Environment law

Environment lawyers experienced in non-contentious work

Environmental legal issues present an ongoing compliance challenge for all businesses. Regulators around the globe continue to place new and more stringent demands on businesses to meet enhanced environmental standards. This is driven by global trends such as increased environmental accountability, the desire to promote recycling and reuse and concerns about climate change. The recent focus on single use plastics is a good example.

Many environmental laws stem from the EU and we often work with colleagues across the EU (and further field) to provide co-ordinated global advice from a single UK contact. This ensures that you receive consistent, seamless and fully integrated advice, without having to liaise directly with individual lawyers across many jurisdictions.

Our work ranges from providing day-to-day environmental support to corporate and real estate colleagues to providing standalone environmental advice to a wide range of clients covering issues including land contamination, waste classification, chemical compliance, producer responsibility, permitting support (across the EU and beyond), air quality and the impact of BREXIT.

We will work with you to understand your business, as well as your environmental legal requirements, to ensure that our advice is always focused and relevant.

Environment lawyers experienced in contentious work

We also assist clients in defending criminal prosecutions brought by regulators such as the Environment Agency or Local Authorities relating to water pollution, waste packaging, excessive packaging, breaches of various environmental regulations and in respect of statutory nuisance e.g. on noise, odour, dust and permit breach prosecutions.

Environment lawyers experienced in civil environmental work

We are experienced at successfully resolving a wide range of civil environmental disputes. Our cases include: environmental private nuisance claims (including group actions) often arising from neighbours, who typically claim damages for loss of amenity and diminution in value and seek an injunction to restrain further activities; negligence claims arising from alleged migrating contamination; and complex environmental warranty and indemnity claims arising from corporate/property transactions.

We are also experienced at challenging and defending regulatory decisions, through Judicial Review, where they relate to an exercise of environmental powers. Environmental cases often include the strategic use of the Freedom of Information Act/Environmental Information Regulations to obtain early disclosure of relevant information. We are experienced in the tactics used and the broader need to consider careful document management and issues of legal privilege (including potential disclosure to regulators) to protect your interests.

What others say about us

An “Eminent environment practice with international capabilities. Advises an array of blue-chip clients on the full spectrum of environment matters, including shale oil and gas work. Recommended for expertise in chemical regulations, with a number of clients from this sector. Extensive experience representing clients in Environment Agency investigations and prosecutions.”

Chambers 2019 – Environment - Band 1

The "wonderful and technically brilliant" Jane Southworth advises on compliance and environmental permits with regards to large-scale projects.

Chambers 2019 – Environment - Band 1

The Environment team which is led by Jane Southworth “stands out for its chemicals expertise”.

Legal 500, 2019 – Planning and Environment – Tier 1

Contact our Environment, Health and Safety team

If you would like further information or need advice on environmental law and regulation then please contact a member of our legal team. Read further information regarding our global environmental capabilities here.