Renowned for its strength in environmental and safety law, Ashurst advises clients across a range of sectors on regulatory, transactional, and contentious matters, with particular expertise in sustainability, climate change, and energy transition projects. The team supports clients in navigating complex legal frameworks and managing environmental risks across the full project lifecycle. Eleanor Reeves leads the practice and is widely recognised for her ability to advise on the environmental dimensions of transactions, focusing on risk management and regulatory compliance. James Nierinck brings extensive experience in environmental risk management, incident response, and crisis handling, supporting clients through urgent and high-stakes situations. Joanna Fox advises clients in the energy, infrastructure, real estate, and waste sectors on a broad mix of contentious, transactional, and advisory matters, with particular emphasis on environment, health and safety, and fire safety. Isabelle Laborde specialises in regulatory compliance, investigations, and enforcement, including matters involving both civil and criminal sanctions. Julie Vaughan arrived as a consultant in August 2025.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The practice's undeniable strength is its ability to take a complicated area of law and often difficult situations for clients, and pragmatically navigate these. Their advice is tailored and easily understood. Where there is a tendency for lawyers in this area of law to sit on the fence, this team will very much lead.’
‘Eleanor Reeves is an absolute standout in this field. She is thorough and gives an air of confidence in her advice that puts the client completely at ease. This is a quality possessed throughout the team, with James Nierinck and Joanna Fox also providing high-level advice.’
‘The Ashurst environmental team is a gem. They have deep expertise in all relevant aspects of environmental law.’
‘Eleanor Reeves is the go-to UK environmental lawyer for us. She is fantastic, delivers exceptional advice, and always is very collaborative.’
‘Eleanor Reeves has all the key skills one is looking for in a lawyer advising on environmental permitting issues: constructive, strategic and pragmatic. Her practice reflects those standards.'
‘Ease of access and quality of each member of the team.’
Key clients
- Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
- Renewi Plc
- Aviva Investors
- Fortum Energy
- Oxford Properties
- Great British Nuclear
- Lendlease
- Equitix
- International Capital Group (ICG)
- Berkeley Homes
Work highlights
Advised Great British Nuclear in relation to supporting the UK Government's net zero climate change targets and ambition to deploy up to 24 GW of civil nuclear by 2050.
Advised Renewi on the divestment of its UK municipal business, comprising five long-term waste treatment contracts with local councils, to Biffa Limited.
Advised Equitix and partners on their divestment to Iberdrola S.A. of 88% of the share capital in North West Electricity Networks (Jersey) Limited, the holding company of UK electricity distribution company Electricity North West Limited.
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
James Nierinck; Joanna Fox; Isabelle Laborde; Julie Vaughan