The environment and planning team at Clifford Chance LLP works with a host of clients – both nationally and internationally – on environmental and safety issues, as well as on obtaining environmental permits across multiple sectors, such as renewable energy. Practice head Nigel Howorth is recognised for his work in drafting and negotiating complex environmental indemnities and insurance policies. Adam Hedley, a member of the firm’s Climate Change Group and the Global Environment Group, regularly advises clients on environmental compliance issues. Michael Coxall has experience advising clients on chemicals regimes, GHG reporting, and energy efficiency regulation. Kirsty Souter assists clients on all aspects of environmental and health and safety law. Other key names to note include Anneke Theelen, who has expertise working with environmental issues across M&A, projects, carbon trading, and regulatory matters.

The environment team at Latham & Watkins often advises governments, companies, shareholders, and investors on a range of environmental matters, including on climate change-related mandates. Notably, the firm has recently assisted major clients with the environmental and ESG due diligence aspects of M&A transactions, as well as with environmental and climate change disclosure requirements on an international scale. Praised for his ‘exemplary, timely, and commercial’ advice, practice head Paul Davies‘ practice focus spans the environmental aspects of global corporate transactions and the provision of strategic ESG advice. Davies is often supported by the ‘commercial, insightful and pragmatic’ Michael Green, another specialist in ESG-related transactional matters.

Claimant-side activity is a key strength for Leigh Day, regularly advising on cross-jurisdictional multi-party claims arising from environmental damages, and acting for a range of NGOs and developing nations in high-stakes proceedings. The firm’s groundbreaking work continues to help define businesses environmental obligations, notably in the context of climate change and air pollution. Richard Meeran co-chairs the firm’s international department. Daniel Leader has extensive experience of multi-party claims, while Oliver Holland specialises in environmental damage cases. Tessa Gregory notably acts in matters related to wildlife and habitats, particularly on their interaction with planning and development consent. Other key figures include Carol Day , the founder of the firm’s environmental litigation service; and Shazia Yamin, ‘a fantastic tactician and lawyer‘ who specialises in large scale multi-party group actions. Rowan Smith - 'incredibly knowledgeable and responsive' - is also recommended.

The team at Linklaters LLP advises a wide array of domestic and foreign clients, including major banks, corporates, funds, and asset managers, across ESG and energy transition matters, particularly standing out for its work in the carbon market. Rachel Barrett, who took over as the firm’s global head of ESG in 2023, works with numerous leading clients on a range of sustainability matters. Vanessa Havard-Williams, founder of the firm’s ESG practice, works closely with Barrett and the ESG team on a host of issues, including contaminated land and environmental insurance. Chris Staples  specialises in climate change and carbon trading work, while Kerry Liebenberg works across the full spectrum of carbon transactions. Aileen Buchanan has particular experience advising on environmental and security issues on energy and infrastructure projects. Other key figures include Iyesogie Igiehon, who specialises in advising clients on their ESG strategies.

Praised by clients for its 'excellent technical skills', the environment and safety team at Ashurst provides environment and safety advice across projects, transactions and litigations, particularly across work concerning ESG and climate change. Eleanor Reeves, who has led the team since 2016, is praised for her 'excellent and practical advice' to a host of the firm's leading clients. Isabelle Laborde often works closely with Reeves, assisting clients in both the public and private sector on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious environmental matters. James Nierinck primarily works on corporate and property deals across a number of sectors including waste, energy, and transport. Energy transition specialist Joanna Fox, a member of the firm’s environment group, is a key port of call for clients operating across the renewables sector.

The environment and climate team at Baker McKenzie regularly acts for global companies across all area of UK and EU environmental law, including contaminated land, waste, environmental permitting, and environmental reporting. The group particularly stands out for its work concerning the environmental regulation of products, services, and supply chains, as well as in relation to climate change law and emissions trading. Practice head Graham Stuart advises across product regulation and environmental, health, and safety law, particularly in the assessment and management of environmental risk in complex multi-jurisdictional projects. Andrew Hedges has expertise in the development of renewable energy projects, sustainable energy procurement, and carbon finance. Rachel MacLeod frequently advises on compliance with operational environmental and health and safety obligations.

The team at Burges Salmon LLP advises across all areas of environmental work, from contaminated land remediation and liability issues, to environmental disputes and prosecutions. Other key workstreams for the  group include climate change and carbon law, nature-based solutions, and environmental compliance. Practice head Michael Barlow draws praise for 'tirelessly seeking good outcomes for clients'. Ross Fairley has expertise in major environmental law and net zero matters, while Ian Salter has recently become particularly well known for his expertise in nuclear law. Guy Bastable regularly works across all areas of corporate crime and regulatory investigations, with a major part of his practice covering environmental protection. Other key figures include Ian Truman, who stands out for his expertise in radiological environmental permitting, and Sarah Sackville Hamilton, who works with clients to navigate regulatory and contractual issues, and to bring forward net zero/sustainability projects.

The regulatory safety, health and environment team at DLA Piper, co-headed by Nick Rock and Teresa Hitchcock, stands out for its work within the waste, chemical, and technology environmental regulation sectors. Key individual Rock often assists clients with handling the environmental health and safety aspects of commercial transactions, disputes and large projects, particularly within the on and off-shore energy and natural resources, chemicals, and technology spheres. Rock is often supported by Annie O’Connor, who advises on a range of issues relating to EU and UK environmental health & safety matters, product and chemicals regulation, ESG and climate change laws.

Norton Rose Fulbright’s environment, safety and planning practice maintains a strong focus on ESG, energy transition, and sustainable finance work. Over the past year, the team has also advised clients across environmental litigation, infrastructure projects, and environmental legislation. The practice is jointly headed up by Caroline May, who chairs the firm’s EMEA sustainability committee, and head of planning Sarah Fitzpatrick, who is noted for her experience working with clients across a number of infrastructure projects. Lucy Bruce Jones has particular expertise working within the new environmental regulatory landscape for Carbon Capture and Storage and the Emissions Trading Scheme. Other key figures include Suncica Miletic, who has recently acted in a number of project finance matters, as well as on acquisition of renewable power projects.

Regularly working on significant, cross-border mandates, Pogust Goodhead’s team specialises in challenging alleged environmental breaches by major global corporations, particularly on claims originating in Brazil.  Tom Goodhead, one of the firm’s founding partners, continues to lead major group litigation actions, and is praised for going 'to great lengths to achieve results for his clients'. Disputes lawyer Céline Barnwell - 'a dedicated and tenacious South America specialist' - acts in litigation and arbitration matters across jurisdictions in areas including energy and natural resources. Other key figures include Jeremy Evans, Christopher Neill, and Tom Ainsworth, all of whom specialise in complex high-value, often international litigation.

The environment and climate team at Travers Smith LLP, co-chaired by John Buttanshaw and Sarah-Jane Denton, advises a range of major clients across the environmental space. The group's advice ranges from environmental risk associated with global infrastructure, to compliance issues associated with packaging and deforestation, and also has particular expertise in regulatory issues surrounding energy and infrastructure projects. Buttanshaw boasts particular expertise in the energy and infrastructure sector, advising on nuclear, offshore wind, biogas, and solar project-driven mandates. Fellow practice head Denton assists clients with environmental matters both in support of transactions and related to compliance, advising on consenting, contamination and chemicals, among other work types.

The environment team at Dentons, headed by Helen Bowdren , is noted for its advice on transactional and regulatory defence matters, increasingly in relation to ESG, climate change and carbon trading work. Bowdren maintains a broad practice, advising clients across ESG, environmental, climate change, and health and safety issues. Sam Boileau stands out for his work concerning the environmental regulation of oil and gas and waste sectors, as well as the safety management and sale and purchase of contaminated sites. Annabel Hodge has experience in both contentious and non-contentious environmental and health and safety law, and has worked on a broad range of compliance issues in various sectors including waste, chemicals, and oil and gas.

Praised for knowing 'how to resource cases most effectively and how to play to strengths', dispute resolution law firm Hausfeld & Co LLP notably acts for claimants across areas such as climate change litigation and environmental damage-driven litigation. The practice is jointly chaired by Ingrid Gubbay, a highly experienced litigator who continues to handle significant class actions, and banking litigation specialist Simon Bishop, noted for his expertise at the intersection of financial markets and climate change. 'Clear, quick and really clever', Wessen Jazrawi's recent workload covers both domestic and international proceedings, including before the Supreme Court.

Working increasingly in the water sector in recent months, the planning and environment team at Herbert Smith Freehills LLP handles both contentious and non-contentious mandates across the mining, infrastructure, and planning sectors. Practice head Catherine Howard specialises in planning, consents and environmental law, frequently advising commercial developers and promoters of energy and infrastructure projects. Silke Goldberg focuses on the energy sector across Europe, ranging clean energy generation projects to climate change liability and litigation issues. Recent additions to the team include Joanne Holbrook who advises on all aspects of environmental compliance, risk and liability; and Julie Goulbourne, who specialises on environmental defence matters. Both Holbrook and Goulbourne joined from Addleshaw Goddard.

The planning and environment team at Pinsent Masons LLP frequently assists clients with environmental regulatory advice, environmental aspects of consenting and development projects, and regulatory enforcement matters. Richard Griffiths, who heads the firm’s planning and environment team nationally, stands out for his expertise in the renewable energy sphere. The firm’s environment and climate change practice is led by Fiona Ross, who specialises in the environmental aspects of infrastructure projects and environmental regulatory matters.

Slaughter and May’s environment and climate change practice is well placed to advise on high-value corporate deals within the clean energy space. The team stands out for its environmental risk work across air, water, and land-based work, as well as within the energy sector, spanning renewables, and oil and gas. The team is headed up by Samantha Brady, who specialises in the environmental aspects of land and property-related matters. Richard Todd stands out for his work advising clients across a range of climate and environment-related matters, and is particularly noted for his green hydrogen work. Richard Keczkes, the firm’s head of planning, and Helena Cameron – who regularly supports the team on large transactions – are also recommended.

The team at BDB Pitmans, headed up by Mark Challis and Phil Smith, works with a host of government bodies, regulators, and private sector clients, advising on various planning, public law, and real estate matters. The team stands out for its environmental litigation expertise in particular, an area in which Smith is especially well versed. Nicholas Evans works on major infrastructure projects and related planning and environmental law issues, while Sarah Clark routinely advises in relation to UK and EU derived environmental legislation.

Clyde & Co’s environmental and infrastructure team in London reguarly advises global corporate clients and insurers in respect of environmental impact assessment, pollution, environmental permitting, and waste. It stands out for its expertise in environmental crime. Practice head Brian Greenwood specialises in environmental and infrastructure law. Other key figures include Tom Roberts, who acts on a wide range of health, safety and environmental matters.

Jones Day’s environmental health and safety team, led by Christopher Papanicolaou, frequently works with lenders, developers, investors, and energy purchasers on renewable energy projects and the environmental aspects of transactions. The firm also has experience advising on brownfield remediation, and environmental crisis management matters. Papanicolaou - whom clients praise for his 'wealth of real estate and environmental knowledge' - assists clients with waste management, climate change, and renewable energy matters. Will Land practices planning and environmental law, with particular focus on the real estate and infrastructure sectors.

Working across the oil and gas, renewables, and chemicals sectors, the team at Mayer Brown International LLP often advises major organisations in relation to environmental law matters, including in the regulatory landscape. The team is led by Tim Baines, who specialises in advising companies and financial institutions involved in real estate, energy, and sustainability. Michael Hutchinson advises on both environmental and planning law matters, across the conventional and alternative energy sectors.

The environment, health and safety team at Reed Smith LLP advises clients domestically and internationally across a range of issues, from contaminated land in the context of real estate transactions to environmental due diligence for corporate M&A transactions. Julie Vaughan, who focuses on environmental aspects of transactions, heads the team. Tallat Hussain, who recently joined the firm, works across the infrastructure, oil and gas, mining, and renewable energy sectors.

The environmental safety and health team Squire Patton Boggs’ is versed a wide spectrum of material, from non-contentious work to regulatory defence work, both domestic and cross-border in nature. The team is led by Rob Elvin, who has particular sector expertise in the nuclear, gas, wind, and energy industries. Dave Gordon specialises in environmental liability issues on large multijurisdictional M&A and real estate transactions. Anita Lloyd has significant experience advising clients in the chemicals, manufacturing, and waste sectors.

Well versed in both contentious and non-contentious aspects of environmental health and safety law, the team at Watson Farley & Williams LLP also boasts planning expertise across industries including infrastructure, renewables, and oil and gas. 'Incredibly knowledgeable, responsive and proactive', practice head Nick Walker regularly works with public, corporate, and private clients. Valentina Keys often works in the fields of waste, chemicals, energy, water and renewables.

The environmental team at Beale & Co, led by Michael Salau, regularly defends clients, including environmental consultants, engineers, and utility companies, in matters arising from pollution and contamination incidents, with particular expertise in waste and water management matters. Salau specialises in the construction and environmental sectors. Andrew Croft often works alongside Salau, and has expertise in assisting clients with the application of ESG regulations.

A number of public bodies, investors, and funds turn to the planning and environmental team at K&L Gates LLP for assistance with the environmental aspects of major corporate transactions - including real estate and financial services-driven work - as well as environmental assessments, and site clean-ups. Practice head Feroze Abbas regularly advises on all environmental aspects of urban regeneration projects and development schemes. Georgina Rigg is noted for her knowledge in chemical law, waste, and packaging requirements.

Praised by clients for  the 'consummate professionalism exhibited by the whole department', the environment team at Kennedys stands out for its expertise in environmental regulatory investigation and enforcement matters, as well as for providing advice to insurers on large environmental impairment liability coverage disputes. The team is headed up by the 'excellent' David Wright, who often assists clients in relation to investigations conducted by regulatory bodies. Daniel McShee has extensive experience advising clients in the aftermath of serious environmental pollution events.

The environment team at Macfarlanes LLP has experience advising clients in relation to site contamination risks, sustainability issues, environmental regulatory permitting matters, and environmental indemnity and insurance negotiations. Nigel Price, who heads the team, specialises in environmental law, with extensive experience advising corporate, commercial real estate and infrastructure clients on transactions, regulatory issues and disputes.

The environmental team at Shoosmiths LLP, chaired by Angus Evers, undertakes a broad range of transactional, advisory, and contentious environmental work across a host of sectors, including chemicals, real estate, waste management, automotive, and energy. Evers - who draws superlative praise from clients - is regularly called upon to advise on land contamination matters affecting large-scale development projects, and on waste regulation issues.