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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Probably the strongest environment team in the UK today that has grown significantly under the brilliant and creative leadership of Eleanor Reeves. They have a very dynamic and fresh culture and are all about substance rather than form. They are efficient, critical, caring, enquiring, professional, strategic, forward thinking and imaginative.'
‘The environment team at Ashurst provide responsive, solutions-based advice to clients. I can rely on them to provide a legal view on how best to resolve issues, rather than simply reporting to clients.'
‘Eleanor Reeves provides excellent and practical advice to clients. She is dependable and responsive. Her manner and confidence in proposed solutions puts clients at ease.'
- 'James Nierinck is a practical lawyer that has great command over projects that he leads on and is very approachable. He provides excellent advice across the spectrum of clients that he deals with.'
- 'Joanna Fox is excellent at explaining complex environmental issues to clients.'
‘Solid team with excellent technical skills.’
‘The Ashurst environment team manage to find the delicate balance between the technical expertise their clients need, business awareness to aid decision making, and the human touch we all need from our lawyers in difficult or testing times.’
Key clients
- Great British Nuclear
- Oxford Properties
- Intermediate Capital Group (ICG)
- Department of Energy Security and Net Zero
- Aviva
- Lendlease
- Balfour Beatty
- Connect Plus
- Qair Environnement S.A.S.
- Mitsui
Work highlights
Advising on Great British Nuclear's (GBN) site selection strategy to deploy up to 24 GW of civil nuclear by 2050.
Advising Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) on the UK's CCUS and Hydrogen programmes which support the UK's net zero climate change targets.
Advising PureHealth on the acquisition of Circle Health Group in a deal valued at $1.2 billion.
Lawyers
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Practice head
Eleanor Reeves
Other key lawyers
Isabelle Laborde; James Nierinck; Joanna Fox