Band 1
Provided by Richard Saines
World-leading climate change lawyer with 25+ years of experience, ranked by Chambers USA and Chambers Global for over 10 years; serving as trusted legal counsel to governments, multinational corporations, and financial institutions on low-carbon economic transitions and carbon market transactions across international, regional, and voluntary markets.
Senior climate policy advisor to governments and international organizations, providing strategic legal guidance on REDD+ nesting policies, national Article 6 frameworks, and climate change legislation, including serving as legal counsel to the Fijian Government during its COP Presidency and advising on complex multilateral climate negotiations.
Distinguished carbon markets authority with deep expertise in ERPA drafting, Article 6 transactions, and carbon project due diligence; Chair of the Board of The Climate Registry, former Chair of IETA and current CEO of the Carbon Markets Foundation.
Internationally recognized climate leader awarded Chevalier of the National Order of Merit (ONM) by the President of France for significant contributions to the Paris Climate Summit and Paris Agreement implementation.
Rick is the Chair of the Board of The Climate Registry, is the former Chair of the International Emissions Trading Association (IETA), is the CEO of the Carbon Markets Foundation, and serves on the Board of Advisors to the USC Schwarzenegger Institute.
Member, Illinois State Bar Association (1996 - Present)
Select Publications:
Saines, R. & S. Kramer, Taking and Interest in Carbon Revisited: Secured Financing and the Legal Nature of Carbon Credits, book chapter in Energy and Environmental Project Finance Law and Taxation: New Investment Techniques (2025), Matthew Bender® (original published in 2010 by Oxford University Press).
Spalding-Fecher, R., Martin, M., Saines, R., & Schneider, L. (2021, March 3). Summary report: Designing governance structures and transactional documentation for mitigation outcome transactions under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), under the Mobilising Article 6 Trading Structures (MATS) Programme.
Oishi, S., Federighi, P., Drake, L., Martin, M., Saines, R., et al. (2021, July). Lessons learned from REDD+ nesting approaches and recommendations to Kenya. Pollination & Conservation International for the National Expert Group on REDD+ Nesting in Kenya.
Wilder, M., Guli, M., Kelly, O., Saines, R., & Martin, M. (2021, August 25). Solving the water crisis: Lessons from climate change. Pollination Group.
Martin, M., & Saines, R. (2021, May 1). Legal gap analysis in preparation for Article 6 transactions. International Emissions Trading Association.
Arden Climate, Managing Partner (Sep 2025 – Present, Chicago, IL)
Pollination Law LLC, Managing Director (Sep 2019 – Sep 2025, Chicago, IL)
Pollination Capital Partners LLC, Managing Director (Sep 2019 – Apr 2025, Chicago, IL)
(Dually employed with Pollination Law LLC (Sept 2019 – Apr 2025)
Baker McKenzie, Partner, Principal (Sep 2000 – Sep 2019, Chicago, IL)
Gardner, Carton & Douglas, Associate, Senior Associate (Sep 1996 – Sep 2000, Chicago, IL)
Countries of Work Experience: Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, China, Colombia, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, European Union, Fiji, Ghana, Guinea, Guyana, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Taiwan, Tanzania, Uganda, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States
English
IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, Chicago, Illinois
Juris Doctor
Miami University, Oxford, Ohio
Bachelor of Science
Chevalier of the National Order of Merit (ONM)
President of the Republic of France
Provided by Chambers
Richard Saines is a Managing Director and partner at Pollination Law. He supports clients on carbon market regulation and advisory matters for significant clients, including national governments.
Provided by Chambers
Rick's historical knowledge of the carbon markets and support for the Paris Agreement make his strategic vision and contributions to our work invaluable.
Rick's historical knowledge of the carbon markets and support for the Paris Agreement make his strategic vision and contributions to our work invaluable.
Provided by Arden Climate LLC
Environmental and Waste