Barristers at St Pauls Chambers have experience with most aspects of environmental law, including nuisance claims, noise and air pollution, land redevelopment and contaminated land, environmental permits and licences, including waste management.

Our environmental law barristers at St Pauls Chambers have experience with most aspects of environmental criminal law, including nuisance claims, noise and air pollution, land redevelopment and contaminated land, environmental permits and licences, and waste management.

What is Environmental Criminal Law?

‘The environment consists of all, or any of the following media, namely, the air, water and land; and the medium of air includes the air within buildings and the air within other natural or man-made structures above or below ground’ (Environmental Protection Act (EPA) 1990). It follows from this statutory definition that environmental law is the body of law which seeks to enhance or protect the environment and involves both contentious and non-contentious matters.

Types of Environmental Crime

Environmental crimes are acts in which significant harm or risk is caused to the environment or human health. There are many types of environmental crime, which include:

  • Illegal emissions or discharge of substances into the air, water or soil.
  • Illegal wildlife trading.
  • Illegal shipment or dumping of waste.
  • Illegal trade in ozone-depleting substances.

These types of crimes have an ‘invisible impact’ short term but can be devastating to the environment and human welfare in the long run. Environmental crime is a growing concern, and the need for updates to environmental criminal law and specialist environmental law barristers is ever-growing.

Environmental Criminal Law and Health & Safety Law

There is a degree of natural overlap between environmental law and other – both criminal and regulatory, such as issues concerning asbestos contamination, regulation and compliance. However, for offences to which the environmental offences sentencing guidelines apply (i.e. EPA 1990, Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010), the severity of the sentences are significantly less than under the health and safety offences guidelines.

The guidelines emphasise the removal of economic benefits rather than the more punitive approach for health and safety offences. Nevertheless, the impact of any fine is intended to be severe. Accordingly, it should encourage corporates to seek earlier involvement of counsel to navigate the most successful path through any EA investigation and subsequent criminal proceedings.

“The clerking team is responsive, extremely approachable and knowledgeable”

The Legal 500

Get in touch

For further information and enquiries please contact our clerks team.

Environmental Law Barristers

Sam Green KC

Sam Green KC

Joint Head of Chambers

Call: 1998 Silk: 2015

Richard Barraclough KC

Richard Barraclough KC

Call: 1980 Silk: 2003

Simon Myerson KC

Simon Myerson KC

Call: 1986 Silk: 2003

Bryan Cox KC

Bryan Cox KC

Call: 1979 Silk: 2005

Jonathon Sandiford KC St Pauls Chambers

Jonathan Sandiford KC

Call: 1992 Silk: 2020

Nicholas Worsley KC

Nicholas Worsley KC

Call: 1998 Silk: 2023

Denise Breen-Lawton

Denise Breen-Lawton

Joint Head of Chambers

Call: 2000

Philip Standfast

Philip Standfast

Call: 1980

Derek Duffy

Derek Duffy

Call: 1997

Alasdair Campbell

Alasdair Campbell

Call: 1999

Licensing Law

Andrew Stranex

Call: 2000

Jane Brady

Jane Brady

Call: 2001

James Bourne-Arton

James Bourne-Arton

Call: 2001

Danielle Graham

Danielle Graham

Call: 2003

James Lake

James Lake

Call: 2005

Andrew Nixon

Andrew Nixon

Call: 2006

Helen Chapman

Helen Chapman

Call: 2006

Angus MacDonald

Angus MacDonald

Call: 2009

George Hazel-Owram

George Hazel-Owram

Call: 2012

Kristina Goodwin

Kristina Goodwin

Call: 2013

Jessica Heggie

Jessica Heggie

Call: 2017

Harry Crowson

Harry Crowson

Call: 2018

Temitayo Dasaolu

Temitayo Dasaolu

Call: 2018

Ayman Khokhar

Ayman Khokhar

Call: 2018

Contact Us

Chambers is centrally located within walking distance of the train station, secure car parks and the Courts.

Contact Us

St Pauls Chambers
Park Row House
19-20 Park Row
Leeds
LS1 5JF

For out of hours assistance please call the senior clerk on 07854170429.

The switchboard will open from 08:30 until 17:30

Phone: +44 (0)1132 455 866
Email: [email protected]
CJSM: [email protected]

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