Freeths LLP offers ‘comprehensive and refreshingly contemporary legal service’, covering all aspects of environmental law, including environmental regulatory and compliance advice, navigating environmental constraints in planning applications, and challenging authority decisions. With particular expertise in natural capital law, the team is jointly led by Penny Simpson in Sheffield and Alison Ogley, based in Leeds. The ’excellent’ Simpson brings over two decades of experience as environmental solicitor, with focus on natural environmental law and natural capital law; while Ogley, praised for her ‘attention to detail’, is well versed within civil environmental matters, handling matters related to judicial reviews, high courts challenges and environmental permit appeals. They are supported by Emma Conwell, who is a name to note in relation to environmental due diligence and biodiversity net gain issues.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘The planning and environment team provide a highly effective combined solicitor & advocacy service with great experience and a successful record in the planning and waste regulatory sector.’
‘Alison Ogley is great to work with on complex waste planning appeal projects. She quickly gets to grip with the detail of all the varying technical issues involved, manages teams of expert witnesses and presents a well coordinated case with attention to detail.'
‘The team are knowledgeable, friendly and responsive. Their breadth of talent and experience was a significant factor for us in choosing Freeths over other firms.’
‘Penny Simpson has been an excellent lead for us. She takes a genuine interest in, and seeks a clear understanding of, our project's issues and desired outcomes.'
‘Freeths team offer a comprehensive and refreshingly contemporary legal service. Their strengths include their ability to distill complex legal and regulatory frameworks into understandable advice for the benefit of their clients allowing well-informed and appropriate strategic decisions to be taken.’
‘Alison Ogley and Emma Conwell have support our planning consultancy over a number of years to provide expediate, well-referenced and commercial informed advice to our developer clients on a range of issues. Their experience ensures that the advice is up to date but also recognises the realities of the commercial decisions to be taken based upon the advice. All provided in a friendly and reassuring manner.’
‘Penny Simpson quickly grasped the issues in our planning application and was excellent in getting in to the relevant details and driving our consultants forward in short timescales.'
'Patient, flexible, thorough and a pleasure to work with.'
Key clients
- CCSF Defence Infrastructure Organisation (“DIO”), part of Ministry of Defence (“MOD”) responsible for estate management
- Horsham District Council
- Office for Environmental Protection (“OEP”)
- FCC Environment (UK) Limited
- Welbeck Waste Management Ltd
Work highlights
Advised the Defence Infrastructure Organisation and their ecological consultants to ensure Natural England's new guidance was correctly adhered to, allowing DIO to continue its work, essential for national security operations, to continue in conservation areas without comprising ecological integrity.
Advised the Office for Environmental Protection in relation to the OEP through the first ever review of the current legal frameworks which govern nature conservation sites in England, with OEP using this review to advise the government on changes to the law necessary to meet international targets such as 30 by 30.
Advised on a 'cradle to grave' service on a complex appeal against the Environmental Permit refusal.
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.
Emma Conwell
Practice head
Penny Simpson; Alison Ogley
Other key lawyers
Emma Conwell