We advise both public and private sector clients on the management of environmental risks and liabilities, particularly in relation to waste, water, major and strategic infrastructure and energy projects. The breadth of our practice includes regulatory compliance, commercial due diligence, contractual (including construction) disputes, planning and licensing hearings, CPO and private acquisitions and compliance with EU and international laws.

Both national and international clients turn to Philip Lee for strategic advice on a rich variety of environmental projects. They draw on our environmental team’s expertise, particularly our strength in European law, to resolve issues arising from:

• Planning and Strategic Infrastructure;
• Waste management;
• Green procurement;
• Marine and foreshore consents;
• Water and wastewater projects;
• Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment; and
• Air quality, climate change and emissions trading.

Alice Whittaker leads the dedicated environmental law team. She is ranked Tier 1 in the Environmental Law category within Legal 500 (2011) and is listed as a leading individual. She is also noted in Chambers Europe 2011 for her “impressive knowledge of energy, environmental and planning issues.”

Planning and Strategic Infrastructure

Philip Lee has an excellent reputation as having one of the leading environmental and planning teams in Ireland. The firm and its individual lawyers are ranked highly by international law firm guides, particularly Alice Whittaker who was listed as a ‘leading individual’ in this category by Legal 500 in 2011. Our approach is practical and commercially focused.

Dublin City Council and Wicklow County Council are just two of the many local authorities who have benefited from our advice on planning law, the preservation of buildings and heritage law. We have successfully handled many contentious oral hearings and environmental litigation proceedings, underlined by our commitment to keeping both costs and risks to a minimum.

Waste Management

We advise all four Dublin local authorities on the biggest waste infrastructure project in the state, the Poolbeg Waste to Energy Project, and have assisted in the development of both the Dublin and South East Waste Management Plans. We also advise private sector clients on waste and IPCC licensing issues. We have also been engaged by local authorities to sell waste collection businesses and associated assets.

Green Procurement

It is a natural step for our firm as procurement experts to add a green dimension to our services. We advise on the important implications of the Procurement Directives for both providers and purchasers of goods and services in this burgeoning area.

Marine and Foreshore Consents

Alice Whittaker’s expertise on off-shore windfarm planning and marine renewable energy developments gives her clients an excellent knowledge base to deal with issues like foreshore licensing. She has advised the Marine Institute on maritime law, and developers of submarine telecommunications and research cables, foreshore consents and cable protection issues.

Environmental Assessments

We have been involved in many projects and transactions that require specific technical expertise in emerging and developing areas such as Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) of plans, programmes and projects. An important aspect of this work is an ongoing monitoring of ECJ and national case law across Europe, providing guidance on interpretation and scope of the EU Environmental Assessment Directives.

Water and Wastewater Projects

Philip Lee’s expertise in procurement and contract negotiations has attracted clients in need of advice on domestic and EU water and wastewater regulation. We advise Dublin City Council on the Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant and act for subcontracting aspects of Design-Build and Operation and Maintenance projects. We have worked on waste supply pipe leak remediation projects, and have advised local authorities on the Water Services Act 2007 and earlier legislation relating to the power to impose and recover water charges.

Air and Climate policy

We are one of the few firms providing strategic advice on the environmental permitting and authorising regimes that are an integral part of EU air legislation and climate change policy issues. These issues arise in the context of major energy and waste projects, environmental assessments and permit and licence applications.