Burges Salmon LLP established its leading environmental practice more than 25 years ago, demonstrating a longstanding understanding of environmental issues. More recently, the firm set up a net zero services team – bolstered by its strong renewable energy expertise – to assist clients with the delivery of net zero strategies. Heat network specialist Charles Robson and energy transition expert Malcom Donald joined the energy practice in 2022, further expanding the team’s capabilities. 

Recent matters of significance include advice to Bristol City Council on its ‘City Leap’ initiative whereby the council is seeking to appoint a partner for a 20-year joint venture to deliver £1bn of investment into low carbon energy infrastructure into the city to support its goal of reaching net zero by 2030. Head of renewables Ross Fairley and clean energy expert Emma Andrews in the Bristol office have been key to the project.

Fairley is also part of the team, led by infrastructure partner Julian Boswell, advising Progressive Energy and ENI on The Hynet Project. This will be the UK’s first large-scale low-carbon project and is expected to provide energy amounting to the entire North West region’s domestic natural gas demand.  

Other clean energy clients include Bluefield Solar Income Fund, Blue Gem Wind, and Protium Green Solutions.

Outside of energy transition work, the environment team led by Michael Barlow has assisted Severn Trent Water from a regulatory and real estate perspective regarding sustainable urban drainage solutions. 

Internally, the firm has measured, managed, and reported on its emissions since 2008, overseen by the environment committee. Its SBTi-approved targets include a 50% reduction in scope 1, 2 and relevant scope 3 emissions by 2030. The team also contributes to important collaborations as founding members of the Legal Sustainability Alliance and the Net Zero Lawyers Alliance as well as being active participants in The Chancery Lane Project and a signatory of the UN Global Compact.