It’s more important than ever that businesses comply with environmental regulations. Companies face pressure from a number of sources (regulatory, governance and public pressure) to reduce and prevent their impacts on the environment. This can lead to a complex regulatory framework and onerous obligations on operators.
We provide specialist environmental advice on regulatory issues, litigation and transactional matters for all business sectors. Our environmental lawyers regularly advise on:
- Representation in prosecutions and regulatory enforcement by the Environment Agency and other environmental regulators, including criminal defence
- Advice on civil sanctions including negotiating enforcement undertakings
- Legal reviews and advice on environmental impact assessments and habit regulations assessments
- Statutory nuisance (for example noise and odour issues)
- Judicial review of environmental decisions
- Environmental due diligence in corporate and real estate transactions
- Advice on contaminated land and remediation including the transfer of liability and brownfield regeneration
- Dispute resolution and litigation on claims regarding environmental liabilities
- Water resources, including pollution and flooding disputes and compensation and flood risk management
- Environmental Permitting management including advice on conditions, enforcement sanctions, appeals, variations and transfers
- Breaches of permits, licences and consents
- Suspension/revocation of environmental permits, site closures and injunctions
- Legal support for compliance with environmental obligations
- Liaison with councils and other authorities
- Contract negotiation of environmental considerations such as contaminated land liabilities
- Risk management, policies and procedures including environment insurance provision
- Advice on the packaging waste regime
- Advice and representation in relation to wildlife crime, species and habit protection and nature conservation regimes
- Advice on and negotiation for water, nitrate and phosphate neutrality issues
- Planning issues.
Our Planning & Environmental team is a national practice, which represents clients across the country out of our three regional centres in the South, the Midlands and the North. We can help your business with environmental issues no matter where you’re based.
“The team has some big hitters, all with different strengths, which makes them a formidable firm.”
Legal 500, 2022
The team is a ranked as a Tier 1 Planning Practice in the South by both Chambers Guide to the Legal Profession and in the South, London and North West in The Legal 500. In addition we have a number of ranked lawyers and leading individuals as categorised by the directories.
We have decades of experience in environmental issues. Our approach is business savvy and we’ll work with you to protect your business’s reputation. Our environmental lawyers are part of the larger real estate group, which allows us to provide comprehensive legal services for project development.
Our lawyers are regular commentators in national publications providing expert opinion on legislation or the latest cases.
Carbon Literacy training
Our Carbon Literacy course for SMEs has been accredited by the Carbon Literacy Project, which means we can offer Carbon Literacy training to our clients. In doing so, we’re the first law firm to be able to deliver this training.
The training is a great way for your employees and managers to become more aware of the impact everyday individual and business actions have on the climate. You’ll also gain the motivation and ideas to reduce your emissions.
After completing a days’ worth of training and producing climate action plans, staff will become certified as Carbon Literate Individuals by the Carbon Literacy Project. There are options for businesses to become Carbon Literate Organisations.
In the training, we’ll cover:
- The science behind climate change
- The impacts of climate change
- The legal framework and reporting obligations
- What you can do to act on climate change
- Skills for communicating climate action.
We offer two different services for SMEs:
- Two half-day webinars for £2,000 + VAT
- One-day interactive workshop at your office for £2,500 + VAT.
The Carbon Literacy Project charge £30 per person (no VAT) for checking the climate action plans and issuing the certificates.
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Net Zero Readiness Assessment
This service is suitable for any organisation that is just starting its Net Zero journey or wishes to speed up action.
Our environmental lawyers will attend a site meeting and help you produce a bespoke pack of key documentation relating to climate action, including:
- A compliant environmental policy statement or climate policy
- A Net Zero Route Map and action plan
- A programme of carbon literacy training for up to 15 employees and managers.
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Contact Us
If your business is facing any kind of environmental issue, we can help. Call us on 0808 271 4814 or contact us online to speak to one of our expert team.
