Environmental law covers how business activity interacts with pollution, waste, land, water, habitats and climate rules in England. A solicitor in this area handles risk assessments, regulatory compliance, and disputes around permits, licensing, and enforcement. They draft and negotiate permits and consent applications, advise on due diligence for transactions, respond to regulator investigations, arrange remediation and disclosure, and represent clients in enforcement proceedings and in planning and environmental disputes before planning authorities and courts.
What a solicitor handles in these matters
They handle permits (e.g., environmental permits and consent regimes), due diligence for property and transactions, remediation and contamination obligations, and enforcement or compliance disputes across regulators such as the Environment Agency and planning authorities. The work requires navigating detailed statutory regimes and regulatory filings to ensure lawful operation and risk management.