agriculture

Organic food suppliers
Food co-ops
Restaurants
Grocery stores
Distributors

Types of work:

Following state and federal guidelines for organic agriculture
Advertising and labeling

Manufacturing/Products

Biofuel Producers
Textile manufacturers
Energy Systems
Building/home materials

Types of work:

Sales contracts

Non-Profits, Foundations

Charitable organizations
Educational foundations
Civic organizations
Chambers of commerce
Fraternal organizations
Social organizations
Individual philanthropists

Types of work:

Incorporation of charitable non-profit organizations
Development of private and community foundations
Ongoing management and advising

Individuals

Trust and Estates

Land conservation
Tax planning
Charitable and conservation planning
Charitable gifts and bequests

Residential Real Estate

Contracts for buying green homes or businesses
Green community developments, planning and covenants
Homeowners' associations
Land conservation easements
Environmental regulation and clean-up
Site approvals, permits, licensing
Working with green realtors