Johanna Lindqvist about her interest in environmental law and sustainability

Interest in the environment from a young age

Johanna Lindqvist graduated with a law degree from Lund University in 2005, but her interest in environmental law developed long before her studies.

"I come from a farming family, and during my upbringing, we often talked about environmental issues. My father runs an organic farm and has always been interested and engaged in the area, so that's probably where I got my interest in nature and the environment. Additionally, my uncle is a biologist, and my grandmother was a biology teacher, so growing up, we often searched for rare plants that we pressed and collected in a herbarium."

From the judiciary via authorities to the firm

Johanna began her career as a clerk at the Gothenburg District Court, which she considers an excellent first job for a newly graduated lawyer.

After her clerkship, Johanna went to Sydney for a year to study for a master's in international environmental law. After her studies abroad in Australia, Johanna continued in the judiciary for a period, in the role of a reporting lawyer at the Environmental Court of Appeal. Gradually, her interest in the firm world grew, and Johanna then started working in the environmental law group at a larger business law firm. This was followed by a period at a niche firm in environmental law before she changed course and worked as a legal officer at the Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management for a year.

However, the interest in working at a law firm remained, as did the desire to have many colleagues around her. Her attention then turned to Lindahl.

"I actually became aware of Lindahl through a business network where a lawyer from Lindahl gave a presentation about the firm, and I felt it seemed like a good workplace."

Challenges in environmental law

What Johanna highlights as most interesting about sustainability issues and environmental law is the involvement in community-developing projects. The most challenging, yet also the most enjoyable, according to Johanna, are all the trade-offs that need to be made.

"What are the most appropriate and best solutions for sustainable development? How do we get there amidst all the conflicting interests? It also involves national interests that may compete, and which should then take precedence? It can be quite cumbersome in some projects, in something that is a sustainable solution in the long term. Projects can therefore take a long time."

Johanna describes her work at Lindahl as very stimulating. The firm is comprehensive in business law, with specialists in all legal areas, which opens up dynamic collaboration and knowledge exchange. Environmental legal considerations can arise in many different legal areas, and elements of, for example, property law, construction law, and dispute resolution can be part of the framework for environmental law assignments.

"It is a strength and security for both the firm and the clients that we can work cross-border and provide the best advice for each individual client in an efficient way. We also have very good cooperation between the offices. If you have a tricky question, you can always call someone to discuss it," Johanna explains.

The collaboration with different competence groups is, as mentioned, strong, and Johanna particularly highlights the cooperation with the public procurement team. A collaboration that has become closer with the legislation on sustainable procurement, which contributes to a more comprehensive approach to sustainability issues.

"Sustainable development is not just about permit assessments and detailed plans or having a good sewage treatment plant. It involves the entire consumption chain and involves very large and strategic issues. A holistic perspective that we at Lindahl have thanks to our broad range of competencies," concludes Johanna Lindqvist.