Ernst Müller

He has been mandated within his role to be the one of the main point persons responsible for ESG across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), supporting the strategic focus of both the Global and UK, US and EMEA ESG leads. Ernst is a "Natural Scientist turned Regulatory Lawyer". The combination of his skills as an Environmental Scientist and Lawyer makes him the ideal ESG lawyer –  bridging the gap between the ever-expanding universe of ESG rights and specific obligations, technical expertise, and in-depth industry knowledge. Owing to his background in Environmental Sciences (B.Sc. and B.Sc. HONS) and because he is based in Africa, Ernst’s practice focusses on clients within the extractives and natural resources sector. Liaising and advising clients on particularly pertinent issues within these sectors as they grapple with the evolving regulatory space and in many instances shifting business models. In addition to advising clients across hard and soft law issues, he is well-versed in negotiations, transactional work, judicial review proceedings, international arbitrations, and high-court litigation.  Ernst’s clients include governments across Africa and the Middle East, indigenous and local communities, non-government organisations and multinational enterprises.  His impact on, influence and level of access to clients across the spectrum is unique for a non-partner due to his position in the market as one of few solely focused ESG lawyers in the region.

Since qualifying in 2016, Ernst has established himself as a leading ESG lawyer on the continent. His commitment to ESG and success in this field is illustrated by the fact that Ernst currently represents Africa on the International Bar Association's (IBA) Sustainable Development Goals and ESG working group, the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance's steering committee, and the Green Hydrogen Organisation's (GH2) standard committee. In addition, he is regularly invited to participate at conferences across Africa and the Middle East addressing senior stakeholders on ESG topics. Notwithstanding the fact that Ernst is not a partner, conference organisers are willing to go to extremes to ensure that Ernst participates. Ernst regularly addresses postgraduate students and academic departments at universities as a guest lecturer on matters related to ESG, green hydrogen, mining, and sustainable development. He was also recently appointed as an ambassador for Cambridge University's Democratising Education for Global Sustainability and Justice programme.

Ernst frequently publishes on ESG-related topics ranging from policies and global legal developments to local community engagement processes, mineral and sustainability law reform processes, and climate change policies (most of the articles are available here).

Background

Ernst is an admitted attorney in South Africa. He holds a LL.B from the University of Cape Town (2013), an Advance Certificate in Administrative Law from the University of the Witwatersrand (2019), a B.Sc Environmental Science (2009), and B.Sc (HONS) Environmental Analysis and Management (2010) from the University of Pretoria.  He is currently enrolled for a Master of Laws (LL.M) by dissertation with the University of the Witwatersrand focusing on the intersection between Global Administrative Law and International Human Rights Law.