Overview

Our lawyers have a unique understanding of environmental law. Through our work with the full spectrum of clients, from government and regulators to the private sector, we view environmental law from all perspectives. As ESG rises up the boardroom agenda, we help to shape the landscape of environmental law. We also help businesses to ensure regulatory compliance and to benefit from any opportunities that arise from the environmental agenda. Our environmental lawyers provide the highest quality, specialist advice.

We collaborate closely with specialist teams from across the firm including health and safety, planning, energy, real estate and corporate and disputes to secure the most effective outcomes for our clients. Our environmental law clients include, on the public sector side, government departments, non-departmental public bodies, environmental regulators and, in the private sector, large multinationals, SMEs and private individuals. We act directly for international clients and, increasingly, assist other international legal practices with specialist UK environmental advice.

Areas of focus

Our environmental law expertise covers the following areas:

  • Product stewardship
  • Energy efficiency
  • Regulatory investigations and enforcement
  • Site closure and divestment
  • Environmental disputes
  • Carbon law
  • Environmental risk management
  • Environmental compliance
  • Water law
  • Resource and waste management
  • Nature based solutions and carbon credits
  • Greenwashing
Experience

Advising a large national charity on its strategy to obtain abstraction licences following the end of its historic exemptions and running a number of appeals against conditions imposed by the regulator on abstraction licences it obtained.

Advising a US manufacturer on ensuring its products are compliant for the EU market under REACH and BPR.

Advising a global electronics manufacturer on how to deal with non-compliance with RoHS and managing its strategy as a result across the EU.

Advising a global IT provider on the response to an investigation by the Environment Agency arising from a pollution incident in which oil escaped from its back-up generators into a nearby watercourse.

Advising ENGIE on the closure and divestment of its coal fired power station at Rugeley.

Acting for insolvency practitioners from one of the big four accountancy firms in the resolution of a complex contaminated land issue in North East England.

Advising on a multi-million pound claim for pollution of drinking water in a small island state.

Defending a UK port in two claims for damages for coastal erosion allegedly caused by the construction of its Outer Harbour.

Advising a statutory water undertaker on its obligations in relation to drought and the seeking of a Drought Permit.

Advising the Nuclear Liabilities Fund on various financial transactions including the terms of clean-up and de-fuelling of nuclear power plants formerly owned by British Energy and their eventual return to green sites.

Advising a Train Operating Company on various issues relating to noise nuisance including running a number of appeals against abatement notices served on it as a result of its operations.

Advising a UK Food Manufacturer on an appeal against an enforcement notice sered by natural Resources Wales for breaches of its Environmental Permit.

Advising an Environmental Consultancy which was developing s strategy for Net Zero Neighbourhoods, particularly on the issue of financing the retrofit of energy efficient products.

Advising a number of statutory water undertakers in response to the issues surrounding pollution for Combined Sewer Overflows.

Advising a US-based pulp and paper company on the roll-out of innovative energy to waste technology in the UK, particularly in relation to achieving end-of-waste status for the outputs.

Advising a UK-based company on the investigation by the Environment Agency into removal and disposal of hazardous refrigeration equipment containing CFCs.

Advising an international energy company developing a very large piece of energy infrastructure on its strategy to comply with the introduction of the UKCA regime and the requirements of that regime in relation to individual pieces of equipment.

Advising a UK University on its Sustainability Strategy.

Advising a UK start-up company on the development of contracts for climate action projects across the world including the allocation of the relevant carbon credits.

Advising a UK Company dealing with end of life tyres in relation to legislation around the export of such tyres to countries around the world.

Advising a Japanese-based electronics manufacturer on compliance with REACH and ROHS for the supply of its products into the UK and EU markets.

Advising an international client on Climate Change Levy and Climate Change Agreements including engagement with the regulator.

Meet the team
Michael Barlow

Michael Barlow Partner

  • Head of Environment
  • Head of Water
  • Head of ESG
Ian Truman

Ian Truman Partner

  • Nuclear
  • Projects
  • Environment
Sarah Raby

Sarah Sackville Hamilton (Sarah Raby) Senior Associate

  • Projects
  • Energy and Utilities 
  • Environment 
Headshot of Victoria Barnes

Victoria Barnes Senior Associate

  • Environment
  • Environmental disputes
  • Dispute resolution
 
Ross Fairley

Ross Fairley Partner

  • Energy and Utilities
  • Head of Renewable Energy
  • Environment
Ian Salter

Ian Salter Partner

  • Head of Nuclear
  • Head of Projects
  • Environment
Guy Bastable Corporate Image

Guy Bastable Partner

  • Corporate Crime & Regulatory Investigations
  • Dispute Resolution & Crisis Management
  • Internal Investigations & Corporate/Director Liability
 

What others say...

The Burges Salmon environmental litigation team is perhaps the best in England for this kind of work. They’ve got real experts, with the backing of a good firm to resource litigation matters when the work needs extra lawyers brought in.

Legal 500 2024

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