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Burges Salmon, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Pinsent Masons appointed to support NWS in relation to the planning, consenting and regulatory work associated with the UK’s Geological Disposal Facility and Low Level Waste Repository

Picture of Ian Truman
By Ian Truman
9 Oct 2025 2 min read

Leading law firms Burges Salmon, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Pinsent Masons have been appointed by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) under a framework agreement to provide legal services in relation to the consenting and operation of NWS’ key capital programmes including the Geological Disposal Facility programme, and the development and the ongoing operation of the Low Level Waste Repository, near Drigg, in Cumbria.

The appointments will see the three firms work closely with NWS’ in-house legal team and its business partners to deliver legal support for this critical work of national importance.

Created in January 2022, NWS is a subsidiary of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority and focuses on the safe and secure management and disposal of the UK’s nuclear waste.

The procurement allows NWS access to high quality, dynamic and innovative external legal advisors with significant market experience. Burges Salmon, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Pinsent Masons were selected for their extensive expertise in infrastructure development and nuclear regulation, as well as their collaborative approach in delivering complex infrastructure projects.

“We are all proud and delighted to have been appointed to this panel to work with NWS on its programmes and projects of critical national importance. NWS’ role in operating the low level waste repository, and in implementing geological disposal, is complex and challenging and we very much look forward to working with NWS and drawing on our expertise in planning, environmental and public sector law in helping to deliver the management of the nation’s radioactive wastes.”

Ian Truman, Partner – Burges Salmon
Silke Goldberg, Partner – Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer
Richard Griffiths, Partner – Pinsent Masons

“The team has carried out a thorough process to appoint external legal advisors to work closely with each other and our in-house legal team to provide high-calibre legal advice to NWS on the planning, consenting and regulatory aspects of its infrastructure and development programmes. This includes NWS’ critical work with the Geological Disposal Facility programme and the Low Level Waste Repository.

We are grateful for the time invested by the legal services market and are delighted to have appointed three firms: Burges Salmon, Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer and Pinsent Masons, whom we are looking forward to working with.”

Vicky Bennett, General Counsel and Company Secretary – Nuclear Waste Services

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