Environmental Law

From drafting your environmental strategy and helping you understand your ‘net zero’ commitments to providing an incident response and defending you in prosecutions, we’re the proactive environmental law partner you need.

Environmental Lawyer

Key contact

Aled Owen

  • Partner, Agriculture, Environment and Regulatory

I’ve handled numerous high profile cases, and I know how to react quickly, managing the legal issues as well as the battle for public opinion that often ensues. I make it my business to understand changes in regulation before they affect the industry, so I can help you to plan ahead, reduce the potential impact and make sure you’re well informed.

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Meet the team

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Taking proactive action on environmental matters

We work with clients across all sectors to advise them on environmental matters.

Our support covers everything from helping you to understand your ‘net zero’ commitments and reviewing and drafting your environmental strategy to applying for relevant consents, licences and permits and reviewing your environmental management protocols, manuals and risk assessments.

Our expert environmental solicitors can advise on how compliance with regulations can be achieved, along with ensuring substantiation to environmental and green claims to avoid accusations of greenwashing. We also help with upskilling directors on environmental obligations and provide pragmatic solutions to achieve them.

Expert crisis management and legal defence

In the event of a crisis or prosecution, we have the expertise and experience you need by your side.

Throughout all our work, you can trust us to provide a route map through the law and offer guidance on how the Environment Agency and others would deal with breaches and non-compliance, helping you understand how complex legislation is interpreted ‘on the ground’.

We can support you with

  • Providing an incident response, investigating and advising on critical next steps
  • Advising on environment law and sanctions for breach
  • Appealing against decisions made by the Environment Agency (EA)
  • Defending prosecutions taken by the EA, local council and others through the UK courts and tribunals
  • Identifying exemptions and negotiating with the Regulator during any challenges about breaches
  • Advising on civil sanctions and penalties (the alternative to prosecution and fines).

Services from our Insurance, Risk and Regulatory team

Legal updates and thought leadership

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Recognition of our work

Investors in People

Investors in People

Legal 500 2025 – Top Tier Firm

Legal 500 2025 – Top Tier Firm
Recommended for Quality

Recommended for Quality

Times Best Law Firm

Times Best Law Firm

Hear what our clients say about us

Thank you for your advice, council and everything else

M Shepherd Client testimonial

As well as being incredibly professional and conscientious, Ruth was also incredibly kind and reassuring. This was a very difficult time for me, which had gone on for a long time.

Ruth reassured me with her knowledge of the law but was also a caring and empathetic person to be around. I honestly would not have got through it without her. Thank you so much Ruth.

Client An inquest and with insurance difficulties

As someone who practices at the Bar almost exclusively in the area of health and safety and regulatory law … I can say that Jonathan (Edwards) has a well-deserved reputation for being at the top of his professional tree.

He has a vast array of legal knowledge and also possesses considerable tactical and strategic acumen in relation to whether or not cases should be defended….

James Leonard, Barrister Outer Temple Chambers

I have worked with Jonathan Edwards as my ‘go-to’ legal specialist for over two decades. His strong technical skills backed up by an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the insurance market make him unique and he adds genuine value off the back of this. He has a calm and friendly nature, always taking time to understand us as a business and I am truly grateful for the invaluable support he has provided me over the years.

 

Jamie Lewis, Managing Director Jensten Group Ltd

I have instructed Jonathan over many years, because he quickly grasps and focuses on the key issues of an assignment, provides strong technical advice and delivers excellent outcomes. I know he is very well regarded in the insurance market. Just as importantly, he has a really positive manner that puts clients at their complete ease. He is someone I would thoroughly recommend.

Strong technical advice

Jonathan Edwards is a tremendous asset to have on your side. He combines a forensic eye for detail with astute tactical and practical advice derived from his many years of experience. His case analysis, judgment and ability to master complicated factual and technical details with ease mark him out as an outstanding lawyer. Jonathan is always approachable and calm in even the most highly pressurised situations and he adds real value to every case in which he is instructed.

Angus Withington QC Henderson Chambers

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