The world is facing a climate crisis. There is an overwhelming desire among individuals and businesses to do something about it, but there is uncertainty about what that should be and how effective it can be. There is also growing pressure from employees and those you contract with for businesses to do more on the green agenda and to reduce their carbon footprint.

Birkett Long’s team of environment and energy law solicitors can explain the opportunities associated with navigating your business toward greener pastures and a net zero future.

There will be steps to navigate along the way for business in this new sector.

The environment and energy group

Our cross department and cross discipline team can advise on issues affecting businesses and individuals, allowing clients to overcome industry specific hurdles in the environment and energy sector and in business generally. 

Where businesses are confronted with claimed allegations, we offer robust, practical, and commercially astute representation throughout the process and beyond to achieve the best possible outcome in the prevailing circumstances. 

We can assist and support individuals, families and businesses impacted by nuisance, contamination, pollution, noise, smells, disruption or annoyance.

We can assist you with:

• Advising on all sustainability matters
• Battery storage
• Biodiversity net gain agreements
• Carbon emissions
• Carbon offsetting agreements
• Clean energy products/ innovations
• Contamination/ Water pollution
• Drafting and reviewing environmental or sustainability plans and annual reports
• Easements and rights of way for power and other connections
• Energy projects
• Energy storage
• Extraction of gravels and minerals and future use of the land
• Green energy
• Intellectual property services to protect innovations, inventions, and trade marks
• Mergers and acquisitions
• Nuclear work
• Nuisance
• Obtaining relevant permits
• Offshore wind farms
• Options, conditional contracts and leases for renewable energy projects
• Solar panel installations
• Waste
• Wind turbines

Our expertise includes 

Our team is based across the firm’s offices. It carries out environmental work, such as documenting renewable energy projects, working on sustainability agreements, assisting clients with environmental plans and reports, environmental permitting and regulatory defence, as well as Intellectual Property, property, litigation, criminal, and civil law claims (such as nuisance) and Health and Safety expertise.

David Rayner, Partner and head of Environment and Energy, is a recognised leader in this sector. David works across all aspects of agricultural and commercial real estate but has particular expertise in commercial development and investment work. 

Having developed a strong interest and specialism in environmental law since the late 1980s, David founded and now leads the Environment and Energy Group. 

David specialises in: 

• All-non-contentious environment work
• Biodiversity and other green or sustainable matters
• Carbon reduction
• Carbon offsetting
• Contamination
• Nuclear aspects
• Renewable energy

Regulatory

The beginning of optimising your business for the net zero targets of the future is to ensure you are prepared and compliant with the incoming legislature.

Our regulatory team is headed by Tej Thakkar. The regulatory practice offers to advise clients on their compliance obligations across the multitude of regulatory regimes that have become more stringent and challenging for businesses in recent times as they are to be held accountable for their activities and operations. The regulatory team can also advise individuals and businesses impacted by the actions of others.

Agriculture

We have a dedicated team of specialist agricultural solicitors advising on all aspects of the law relating to rural law, property and agribusiness, so we can be on hand to address any issues you might face. This ranges from documenting rights of way for cable runs to new installations to tax and succession advice on how to protect your family assets via promotion or option agreements to assist with diversification.

Commercial Real Estate

Whatever type of commercial land or property transactions you are considering, we have the expertise needed. Whether you are planning a property acquisition as part of an existing business, buying land to develop, disposing of a property, or have landlord or tenant needs, our team of solicitors offers quality commercial advice and assistance on the full spectrum of real estate work.

Business

Whether you are a sole trader, entrepreneur or a multi-national business, when you are running or wanting to grow your business, you want a team that works with you to understand your business and provide practical advice and solutions. We can review contracts to progress your sustainability goals and assist with drafting and reviewing your environmental or sustainability plans and reports. We will work with you to implement your plans.

Intellectual Property

We offer IP services, including patents and design work to protect innovations and inventions and trade marks to protect brands. The team includes a chartered UK and European patent attorney. 

Our work within the environment and energy space includes patenting technology in over 100 countries, protecting a net zero biofuel, protected with patent and trade mark rooftop urban farm systems, patented advanced database and AI technology that reduces computer power.

Disputes

Resolving a dispute can take considerable time, effort, and money that you could better use to operate, manage, or grow your business. Birkett Long will help you to resolve the disagreement as cost-effectively and with as little damage to the relationship as possible

Why come to Birkett Long

We can assist with all of your environmental or energy needs, from drafting your business sustainability plan and reviewing sustainability reports to setting out your business’s terms and conditions, from compliance with environmental regulations to obtaining appropriate permits for the proper operation of the business to waste matters.

Birkett Long has a team of proven experts who have been working in this sector for decades, helping clients stay ahead of the curve and gain competitive advantage.

If you have any questions about environment and energy law, please call David Rayner on 0330 818 3082 for a short, no obligation phone call or contact us to discuss your requirements.