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Jane Southworth

Partner
Head of Environment

Jane is an environmental law partner with lots of experience in all aspects of environmental law with a strong interest in producer responsibility and ESG.

Jane is a Partner in our national Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) group. She heads up the environmental side of the team handling a broad range of environmental work.

Whatever environmental problem or compliance issue you are facing, Jane can help you. 

Jane is currently helping businesses in all sectors get to grips with ESG. You might be facing pressure from new legislation or from your large shareholders or other stakeholders to prioritize ESG issues. She can help you to understand what ESG means to your business and work with you to consider the implications of ESG for the supply chain. Jane is working with several clients to help them draft their TCFD Recommended Disclosures.

More broadly Jane has over 20 years of wide-ranging experience of carrying out EHS due diligence and negotiating the transfer of environmental risks in the context of both mergers & acquisitions and real estate work.

Jane advises on producer responsibility issues particularly in relation to REACH, WEEE, ROHS and packaging waste.

She also advises on the classification of material as waste/non-waste and waste management issues generally. This is becoming a topical area as we move toward a circular economy.

Jane advises on more traditional areas including pollution issues, environmental permitting and water.

Many of Jane's clients are in the industrial, chemicals and engineering sectors but she also acts for public bodies, businesses selling goods to domestic consumers and those involved in energy generation.

Jane is doing a part-time secondment for a large manufacturer and this experience has helped her to see things from your point of view. During the pandemic Jane has been providing regulatory advice in relation to biocides, as business sought to respond by bringing new products to the market.

Jane regularly writes articles on topical issues and also responds to consultations on new legislation.

In her spare time she enjoys travel, walking, gardening, family time and good food.

Jane is recognized in Chambers & Partners as providing logical, straightforward and uncomplicated advice. The Legal 500 describes her as “fantastic” and clients say “her legal knowledge and practical experience are second to none, she is the kind of specialist that everyone needs.”

Jane’s recent experience includes:

  • advising clients in relation to ESG related issues including TCFD and SASB disclosures
  • helping clients to shape new areas of law including in relation to the plastic packaging tax 
  • advising on sustainabilty including reuse of material and upcoming changes to packaging waste obligations
  • working with clients in relation to Brexit particularly in relation to chemical compliance
  • Ranked in Chambers UK 2018 through to 2022
  • Solicitors Finals Course, 1987-1988
  • BA Law, Durham University, 1984-1987
Jane Southworth

Partner

Head of Environment

Jane Southworth

Partner

Head of Environment

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