Penny Simpson > Freeths LLP > Sheffield, England > Lawyer Profile

Penny Simpson

0845 017 1133 penny.simpson@freeths.co.uk

Work Department

Environmental.

Position

Penny is considered by Legal 500 to be a Leading Individual in the field of Environment.

Having trained in the City (Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer’s environment team) and with 20 years’ experience in both private practice and in-house roles, Penny is a solid and experienced all-round environmental lawyer with particular expertise in “natural environment” law.

Within the “natural environment” niche, she has built a strong, national reputation in advising a wide range of private and public sector clients on the regulation of protected habitats, protected species, water resources, air quality and environmental impact assessment. Her clients are most often developers, environmental consultancies, mineral sector operators and water sector operators, for whom she works to overcome the constraints imposed by natural environment law so as to deliver planning permissions and the other environmental consents they need (eg protected species licences, environmental permits, abstraction licences).

She also advises local authorities, objectors and environmental organisations on these issues.  She has significant experience in defending public and private sector clients when faced with environmental-related regulatory or criminal proceedings brought by the Environment Agency, Natural England, Natural Resources Wales, the Forestry Commission or the police (eg pollution offences, protected species offences, breaches of permits / licences).

More generally, she advises on the environmental aspects of property and company transactions where she negotiates to limit her client’s environmental liabilities. She also has significant experience in health and safety law and frequently advises her clients on health and safety compliance.

Career

Trained Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer; qualified 1997; assistant Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer environment group 1995-99; senior legal advisor Royal Society for the Protection of Birds 1999-2003; DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary UK LLP safety, health and environment group assistant solicitor 2002-03; partner Freeths LLP 2013 to date.

Languages

French and German.

Memberships

UK Environmental Law Association’s Nature Conservation Group (Chairperson 2008-13); The Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust (Trustee 2009-13); Royal Commission for Environmental Pollution (peer review of 28th report on ‘Adapting to Climate Change’).

Education

Manchester University (1991 Biology (First Class)); College of Law (1993 Law Common Professional Examination (Pass); 1994 Legal Practice Course (Distinction)).

Leisure

Hill walking, running.