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.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
- Profile
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The experience of senior individuals combined with the size of the broader environment/ESG team allows Clifford Chance to ably serve their clients.’
‘Nigel Howorth is one of the most experienced environment / ESG partners in London. Nigel blends solid knowledge of the legacy liability and regulatory topics that are still the routine factors taxing their clients, with specialist knowledge for example on nuclear and the voluntary carbon markets. He remains commercial to the core.'
- 'Adam Hedley balances solid knowledge with commerciality.'
- 'Michael Coxall has an encyclopedic knowledge of key regulations.’
‘Great technical ability allied with understanding of client business drivers and commercial realities of the markets within which we operate. The team are incredibly hard working and can respond to tight timescales efficiently and effectively adopting a pragmatic and proactive approach.’
‘We worked with Kirsty Souter who was proactive in joining our interagency discussions, worked diligently to highlight risks to us and provide us with practical solutions. Kirsty made some great catches in the agreement, highlighting both technical risks and drafting challenges (often resulting from bringing together term sheets from several export credit agencies with slightly different needs). ’
Key clients
- Brookfield Renewables
- Government of Sarawak
- UBS
- Shell Plc
- KKR
- CBRE Investment Management
- Canon Europe
- Coalition for Rainforest Nations
- Partners Group
- Horizon Nuclear Power
Work highlights
- Advised export credit agencies (ECAs) and lenders on the environmental and social aspects of the financing of the construction and operation of the 1,022MW Hai Long offshore wind farm project in Taiwan.
- Advised Horizon Nuclear Power (HNP) on its £160 million sale of its Wylfa and Oldbury sites to Great British Nuclear for the purposes of new nuclear development.
- Advised the Coalition for Rainforest Nations (CfRN) on how the results of actions taken by countries under the Paris Agreement Article 5 REDD+ mechanism to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by protecting their forests could be converted into transferrable units akin to carbon credits and traded under the international carbon mechanism established by Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement.
Lawyers
Hall of fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Next generation partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Adam Hedley
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Kirsty Souter
Practice head
Nigel Howorth
Other key lawyers
Adam Hedley; Michael Coxall; Kirsty Souter; Anneke Theelen