Allen & Overy LLP's market-leading environmental group stands out for its expertise in handling cross-border cases across all aspects of environmental and regulatory law, including health and safety, the transportation and storage of hazardous goods and increasingly ESG issues. It is praised by clients as ‘knowledgeable in a wide spectrum of topics and jurisdictions’, and has a workload including cases involving the EU, Middle East, Asia and the Americas. ‘Exceptional’ group head Matthew Townsend has advised on issues arising from climate change/carbon trading, circular economy programmes and renewable power projects among others. Chris Andrew has experience acting across the full range of energy assets, both domestically and internationally, and senior associate Tom d’Ardenne advises on all aspects of environmental and climate law. Maeve Hanna has recently been promoted to partner.

Clifford Chance LLP‘s international network of offices enables the team to handle complex multi-jurisdictional cases, including a growing amount of ESG-related work – which involves, among other things, climate change, health and safety issues and environmental regulation. The team has expertise in the environmental aspects of complex major infrastructure and development projects. It benefits from the presence of high-profile individuals including practice head Nigel Howorth, who has deep experience across environmental disputes, claims management and litigation. ‘Phenomenal‘ Michael Coxall also contributes to the team with his experience advising clients on the EU REACH chemicals and biocides regimes, among other areas. The team has developed a global ESG newsletter setting out legal, policy and market developments in relation to ESG in many jurisdictions.

CMS fields a strong team of environmental law experts and works across a range of environmental law areas, having seen a growth in areas such as green claims. The firm has also seen a recent uptick in instructions to advise on climate change and sustainability including ESG matters, such as advising on the implications of the UK’s emissions targets, and has also assisted clients during the end of the EU transition period. The team counts on the expertise of ‘excellent attorney’ Olivia Jamison, who is at the forefront of the development of new environmental law and policy, and Alex Ibrahim, who has experience in advising clients on the acquisition and divestment of companies and sites with complex environmental issues.

Latham & Watkins’ international reach allows the team to act in high-profile multi-jurisdictional cases. The firm’s lawyers are recognised as thought leaders in the environmental law field, having published blogs in a number of leading journals. The head of the firm’s environment team, Paul Davies, who specialises in advising on the environmental aspects of global corporate transactions, brings a unique insight thanks to his involvement in a number of key environmental law organisations including his leadership role in the UK Environmental Law Association. The team also counts on the expertise of ‘prime environmental practitioner’ Michael Green. The group has recently been increasingly active in ESG-related matters, in the wake of initiatives at the EU level.

Leigh Day’s claimant-focused practice has a reputation for being at the forefront of environmental law reform, handling cases at the intersection of environmental and human rights law on an international and national basis. The team’s work ranges from UK and European public law challenges to multi-party actions arising from environmental damage in developing countries. The team has strength in depth, counting on the expertise of high-profile individuals such as Martyn Day, who is a renowned name in the area. The team is led by head of the international department, ‘outstanding’ Richard Meeran, and Jamie Beagent, whose main area of expertise includes judicial review challenges to planning decisions. ‘Extremely capable and highly intelligent’ Matthew Renshaw and Benjamin Croft were recently promoted to partners.

Linklaters LLP‘s environment and climate change team is active across a range of sectors where environmental issues are commercially relevant or heavily regulated. It is regarded as ‘knowledgeable about the latest trends and developments in environmental law’, and advises corporates and financial institutions on incoming environmental and social requirements of investors and regulators. The team counts on the expertise of high profile individuals such as Vanessa Harvard-Williams, who is recognised for her expertise in the areas of human rights, environmental law and governance. ‘Personable, resourceful and knowledgeable’ Rachel Barrett specialises in advising clients interested in ensuring their approach to sustainability is robust and fit for purpose, as well as those facing or anticipating investor activism, brand damage and regulatory investigation. The team also counts on the expertise of Iyesogie Igiehon, who specialises in advising on environmental and health and safety matters in M&A and project finance transactions.

Travers Smith LLP’s ‘very powerful’ environment team focuses on ‘high end’, complex UK and EU environment and sustainability issues. It stands out for its expertise in regulatory issues critical to energy and infrastructure projects – benefiting from the experience of environmental law experts including ‘super‘ Doug Bryden and John Buttanshaw. The firm’s Operation Risk and Environment Team forms part of its Risk & Operational Regulatory department, which advises on matters including business ethics, human rights and modern slavery. This gives the team a wider understanding of crisis response and reputation management, adding a dimension to the firm’s advice on environmental matters.

Ashurst’s environment and safety team is known for providing broad advice on projects, transactions and litigation. The team workload includes high-value matters and the environment team works closely with other groups within the firm, including planning, projects and real estate, restructuring and special situations and corporate law. Practice head Eleanor Reeves is noted for her focus on ESG, collaborating with the firm’s offices around the world on issues in this space. The team also counts on the expertise of ‘wonderful’ Joanna Fox, and is a part of the UK Environmental Law Association. Isabelle Laborde joined from Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner.

Baker McKenzie stands out for its expertise in sustainability and the environmental regulation of products as well as in climate change law and emissions trading. The team benefits from Graham Stuart’s strength in product regulation as well as in health and safety law. Andrew Hedges’s recent arrival from Norton Rose Fulbright has further bolstered its experience in climate change and clean energy law. The team’s work spans EU and UK environmental law and it has recently been increasingly active on ESG matters, particularly on managing risk with respect to product and supply chain ESG management; this work includes advising on environmental issues, sustainability and human rights.

Burges Salmon LLP has one of the largest environmental teams in the UK. It counts on the expertise of high-profile individuals in the sector including Guy Bastable, who joined the firm from BCL Solicitors LLP in May 2021 and specialises in environmental prosecutions, as well as Ian Salter and Ross Fairley, who focus on net-zero, nuclear new builds and decommissioning. Elsewhere, Ian Truman is another expert in the field of nuclear regulation and international nuclear law, and team head Michael Barlow has broad expertise with a workload that includes handling noise nuisance and coastal erosion claims. It particularly stands out for its expertise in the water sector, with its team representing a number of the UK’s nine water utilities. Other areas of strength include matters relating to power station decommissioning, contaminated land remediation and environmental disputes and prosecutions. Former partner Simon Tilling has recently left the firm.

Dentons‘s environment team is led by Stephen Shergold and benefits from his environmental expertise across sectors including oil and gas, waste and environmental insurance. The team also draws on the experience of environmental law experts including Helen Bowdren, who regularly acts on complex cross border mandates, Sam Boileau, whose expertise includes the environmental regulation of the oil & gas and waste sectors, and Pamela Coulthard, whose specialisms includes regulatory issues surrounding oil & gas decommissioning and pollution control. Recently, the firm has moved to expand its ESG practices, including through creating the ESG: Global Solution Hub, a tool used to measure legal risk for clients. The firm works across jurisdictions, leveraging its global influence and network to participate on high profile international cases.

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s environment team, led by Catherine Howard, works across a varied range of sectors including the energy, oil and gas, mining, infrastructure and public law. Howard is noted for her deep expertise in environmental planning issues, including those related to major infrastructure projects, while senior associate Julie Vaughan has experience in matters involving domestic, EU and international environmental law. Silke Goldberg focuses on regulation of the energy sector across EU member states, and the team has additional expertise in health and safety matters. It acts for clients on advisory and contentious issues relating to ESG and impact risk management, including in relation to corporate purpose and mission-driven entities such as B-corps.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s international network and expertise in multiple sectors of environmental law means the firm can work in some of the largest multi-jurisdiction cases in this area. The team’s domestic workload also encompasses some of the largest remediation and infrastructure development projects in the UK. The environment, safety and planning team is led by three specialist partners: ‘hugely experienced’ Caroline May, who chairs the Law Society Working Group on climate change; Sarah Fitzpatrick, a planning specialist who brings experience of environmental issues including habitat and species protection; and Laura Kiwelu, who works with the team on crossover renewable energy and carbon finance projects and has recently been promoted to partner. It also counts on the expertise of ‘clever and pragmatic’ special counsel Lucy Bruce Jones, whose workload includes the environmental aspects of project developments and transactions. Andrew Hedges departed the firm in November 2021.

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner stands out for its work with blue chip UK real estate and infrastructure clients, working across a variety of real estate and planning contexts, from civil and criminal to transactional. In 2021 the firm has gained a good reputation on thought leadership, having published several articles and hosted no fewer than 13 webinars on environmental legal developments. It benefits from Aidan Thomson’s expertise on several areas of environmental liability and compliance, including the statutory liability regimes relating to environmental damage, nuisance and contaminated land. Thomson co-heads the group alongside Tim Hellier, who serves as head of planning. Isabelle Laborde left for Ashurst.

DLA Piper‘s environmental group works across several areas of environmental law including UK, EU and international environmental advisory work, as well as acting in the defence of environmental prosecutions. The team is led by Teresa Hitchcock, who has expertise in contaminated land, nuisance disputes and regeneration projects, and Nick Rock, who recently joined the firm, having previously been the global head of the Environment, Health and Safety practice at Reed Smith LLP. Rock is highly praised by clients as a ‘market-leading partner’ with ‘outstanding leadership qualities’. Annie O’Connor also joined from Reed Smith LLP, and Olivia Cook joined from Norton Rose Fulbright. The team stands out for its expertise working with contaminated land, compliance issues, environmental approvals and assessments, and waste management and disposal.

Hausfeld & Co LLP‘s environmental and product liability team is led by Ingrid Gubbay, who conducts strategic public and private law litigation, Sarah Moore, who litigates against both corporate defendants and the UK government, and Simon Bishop, who was recently promoted to partner. The team predominantly represents clients in claims against prominent corporations and institutions. Some of the firm’s work includes helping Greta Thunberg and 13 other young climate activists from around the world with a petition to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres asking that he and the leaders of all UN agencies declare that the climate crisis is an emergency.

Slaughter and May’s environment team is led by head of environmental law Samantha Brady, head of sustainability Jeff Twentyman , and Matthew Tobin  and stands out for its transactional work. Its sustainability and climate change offering has grown over the past year. Its key strengths include finding solutions to help clients allocate and provide for environmental and ESG risks on M&A transactions and advising on all areas of the energy sector including renewables, nuclear and oil and gas. It also has expertise in helping corporates navigate the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures.

Squire Patton Boggs‘ ‘very pragmatic and commercially focused‘ environmental, safety and health team is led by Rob Elvin, whose expertise includes the nuclear, gas and electricity generation and distribution industries. It also counts on the expertise of Anita Lloyd, who is described as ‘expert in the area’. The team works across jurisdictions and benefits from its international reach, offering clients services ranging from non-contentious advisory work to regulatory defence work. Oliver Bristow joined from CMS in September 2021.

Clyde & Co has a notable range of specialist environmental lawyers across England, Wales and Scotland. While the firm works across a range of environmental law areas, it stands out for its expertise in environmental crime where it advises on EA and local authority investigations, prosecutions and other forms of enforcement action. The team counts on the expertise of “smart as a whip” Stephanie Lunt and “staggeringly good” Rod Hunt. The team is recognised for thought leadership initiatives in this area, having published a number of articles and hosted several events on environmental matters. Clyde & Co has recently merged into the firm.

Jones Day‘s environmental, health & safety team is led by Christopher Papanicolaou, whose expertise includes waste management, RoHS and REACH regulations. The team regularly advises on the structuring of disposals and acquisitions of brownfield space and contaminated land. It also provides advice to real estate and corporate clients on the assessment and structuring of environmental risk in complex and high-value transactions.

Macfarlanes LLP’s environmental team is led by ‘knowledgeable and approachable’  Nigel Price, who has experience advising clients on transactions, regulatory issues and disputes. It advises clients across the corporate/PE, real estate, funds, financial services, private client and infrastructure sectors. The team regularly works on high-profile commercial development matters and has recently seen an increase in work related to ESG investments. The group wins praise from clients for its ‘constant attention to detail’ and ‘wealth of experience in environmental law’.

Mayer Brown International LLP ‘s environment team is led by ‘extremely good‘ counsel Tim Baines, who has a particular interest in advising clients in the real estate, energy and sustainability sectors. The team also counts on the expertise of Michael Hutchinson, a highly experienced consultant whose has expertise handling the environmental aspects of transactions, providing non-contentious advice, and representing clients in litigation. The team has increasingly been helping clients respond to regulatory burdens. It also publishes articles on new developments in the EHS sector and ESG area.

Osborne Clarke LLP’s environmental law practice in London handles a range of work from regulatory compliance and permitting through to site remediation and crisis response in contamination incidents. The team represents major developers, energy firms and public sector clients, and draws on the expertise of Matthew Germain, who stands out for his reputation in providing advice to corporate clients on the subject of ESG. Caroline Bush, who works across renewables, energy, commercial, retail and industrial developments, is another key figure in the team.

Pinsent Masons LLP's combined planning and environment group is able to provide full-spectrum advice to clients on issues in these areas. The team is led by ‘extremely experienced’ Richard Griffiths  and Ross McDowall, whose expertise include contaminated land, energy and environmental liability. The team focuses on international, national and regional significant environment, planning and infrastructure work. It also counts on the expertise of Gordon McCreath , who has particular expertise in the energy, waste and water sectors. The team stands out for its ‘exceptional strategic advice and unrivalled expertise in planning, infrastructure, regulatory, commercial and procurement in the context of the water sector’. Claire Gregory departed the firm in March 2022.

Pogust Goodhead’s environment team focuses on representing claimants in enviromental litigation against large corporations, acting for clients including individuals, charities, municipalities and businesses. The group is led by Tom Goodhead, who focuses on environmental law breaches in a cross-border context. The team’s work often includes seeking redress against UK corporates, with a particular focus on environmental cases arising in Brazil. Since publication, Pedro Martins and Tomás Mousinho have left the firm.

Reed Smith LLP‘s Environment, Health and Safety team is led by Adam Hedley, who ‘has strong technical knowledge in this space and is able to provide focused commercial advice’. The team handles both contentious and non-contentious work on a wide array of environmental issues. Nick Rock departed the firm in June 2021.

Shoosmiths LLP's environment group is jointly led by ‘one of the leading UK environmental law practitioners’ Angus Evers, and Roy Tozers, whose expertise includes representing and defending companies which are being investigated or prosecuted by the regulatory authorities. The team has recently seen an increase of work relating to advice in relation to chemicals regulation (REACH and CLP). It advises on several areas of environmental law including environmental due diligence and both civil and criminal contentious environmental matters.

White & Case LLP’s environment & climate change practice team is led by Tallat Hussain, who practices in the areas of regulatory compliance, permitting and disputes, and Caroline Miller Smith, who focuses on project development. The teams’ work includes working with green finance structures, monetising green credits and carbon allowances and developing terms for green Islamic finance.

BDB Pitmans‘s Environment team works across a range of disciplines including planning, public law and litigation. The team is led by Mark Challis and has a history of working with clients across government, regulators and the private sector. The team stands out for its work with local authorities to tackle congestion and improve air quality.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP has developed a specialist offering in the market for water utility providers, including the largest UK water utility company. The firm’s lawyers have a diverse range of expertise, including Jane Southworth, who specialises in the chemicals sector, and Tim Hill, who focuses on high-hazard energy chemical and high-risk manufacturing clients. Paul Verrico, head of the firm’s EHS team, has cross-qualified this year as a Chartered Member of IOSH and as a Fellow of the International Institute of Risk and Safety Management. The firm’s previous head of EHS team, Kevin Elliott, departed the firm in January 2022.

Gowling WLG’s London environment team is led by Ben Stansfield and works closely with its Birmingham team. It stands out for its expertise in dealing with allocating risk in sales of real estate, and increasingly in relation to green buildings. The team has also seen an increase in its corporate governance and risk management work. Other areas of expertise include product stewardship and crisis management and climate change litigation. Nick Harding recently rejoined the firm from Norton Rose Fulbright.

K&L Gates LLP‘s planning and environmental team is led by Feroze Abbas, whose expertise includes advising on all environmental aspects of proposed urban regeneration projects and development schemes. The team’s work also includes dealing with the environmental aspects of real estate transactions and corporate M&A, environmental impact assessments and waste, including package waste.