This website will offer limited functionality in this browser. We only support the recent versions of major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Environment

We provide valuable legal advice on all aspects of environmental law. The team deals with advice on legal compliance, sustainability, and environmental litigation.

Go to section
Overview Expertise Our team Our work What others say Insights Podcast

We have a unique understanding of the complexities and evolving challenges of environmental law, shaped by experience working with a diverse range of clients, from government bodies and regulators to private sector entities for over 25 years.

We take a holistic view of environmental law which allows us to provide informed, strategic advice to shape the legal landscape as Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) issues grow in importance. We assist businesses in ensuring regulatory compliance, deal with regulators and work on environmental litigation, including regulatory investigations and prosecutions.

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

Our environmental law services cover a wide range of solutions from product stewardship to resource and waste management, ensuring comprehensive support and guidance.

  • Environmental disputes: Expert representation in disputes related to environmental law, including litigation and environmental investigations and prosecutions.
  • Environmental risk management: Identifying, assessing and managing environmental risks to minimise impact and ensure compliance.
  • Carbon law: Navigating carbon regulations, including emissions trading and carbon credits.
  • Resource and waste management: Comprehensive strategies for sustainable resource use and waste management.
  • Site closure and divestment: Managing legal aspects of environmental compliance during site closure and asset divestment.
  • Nature-based solutions and carbon credits: Guidance on implementing nature-based solutions and managing carbon credit portfolios.
  • Contaminated land: Legal advice on complex contaminated land issues, both advising on risk mitigation in transactions and dealing with advice on enforcement by regulators.

Our expertise

Compliance and regulation

Providing legal advice on the full range of environmental compliance and regulation issues, ensuring your business meets UK environmental standards with our solutions.

Learn more

Operational change

We provide advice on environmental law throughout the lifecycle of a project or the operational phase of a facility and through to the decommissioning phase.

Learn more

Environmental projects

Specialising in environmental projects, we provide legal advice on a wide variety of net zero and sustainability projects across a range of sectors.

Learn more

Incidents and litigation

Our Environmental Incidents and Litigation practice provides comprehensive legal services to clients facing environmental investigations and challenges. Our team of experienced lawyers is well-versed in navigating the complexities of environmental law, giving our clients the highest level of representation and guidance.

Learn more

Environmental transactions

Providing expert legal advice to help clients manage environmental risks, ensuring compliance and facilitating successful corporate, property, and financing deals.

Learn more

Our team

View all
01
06

Examples of our work

ENGIE

Provided legal guidance to ENGIE on the processes involved in closing and divesting its coal-fired power station at Rugeley.

US manufacturer

Assisted a US-based manufacturer in ensuring that their products met the compliance requirements for the EU market under various EU Directives.

UK food manufacturer

Represented a UK food manufacturer in appealing an enforcement notice issued by Natural Resources Wales for violations related to its Environmental Permit.

Global IT provider

Supported a global IT company in responding to an Environment Agency investigation following an oil spill from its backup generators that affected a nearby watercourse.

Japanese-based electronics manufacturer

Guided a Japanese electronics company on achieving compliance with REACH and ROHS standards for distributing its products in the UK and EU markets.

International energy company

Advised an international energy firm on navigating the UKCA regime and ensuring compliance for individual equipment within a large-scale energy infrastructure project.

01
06

“Leading the way on environment and climate for a very long time.”

Legal 500 UK 2024

“Burges Salmon Bristol’s environmental team are well known for expertise across a wide range of environmental sectors: nuisance, industrial pollution, environmental regulation, planning, environmental assessment.”

Legal 500 UK 2024

“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 UK 2024

01
03

Insights

01
10
aerial view of meandering river and bridge

Environment matters podcast

Listen to Environment Matters, where our leading environmental law solicitors are joined by experts from across Burges Salmon and special guests to discuss a wide range of topical environmental issues.

Listen now