Environmental Services - Selected Experience
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Expert Witness - Confidential Client
Appointed expert witness in relation to a professional indemnity claim over delays in the commissioning of an Anaerobic Digestion facility.
Expert Witness - Confidential Client
Provision of advice to a lending consortia in relation to a major Waste PFI project which failed to meet output specifications.
Packaging Waste Compliance and Enforcement Undertaking - Confidential Client
Assessing a major UK brands liabilities under the Packaging Regulations and negotiation and preparation of an Enforcement Undertaking.
Expert Witness – 3M vs States of Guernsey
Lead expert for 3M in this product liability case involving past, extensive use of fire-fighting foams containing PFOS and PFOA. This resulted in contamination of ground, groundwater, surface waters and a drinking water reservoir. The role was to provide expert evidence to the Court on the fate and transport of PFOS in the Guernsey environment and on the appropriateness of the remediation measures undertaken and further proposed by Guernsey.
Expert Witness – Confidential Client
Appointed as an Expert in relation to a case involving the development of housing and historical asbestos contamination in soils, related to a Part IIA Contaminated Land determination.
Expert Witness – Confidential Client
Appointed as an Expert in relation to a potential class action case involving a major industrial facility.
Expert Witness on behalf of Harrogate Borough Council
Provision of expertise regarding the risks posed by landfill gas and leachate migration from an old landfill to a proposed new development, together with an assessment of the sustainability, or otherwise, of removing the waste to another landfill site. Provision of expert evidence to the Planning Inquiry.
Expert Witness, Fuel Distribution company v. adjacent property owner
Provision of environmental advice to a fuel distribution company, involving all aspects of their environmental management. The site was owned previously by a drum-washing company, and the ground was known to be affected by hydrocarbons and solvents. Cross-boundary migration was also known to have occurred. Provisions of expert evidence to the Civil Court.
Dispute Resolution – Confidential Client
Project direction and technical reviewer in relation to a construction dispute arising out of the contamination of a water body. Use of environmental forensic techniques to determine the nature of the contaminants and apportion liability.
Dispute Resolution. Advice provided on behalf of a developer who had suffered losses as a result of an adjacent closed landfill, regulatory review and assessment of the risks posed.
Dispute Resolution. Provision of advice in relation to the level of contamination, primarily with heavy metals, of the aggregate resource lying beneath land that had been subject to the landspreading of waste, together with a review of the regulatory context.
Litigation Support – Confidential Client
Provision of expert advice in relation to a class action in Chile, where health impacts are claimed resulting from the deposit of waste mine tailings from a Swedish smelter in Arica, Chile.
Litigation Support – Confidential Client
Provision of expert advice in relation to an incident in the Colorado mining district of the US, where actions by the defendant resulted in the release of acid mine drainage and other wastes into water courses.
Litigation Support – Confidential Client
Provision of expert advice in relation to alleged environmental and health impacts from dust emanating from an open pit mine in Alaska.
Dispute Resolution—Belfast Harbour Commissioners v. Oil Company
Project Director. Provision of high-level strategic and technical advice on the lease surrender of a plot of land owned by the client, which had been leased to Oil Company for nearly 100 years. Additional site investigation and assessment indicated that impacts of hydrocarbons still affected the site, including free product on groundwater, and adjacent water courses.
Dispute Resolution—Premier Foods v. property developer Provision of advice in relation to the anticipated levels and risks associated with the presence of asbestos and hydrocarbons in soils.
Environmental and Climate Risk
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Environmental Advisor - Global Manufacturer
Expert advisory services for a global manufacturing company ahead of the proposed exit of the private equity owner. Advising on, and reducing potential liabilities associated with contaminated land, water and all aspects of environmental management and compliance A high level Health and Safety review was also undertaken. The work was undertaken across global jurisdictions and included the direction of the environmental due diligence process.
Climate Change Advice. Retained as Environmental Advisor to the Executive Board, Recent development of a climate change strategy, including carbon emissions accounting and tracking, development of SBTi's, and compliance eg SECR, TCFD. Also responsible for risk and liability management for new and existing sites, the preparation of environmental policies, standard operating procedures relating to waste and hazardous materials, environmental compliance guidance across multiple jurisdictions and ongoing management of contaminated land and water liabilities. Environmental management strategies, training activities and support to H&S and a mental health initiative.
Projects Director, Premier Foods
Provision of high-level environmental due diligence advice during a considerable number transactions. Assessment of both contingent and operational environmental liabilities, including evaluation of environmental practices. The issues related to the presence of asbestos in soils from former demolition works and hydrocarbon contamination. Other assistance I provided included IPPC support, energy audits and energy strategy, provision of high-level risk and liability advice for the Mergers & Acquisition and Asset Management teams.
Kelda / Yorkshire Water
Key Account Manager and Project Director Environmental lead for the below ground sewage network contract. Technical support for Kelda’s water supply and management contract with Ministry of Defence. CRC support, carbon management strategy, sustainability strategy, energy skills training strategy, due diligence on thermal waste treatment project, developing action plan for Strategic Business Objectives and H1 assessments for SWTWs.
Projects Director, Ibstock Brick
The initial project involved the investigation and risk assessment of a major hazardous waste landfill site owned by the company, including assessing impacts to sensitive receptors, including water bodies and ongoing operational activities. Developed mitigation and remediation strategy. Further risk and liability management around a number of landholdings, due diligence divestiture support and advice, operational business project support, including Pollution Prevention Control, Environmental Management Systems, wastewater, and drainage, together with projects for their planning department on Environmental Impact Assessment for new developments.
Project Director, Newmason Properties
Waste Chemical Drum Washing Facility — The project included assisting the client in the purchase, assessment, and remediation of a former abandoned waste chemical drum-washing plant, discharging planning conditions associated with the redevelopment of the adjacent Mill site, flood risk assessment, modelling, and flood relief solutions. Contaminants included solvents and asbestos.
Client/Project Director, Major Hospital Redevelopment, NHS Trust
The scheme involved a number of separate, redevelopment projects financed through Private Finance initiative, Procure 21, and standard procurement methods on a Groundwater Protection Zone 1. The site was in close proximity to a public water supply abstraction point in the Chalk Aquifer. Provided high-level environmental advice on the protection of groundwater and environmental regulations to the NHS development team, provided an environmental management plan and coordinated environmental management during the work in order to protect the aquifer.
Ministry of Defence, Defence Estates
Project manager for numerous land quality assessments. Provision of desk-based studies and site investigations, including sites affected by low-level radioactive waste, hydrocarbons, and asbestos. The work was required primarily for redevelopment purposes. The work identified various potential environmental liabilities associated with current and historical activities at the sites and included detailed, costed proposals to allow the MOD to manage and potentially mitigate unacceptable risk to human health and the surrounding environment. Sites included a hydrocarbon spill at the Tankadrome, Catterick Garrison, North Yorkshire, and the redevelopment of the Army Foundation College, Harrogate.
Waste Management
Expert Witness and Dispute Resolution
Waste Management
Hazardous Waste Assessment
Major Retailer—Provided waste management advice regarding a number of potential product recall incidents, where consumer goods were found to have elevated levels of potentially harmful substances. Determination of waste acceptance criteria.
Chemical Manufacturer — Determination of Waste Acceptance Criteria. Assessed pesticide residues under the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
Print Equipment Manufacturer — Determination of Waste Acceptance Criteria. Assessed waste inks under the Hazardous Waste Regulations.
North Yorkshire County Council
Project Director—As part of a Council-wide assessment of key risks, the portfolio of around 60 existing and former landfills was subject to a regulatory review and risk assessment process to understand the level of risk posed to human health and the environment from land contamination, landfill leachate, and ground gas. Sites were prioritised for more detailed investigation, and remedial measures were implemented as necessary.
London Borough of Newham
Project Director—Royal Docks Infrastructure project. As part of a wider infrastructure scheme, investigation of the potential for EFW provision in the Borough. The project identified potential waste streams, technology options and appraised site constraints, in the context of local and national policy and in the light of current MSW disposal contractual arrangements. Development of scope, technical review and presentation of findings.
Major Water Utility Provider
Project Director—Development of a sludge waste and energy strategy, development of scope, regulatory context, technical review, and direction and presentation of findings to Board.
Major Water Utility Provider
Project Director—technical and regulatory due diligence for a proposed solid waste treatment facility involving combining wood and other wastes.
Costain
Project direction of the assessment of contaminated land, other potential abnormal costs, and risks, together with planning risk, related to the development of a potential waste recovery facility and associated infrastructure on behalf of a consortium bidding a major current Private Finance Initiative project.
Confidential Italy-Based Renewables Company
Project Director — Responsible for providing regulatory, technical and environmental due diligence on a gasification project in the UK, which included review of contaminated-land issues, permits and planning, site constraints, technology, and EPC contract arrangements.
Global Finance, Romania
Project Director — Appointed to advise on an equity investment in one of Eastern Europe’s leading plastic and electrical waste recycling facilities. This required a review of the commercial market for recyclates, material availability, and likely future trends driven by EU legislation and a developing waste sector. Work included an assessment of the Environmental, Health, Safety and Social risks and liabilities associated with the project to satisfy the requirements of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development investment. Also directed the Phase II site investigation to assess potential liabilities at one of the sites in the portfolio.
Confidential Major Utility Client
Project Director — Technical due diligence support to review the regulatory context, determine the feasibility and viability of an Advanced Thermal Treatment process to replace existing waste sludge incineration capacity reaching end of life.
John Laing Investments/Shanks Waste Management/Costain
Client Director — Lenders technical due diligence on behalf of this consortium bidding the Essex Residual Waste PFI contract. Including risks associated with geotechnical and environmental issues.