Our environment group is independently ranked as a ‘first tier’ firm.

Our team is led by two partners, Alice Whittaker and Rachel Minch, who between them have almost 30 years’ experience specialising in the environment and climate area. 

At Philip Lee we focus on areas where we can make a difference. We spot opportunities and develop areas of expertise with high potential. We offer highly strategic and commercial advice. Both national and international clients turn to us not only for our legal skills, but also our deep understanding of the ever-changing legislative and policy environments in which our clients operate.

Our clients rely on our environmental team’s expertise, particularly our strength in European law to help manage environmental risks and liabilities.

We devise highly successful consenting strategies for a rich variety of environmental and infrastructure projects.

We provide representation at oral hearings, consultations and in Court proceedings, including contract disputes, legal challenges to consent decisions and enforcement litigation.

We provide transactional support through our robust environmental due diligence processes.

Key areas where clients seek our advice:

      • Judicial review and environmental litigation
      • Environmental assessments – SEA, EIA and habitats / appropriate assessment
      • Environmental licensing – IPPC/Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) and enforcement
      • Waste licensing / permitting and enforcement
      • Hazardous waste management, licensing and enforcement
      • Water discharge and abstraction
      • Groundwater remediation
      • Water services and waste water treatment
      • Foreshore developments, licenses and leases
      • Marine Strategy Framework / Marine Spatial Planning
      • Subsea cables and pipelines, international law of the sea
      • Greenhouse gas emissions, emissions trading
      • Air quality and climate action legislation

Related Sectors

 

Related Services

Key Contacts

Key Contacts

Philip Lee has a comprehensive understanding of planning and environmental law.

Legal 500, 2022

Strong depth of knowledge in environmental and commercial matters, and consistently provide reliable and responsive advice, often in complicated situations. My first port of call for legal issues related to our projects.

Legal 500, 2020

News and insights

Global warming: the real enemy

Global warming: the real enemy

Key Contact: Alice Whittaker - Partner | Lev Gantly - Partner  |  Maeve Delargy - Senior Associate Published in Eolas Magazine, 16 February 2023. Alice Whittaker, Lev Gantly and Maeve Delargy feature in the Offshore Wind Report in the latest Eolas Magazine, discussing...

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“The heat is on” – District heating in Ireland

“The heat is on” – District heating in Ireland

Key Contact: Hugh Cummins - Partner Ireland’s heating sector currently faces major decarbonisation challenges given its reliance on fossil fuels. Swift and decisive action is required if the sector is to meet its share of reductions to achieve the target of halving...

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