Environmental law

Our environmental law practice spans a range of services, ultimately focused on protections of the environment which exist in law. Experts across the firm come together to provide joined up services to clients which span legal disciplines.

Our clients in this field include public and private sector developers, regulators, landowners and public bodies.

We advise on:

• Environmentally focused infrastructure projects including flood defence schemes and renewable energy projects
• Drainage and water law issues
• Sewage discharges and licence conditions
• Environmental Regulation
• Marine licencing
• Land management including community stewardship projects
• Environmental Permitting and licences
• Environmental Impact Assessment including assessments under the Water Framework Directive and Habitats Directive
• Clean Air Zones and other road user charging schemes
• Environmentally focused litigation including Judicial Review and Environmental Review

Environmental Regulation

Our extensive experience acting for Environmental Regulators sets our practice in this area apart from others. For example, we have acted for Natural Resources Wales since its creation and for a number of decades prior to that for its predecessor bodies. Our lawyers have an in depth understanding of the factors at play and provide focused and practical advice.

Our practice in this area includes:

• Advising both regulators and the regulated in respect of compliance with a range of environmentally focused legislation
• Advising on land management functions including community stewardship projects and operations with environmental effects
• Water law including abstraction and discharge permits as well as the land drainage regime
• Advising on a range of environmental permitting topics
• Law relating to protection of habitats and species and consents under the Habitats Regulations
• Promoting byelaws including in respect of fishing and use of environmentally focused infrastructure
• Access to environmental information