Department profile
39 Essex Chambers

Environment

UK Bar Guide 2026 : London (Bar)

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39 Essex Chambers

Rankings

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Environment - London (Bar)

Band 1

What the Team is Known For

39 Essex Chambers is a premium set, highlighted by one client for consistently providing an "excellent spread of skills and experience throughout the chambers." Its members are instructed in complex environmental matters ranging from impact assessments to air quality cases and renewable infrastructure projects. Barristers at the set act for a range of key players including the government and local councils, as well as energy and natural resources companies. Another source notes that "the Chambers brings a wealth of experience which is grounded in decades of practice" and a number of members have recently been instructed in high-profile cases, such as R (Finch) v Surrey County Council, a supreme court case which held that Environmental Impact Assessment for oil and gas extraction should take into account the effect of burning the oil and gas on climate change.

Andrew Poyser is director of clerking.

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Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • The clerking team is excellent and access to barristers is easily facilitated.

    Environment respondentUK Bar

  • The level of clerking is impressive and the barristers they recommend are excellent.

    Environment respondentUK Bar

  • The clerking team at 39 Essex is exceptional.

    Environment respondentUK Bar

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

  • Stephen Tromans
    Stephen Tromans

    Stephen Tromans

    Stephen Tromans KC is an outstanding barrister in the fields of environmental, energy, natural resources and planning law. He is highly esteemed for his work on environmental protection, nuclear energy and waste issues.

    • Stephen is a strong environmental planning lawyer with particular expertise in complex environmental and regulatory matters in relation to natural environment, waste and nuclear fields.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Stephen is extremely knowledgeable and trusted in the environmental law field.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Stephen is a standout silk for environmental regulatory matters.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • James Strachan
    James Strachan

    James Strachan

    James Strachan KC acts for airports, oil terminals and waste operations. He has also been called upon to act for The Atomic Weapons Establishment in its opposition to a major judicial review challenge. He is also consulted for advice on environmental concerns surrounding large development projects.

    • James is very smooth, well prepared, and very good with judges.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James is able to tackle anything in the environmental world, and is trusted and well liked by his clients.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • James is always well considered and incisive in his opinion and strategies.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Richard Harwood
    Richard Harwood

    Richard Harwood

    Richard Harwood KC advises on nuisance and criminal regulatory matters in environmental law, and is an expert on Environmental Impact Assessments. He is also highly regarded for his work in planning law.

    • He is outstanding in all areas of work and with all types of clients. I have never had cause to be anything other than impressed by him.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Victoria Hutton
    Victoria Hutton

    Victoria Hutton

    Victoria Hutton is well regarded for her planning and environmental expertise. She has advised on an array of matters including the impact of soil contaminants, road developments and complex renewable energy projects. She acts for consortiums, individuals, local authorities and developers.

    • Victoria is absolutely outstanding. She's very hard-working and seems to have a complete grasp of each case she works on.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Victoria is a strong and trustworthy advocate and adviser.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Victoria is an exceptional junior and has developed a real expertise and skill across environmental and infrastructure planning.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Victoria is a very effective and skilled advocate who has real understanding of complex matters and provides excellent advice.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Daniel Stedman Jones
    Daniel Stedman Jones

    Daniel Stedman Jones

    Daniel Stedman Jones is an experienced environmental junior with expertise in judicial reviews. He regularly acts in matters regarding renewable energy projects, potential breaches of European law and air quality.

    • Daniel Stedman Jones is a bright guy who is good at thinking through arguments.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • He has the specific knowledge of energy regulation which not a lot of people have.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Daniel is a pleasure to work with. He has shown dogged determination and persistence in pursuing points that were critical to the client's case.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • James Burton
    James Burton

    James Burton

    James Burton has a broad environmental law remit and is particularly active representing individual and group claimants in actions relating to a variety of issues, including noise nuisance, flooding and other alleged violations. He is also very experienced handling disputes relating to airspace and other aviation matters.

    • James is very knowledgeable and experienced in environment law.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Philippa Jackson
    Philippa Jackson

    Philippa Jackson

    Philippa Jackson is an experienced environmental lawyer who regularly advises on large-scale developments, including housing projects, airports and infrastructure and energy projects. She is also noted for her work in planning law.

    • Philippa’s expertise, advocacy and dedication are vital to clients.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Richard Wald
    Richard Wald

    Richard Wald

    Richard Wald KC is an excellent choice for claims of environmental damage, acting for both claimants and defendants. He is particularly in demand for his advice relating to infrastructure work.

    • Richard is very much an environmental specialist.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Richard is a great person who is really approachable, very measured, and has a good rapport with judges.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Ruth Keating
    Ruth Keating

    Ruth Keating

    Ruth Keating is frequently instructed to appear in a range of cases and judicial reviews relating to all manner of environmental issues. She has notable expertise in matters related to energy, sustainability and climate change.

    • Ruth is bright, insightful, personable and very helpful to her clients.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth is a brilliant environmental lawyer who is extremely intellectually capable.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth provides excellent legal advice on complex environmental regulatory matters.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Ruth produces very diligent work and great results.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Stephanie David
    Stephanie David

    Stephanie David

    Stephanie David is an administrative law and public law specialist who regularly acts for clients on judicial reviews, regulatory matters and commercial claims. She has expertise in climate change litigation, biodiversity, waste, renewable energy and more.

    • Stephanie has a brilliant brain and can absorb large volumes of detail in a short space of time.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Stephanie is a phenomenal lawyer who has a really lovely personality, and is capable of condensing very complicated environmental law for clients.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Stephanie is thorough, provides strong legal analysis, and is great in a team.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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  • Rose Grogan
    Rose Grogan

    Rose Grogan

    Rose Grogan has an impressive environmental practice. She is noted for her representation of NGOs and government clients, and has tackled a raft of pertinent matters, including air quality, contamination and noise violations.

    • Rose is an exceptional junior who is strong on big infrastructure challenges involving climate change.

      Environment respondentUK Bar

    • Rose is very personable and adaptive, meaning she is able to work across a range of complex matters in the town and country planning, environment and infrastructure spheres.

      Environment respondentUK Bar
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Ranked Barristers at 39 Essex Chambers (11)

London (Bar)

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