| Date: | Thursday 16 July 2015 |
|---|---|
| Time: | 6:30pm - 8:00pm |
| Venue: | Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ |
Part of our Fundamental Rights series, our panel of expert environmental rights lawyers will provide an update on domestic and international environmental rights litigation. This event sees Garden Court Chambers partner with environmental law organisation, ClientEarth.
This seminar will cover:
ClientEarth's Clean Air case:
One of ClientEarth’s recent major victories is the successful outcome of its claim against the UK Government (DEFRA) in relation to UK air quality ([2015] UKSC 28). This case culminated in April before the Supreme Court, following a preliminary reference to the ECJ. The Supreme Court issued a mandatory order requiring DEFRA to produce new air quality plans complying with the precise terms of the Air Quality Directive, within a defined timetable. These plans must ensure that the UK comes into compliance with its obligations in a time “as short as possible”.
The current state of play, a domestic overview:
- Access to justice and environmental information
- Planning law - recent targets
- Protest litigation - rights unbalanced
- Environmental crime and punishment
- Regulation - demanding compliance
Wider strategic issues on international environmental actions will also be discussed, as well as SLAPP suits.
What is included?
- Places for NGOs, charities and students are free of charge
- CPD points available for solicitors
- Accredited by the BSB
- Talks prepared by leading environmental rights lawyers
- The opportunity to ask questions
- Refreshments
Who should attend?
Practitioners, academics and solicitors working in environmental, planning and crime/protest law.
About the speakers
Richard Harvey is the chair of Garden Court International and is a leading human rights and environmental law expert. He is currently legal consultant to Greenpeace International. He worked on the successful claim against the Indian Government’s decision to block funds to Greenpeace in India and assisted the Arctic 30 in successfully resisting piracy charges following their peaceful protest in the Russian arctic. Richard Harvey is Lead Counsel at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).
Felicity Williams is a public and human rights law barrister and convenes the fracking team at Garden Court Chambers. She is experienced in international and domestic environmental casework, including litigation opposing exploitation of tar sands in Canada and domestic planning challenges. She is currently representing anti-fracking protesters in Lancashire in High Court proceedings.
Guest speakers:
James Arrandale is ClientEarth’s head of Climate Litigation. He has nine years’ experience as a litigator in London and Singapore working in energy, natural resources and climate work. His practice has also included advisory work on investment treaty law, anti-corruption matters and sanctions. As well as his law qualification, James holds an MSc in Environmental Technology from Imperial College London.
Gillian Lobo: Before joining ClientEarth Gillian worked for the Treasury Solicitor’s Department, where she led on claims in negligence and human rights. She also worked on the disability provisions in the Equality Act 2010. Gillian also holds a masters in Law and Development (LLM) from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
Chair: Marc Willers QC is a planning and environmental law silk.
