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Shale gas

Our legal experience in relation to the emerging shale gas industry in the UK and other EU jurisdictions is second to none. We have advised a major global oil field service company on legislative, political and media developments in shale gas across Western Europe and beyond since 2011.

Whilst the UK is taking steps to move the industry forward in an environmentally responsible way, there are ongoing challenges in applying for and obtaining environmental permits and planning consents. We advise onshore operators in respect of the environmental permitting aspects of shale gas exploration projects as well as conventional projects in the UK. We are closely involved in industry initiatives, such as the UK Environment Agency’s pre-assessment of chemicals, and in responses to consultations at UK and EU level. We work closely with our planning colleagues to ensure that our advice in relation to environmental permits and planning consents is integrated and focused on delivery.

Our shale gas legal team provides similar advice across the EU and are actively involved in EU initiatives such as the proposed Hydrocarbons BREF.

Our lawyers also advise on multi-jurisdictional chemical compliance issues associated with the products used in oil and gas activities including the impact of REACH, biocides legislation and international treaties such as OSPAR.

What other say about us

Eversheds Sutherland have been the legal advisors to Third Energy in successfully securing planning permission and environmental permits for the hydraulic fracturing of the KM8 well site in North Yorkshire. Third Energy said:

"Eversheds LLP provided specialist legal advice throughout the environmental permitting and planning process, working closely both with us and our other advisers.

Elizabeth Shepherd, Head of Environment, is to be commended for steering us successfully through the approval process with the Environment Agency with respect to the additives proposed for our hydraulic fracturing fluid.

The experienced advice and responsiveness of Stuart Andrews, Head of Planning, was important in achieving a positive recommendation from the Planning Officer and in responding to legal issues including challenge at critical times leading to the approval by the Planning Authority. “

Our shale gas team is described in the legal directories as being;

“highly responsive, very knowledgeable, and were able to bring people to the discussion in a timely manner”. "Eversheds is one of the few law firms recognised by the legal press for their experience in the provision of REACH and Biocides legal services:

"outstanding department is particularly noted for its work on matters relating to REACH and Biocides legislation”. – Legal 500, 2015

"Partner Elizabeth Shepherd is a regular speaker at shale gas conferences. She spoke at the Shale and Unconventional Gas conference in London in February 2016, and is a discussion panel member at Shale UK in Liverpool in June 2016.

How we can help

Shale gas

View more about our Shale gas experience - Focused on Shale gas

REACH

View more about our REACH legal experience – Focused on REACH

Biocides

View more about our Biocides law experience - Focused on Biocides

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© Eversheds Sutherland 2023. All rights reserved. Eversheds Sutherland is a global provider of legal and other services operating through various separate and distinct legal entities.

Eversheds Sutherland is the name and brand under which the members of Eversheds Sutherland Limited (Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP and Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP) and their respective controlled, managed and affiliated firms and the members of Eversheds Sutherland (Europe) Limited (each an "Eversheds Sutherland Entity" and together the "Eversheds Sutherland Entities") provide legal or other services to clients around the world. Eversheds Sutherland Entities are constituted and regulated in accordance with relevant local regulatory and legal requirements and operate in accordance with their locally registered names. The use of the name Eversheds Sutherland, is for description purposes only and does not imply that the Eversheds Sutherland Entities are in a partnership or are part of a global LLP. The responsibility for the provision of services to the client is defined in the terms of engagement between the instructed firm and the client.