Nick Barker

Nick is a specialist environmental lawyer, with expertise in environmental compliance, regulatory investigations and enforcement action.

He helps clients understand how environmental regulations impact their business and reviews their compliance arrangements.

Where companies or individuals have fallen short of the required standards, Nick engages with regulators to address instances of non-compliance and, where required, work through enforcement issues. Nick brings practical solutions to this complex area.

Recent experience includes:

• Defence of investigations led by the Environment Agency, Natural Resources Wales and the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency.
• Support with pollution incidents; immediate response, required notifications and management of associated liabilities.
• Requirements of UK waste law.
• Environmental Permitting requirements.
• Strategies for the disposal/purchase of contaminated sites and management of associated liabilities.
• Application of GB and EU REACH requirements, including supply chain analysis.
• Compliance requirements under WEEE and RoHS.
• Product stewardship law, including regulatory pipeline scanning.
• Training delivery for management/compliance teams.

Nick is also a member of the firm’s water group, drawing upon his experience of both environmental and wider water regulatory issues.

Notable cases

• Support to a global telecoms provider with implementation and reaccreditation of environmental management system (ISO 14001).
• Work with a global chemicals business to assess international supply chains and advise upon REACH registration requirements/associated corporate structures post-Brexit.
• Work with a chemicals business and industry consultants to determine product requirements (SDS and packaging) under REACH/CLP and associated product safety requirements.
• Advice to a global retailer on product stewardship requirements for a new logistics solution.