John Buttanshaw

Practice Areas

John is a Partner of our Operational Risk and Environment Group.

John is a Partner in, and leads, our Operational Risk & Environment Department. A recognised leader in environment and climate change law, John also regularly advises on a range of other 'real world' compliance and risk management matters - from human rights, safety and welfare through to business ethics and financial crime.

John advises on contentious and non-contentious matters across the spectrum of environmental, safety, planning and sector specific regulatory laws. On the non-contentious side, John has particular expertise in permitting and licensing on major energy and infrastructure projects, where his cross-function regulatory capability is invaluable. John also has extensive experience in areas including product and chemical compliance, safety risk management and climate change regulation. On the contentious side, John has worked on matters ranging from major Environment Agency and Health and Safety Executive enforcement actions through to cross-border product recalls and product liability claims.

In addition to his environment and regulatory practice, John has extensive experience in advising clients (particularly in the investment sector) on an array of wider risk and governance matters. These range from anti-bribery and corruption, modern slavery and other business ethics issues, through to export controls, sanctions and market access considerations.

John is chair of the firm's ESG Corporate & Transactions sub-committee and advises a number of leading global organisations on compliance with existing and emergent ESG regulation with respect to reporting (including the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and supply chain risk (including preparation for the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive, and sector-focused controls relating to batteries, forestry, and other high-risk areas).