Elisa de Wit is an environment and planning, and climate change lawyer based in Melbourne. She leads the Australian climate change and sustainability practice and the firm's global carbon markets practice. Elisa has practised in the areas of environmental, planning and climate change law for over 30 years, including eight years of practice in the United Kingdom.

Elisa’s environmental experience includes advising on various environmental permitting regimes, including waste management, pollution control and discharge consents, representing clients in connection with environmental offences or breaches of environmental legislation and undertaking substantial due diligence exercises. She also has significant experience advising in relation to contaminated land, both in the context of property and corporate transactions and in relation to liability issues.

Elisa’s expertise also extends to town planning and covers strategic advice, legal representation at tribunal and court hearings and negotiation of contractual documents for a wide range of developments including retail, residential, commercial, mixed use renewable energy facilities, landfills, incinerators, waste transfer stations, industrial plants, quarries and mining sites.

Elisa has a detailed understanding of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS), the Carbon Farming Initiative (CFI), Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF) [now rebadged as the Climate Solutions Fund], the Renewable Energy Target (RET) and the Safeguard Mechanism and has provided extensive advice to a wide range of clients on the obligations and opportunities which flow from NGERS, CFI, ERF and RET. During her time in the United Kingdom, Elisa advised various clients on the implementation and operation of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme. Elisa's climate change practice also includes advising on climate risk, climate disclosure and climate change-related litigation.

Elisa has extensive experience advising clients on participation in the ERF and has acted for many of the participants in the scheme. Advice has included matters such as the necessary legal rights to become a project proponent, assistance with project registration and credit issuance, advising on additionality requirements, drafting contracts and other legal documentation required by project developers and landowners in connection with carbon projects, drafting long-term offtake agreements for the sale and purchase of Australian Carbon Credit Units, drafting and advising on interpretation of Methodology Determinations and advice on AFSL and taxation issues arising in connection with carbon projects.

Elisa has received a number of awards and ratings, including:

Rankings and recognitions

·       Global Law Experts - Climate Change and Sustainability - Lawyer of the Year in Australia - 2024

·       Global Law Experts - Environmental Law - Lawyer of the Year in Australia - 2024

·       Who's Who Legal: Environment & Climate Change 2023 - world leading practitioner

·       The Lawyer Network - Climate Change and Sustainability - Lawyer of the Year in Australia – 2023

·       The Lawyer Network - Environmental Law - Lawyer of the Year in Australia – 2023

·       Highest-ranked Lawyer in WWL: Environment 2023

·       GlobalLaw Experts Climate Change and Sustainability Lawyer of the Year in Australia - 2023

·       GlobalLaw Experts Environmental Law - Lawyer of the Year in Australia - 2023

·       WWL recognition in the Environment & Climate Change chapter of WWL: Australia & New Zealand 2023 - a guide to Australia and New Zealand's leading business                lawyers and consulting experts

·       Exert Guides World's leading female practitioners in Environment section

·       The Lawyer Network's Climate Change and Sustainability Lawyer of the Year in Australia (2022)

·       Leading lawyer, Australasian Legal Business Guide for Environmental Law

·       Pre-eminent environment lawyer, Doyle's Guide

·       Recommended lawyer for climate change, PLC Which Lawyer?

·       Listed in International Who's Who Legal Guide for Environment

·       Climate Change Lawyer of the Year in Australia, (2011) Legal Awards conducted by Corporate INTL Magazine

·       Climate Change, Best Lawyers (2012 - present)

·       Energy Law, Best Lawyers (2019 - present)

·       Water Law, Best Lawyers (2014 - present)

·       Environment and Planning, Best Lawyers (2014 - present)

·       Lawyer of the Year, Water Law, Best Lawyers (2020)

·       Lawyer of the Year, Climate Change Law, Best Lawyers (2014-2015,  2018-2019 and 2022 to 2023) 

 ​Elisa is recognised in a number of legal directories, including Chambers Asia Pacific 2020 in which she is ranked Band 2 for Environment and Planning in Australia and is praised for "receiving significant endorsements for her climate change and environmental law practice."  She is also listed in Best Lawyers for climate change, environment and planning, water and energy law.