England - London • Projects, energy and natural resources

Burges Salmon LLP

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The ‘excellent range of experience’ at Burges Salmon LLP’s water practice allows it to handle matters concerning water companies’ operations and infrastructure projects, while also assisting both housing and infrastructure developments in their interactions with existing water infrastructure. On the regulatory front, the firm assists water companies in making applications to Ofwat and other government bodies for licenses, while also advising clients facing investigations. Practice head Michael Barlow has a broad practice, encompassing environmental, waste water and environmental permitting issues, while also representing clients facing regulatory investigations, acting before the courts and in arbitration and mediation proceedings.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • 'Michael Barlow is a market leader in this area. Clients seek him out.'
  • 'Excellent range of experience and in-depth knowledge of a specialist area.'
  • 'Michael Barlow has an outstanding grasp of a complex and specialist area.'
  • 'The team has a great reputation and delivers high-quality work.'
  • 'They have in depth knowledge of the water sector.'
  • 'Excellent leadership, integrity, honesty and knowledge.'

Key clients

  • Canal & River Trust
  • Environment Agency
  • Affinity Water
  • Wessex Water
  • Severn Trent Water
  • South West Water
  • Welsh Water
  • Albion Water

Work highlights

  • Advised Severn Trent Water on the regulatory and real estate issues arising from its £76m investment in Mansfield to develop sustainable drainage systems as part of the UK’s ‘Green Recovery’ following the COVID pandemic.
  • Advised the Canal & River Trust on changes to the legislation relating to the abstraction of water from rivers (by removal of historic exemptions), and subsequent appeals of six of the licences granted by the Environment Agency and Natural Resources Wales to the Trust.
  • Advised Severn Trent Water (STW) on a management and leasing arrangement with the National Trust which will see the National Trust use its expertise in conservation to enhance sites for visitors, whilst STW will continue to manage the reservoirs and water supplies at the sites.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Michael Barlow