RSK at UKELA 2025
Navigating environmental law through science, collaboration and action
As environmental regulation becomes central to how we live, work and invest, RSK is supporting clients to understand, anticipate and act on legal and sustainability obligations. With over 200 specialist businesses across the RSK Group, we combine legal insight with environmental science, engineering, planning and stakeholder engagement to shape decisions that are legally robust, future focused and environmentally sound.
At UKELA 2025, we’re showcasing how our teams are working across sectors to deliver nature recovery, manage climate risk and embed compliance into sustainable development. From PFAS and permitting to biodiversity net gain and water law, we bring together technical expertise and practical delivery to help clients meet evolving legal frameworks with confidence.
Join us at the Platinum Sponsor area to explore how we’re supporting a fair, resilient and legally informed transition to a greener future.
Book a meetingMeet the team attending
Warren Percival
UKELA – Chair, RSK Group
Alexa Culver
UKELA – Speaker, RSK Wilding
Richard Colin
UKELA – Speaker, RSK Geosciences
Shweta Barua
RSK Group
Susan Walter
EDP
Hugh Dyer
RSK Geosciences
Natalie Bryce
RSK Wilding
Felipe Couto
RemedX
David Crofts
RSK Global Experts
Jenny Hughes
Nature Positive
Stella Whyte
Copper Consultancy
Scroll down for articles and brochures created by RSK colleagues attending UKELA 2025, covering key themes and takeaways
Marine group – Offshore renewables and marine mammals: Embedding science into legal frameworks for offshore wind development
Online session | Tuesday, 17 June, 12:00 BST
Offshore wind and marine mammals: Can the UK scale clean energy while protecting marine life?
Offshore wind is a central pillar of the UK’s clean energy transition, but as projects move further offshore and into more ecologically complex waters, so too do the environmental considerations. Marine mammals, especially those that are mobile and acoustically sensitive, are at the heart of this challenge.
With the Energy Act 2023 and the Offshore Wind Environmental Improvement Package setting the pace for accelerated development, this session explores how legal, scientific and policy frameworks are adapting to ensure that marine biodiversity is protected alongside the growth of renewable energy. It will discuss how evidence, uncertainty and regulation intersect from the perspective of safeguarding marine mammals, raising essential questions about how the UK can deliver large-scale infrastructure in line with its environmental obligations.
Join Becca Hamilton, Senior Marine Consultant in RSK Environment, as she shares insights into marine mammal assessment and mitigation strategies across offshore energy projects. Together with experts from Ørsted and the consultancy sector, Becca will examine how law and science can work together to drive better outcomes for nature in the UK’s offshore energy transition.
Whether you’re working in energy, environmental law, conservation or marine ecology, this session offers a vital opportunity to explore one of the most complex and pressing issues in UK environmental policy today.
Learn more herePlanning reform
Plenary 1 | Friday, 20 June at 11:20
Planning reform: What does this mean for the environment, developments and critical infrastructure?
With the Planning and Infrastructure Bill moving quickly through Parliament, big changes are coming for development, infrastructure and environmental protection. From the government’s target to build 1.5 million homes to streamlining national infrastructure delivery, these reforms will reshape how we plan and protect places across the UK. There are some significant challenges ahead to ensure that suitable environmental protections are in place, something that is currently hotly debated in both planning and environmental circles. This session will be an essential start to the discussion and debate at conference on critical implications for the natural environment and delivery of infrastructure.
Join Alexa Culver, Legal Counsel at RSK Wilding, and a panel of legal, planning and ecological experts as they break down what these reforms really mean, from environmental delivery plans and nature recovery funding to strategic site protection and devolution impacts.
Whether you work in policy, planning, development or environmental law, this is your opportunity to stay ahead of one of the most significant policy shifts in years.
Learn more herePlanning reform and nature recovery: What Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill really means
Part III of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill introduces a significant shift in how environmental impacts are assessed and compensated, one that’s already raising questions across the planning and environmental sectors. In this UKELA newsletter article, Alexa Culver, Legal Counsel at RSK Wilding, examines the proposed environmental delivery plans and their potential to reshape how environmental harm is managed and compensated in planning.
From legal uncertainty and developer costs to the risk of environmental regression and weakened protections, this piece provides a clear-eyed analysis of what the Bill means in practice and why it’s sparking concern across the sector.
Read the full article to understand the real-world impact of this legislation and what needs to change before it becomes law.
Read the full articleNavigating NSIP reforms: What the new consultation changes mean for major infrastructure projects
The UK government’s latest proposals to streamline the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) process signal a bold shift in planning policy. With the removal of statutory consultation requirements, the emphasis is now firmly on high-quality, meaningful engagement. In this article, Copper Consultancy, an RSK company, explores what the changes mean in practice, the risks and opportunities for developers and how innovation in engagement can drive better outcomes for communities and infrastructure alike.
Read the full articleSome of our experts in this space:
PFAS and the path to sustainable risk management
Plenary 2 | Friday, 20 June at 13:30
PFAS and the environment: Impacts on transactions, development projects and emerging trends in litigation
This session will provide a practical overview of how historical perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination is affecting UK development projects, transactions and litigation. You’ll hear from an expert panel on the scale of the challenge, current regulatory responses and how organisations are managing the risks day to day. Join Richard Colin, RSK Principal Geoenvironmental Engineer (Technical Lead for PFAS, Microplastics and Emerging Contaminants), as he speaks at this session and stay ahead of the evolving PFAS risk landscape.
Plus – don’t miss the PFAS drop-in during the networking break, where you can speak directly with panellists, solution providers and academics to deepen the discussion and explore tailored advice for your projects.
Learn more hereRemediation of PFAS-affected sites is expensive and technically challenging, with multiple options required to be considered and ‘treatment trains’ potentially utilised in order to reach suitable environmental outcomes. Our specialists are working together with key innovators to apply industry-leading remedial techniques for our clients. Collectively, our PFAS expertise spans site investigation, permitting support, remediation planning, dewatering strategies and risk communication. At the UKELA Conference, we will be on hand to discuss the project requirements that shape decision-making and how delays and planning setbacks are already playing out across live sites.
Some of our experts in this space:
Are your materials management plans legally robust or a liability in waiting?
Applying circular economy principles in construction isn’t just about sustainability targets; it’s a smart, often essential, business strategy. Materials management plans (MMP) under the CL:AIRE Definition of Waste: Code of Practice (DoW:CoP) are more than just a procedural box-tick; they’re a safeguard to demonstrate reused material is a non-waste, and they present a significant commercial opportunity.
When the process is followed correctly, MMPs facilitate the compliant reuse of materials without the need for an environmental permit, reduce reliance on landfill and support circular economy outcomes. When mismanaged, they can lead to regulatory breaches, project delays and significant legal exposure.
Key legal and technical considerations:
- Pre-excavation planning – retrospective MMPs are non-compliant
- Demonstrating suitability, quantity and environmental protection
- Proper declaration and Qualified Person sign-off
- Timely fee submission and transparent communication
- Robust testing, record-keeping and contingency plans
- Full traceability and a complete verification report
Even well-intentioned projects can go off course without the right guidance and management.
Some of our experts in this space:
Practical guidance on undertaking human rights and environmental due diligence
Human rights and environmental risks are deeply interconnected. Environmental harm can directly affect communities and workers, just as labour abuses can occur in sectors linked to deforestation, water stress or climate impacts.
The Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) and wider stakeholder expectations require companies to take a holistic view. This means mapping risks across both topics, identifying overlaps and applying due diligence in a way that addresses their mutual influence.
Our five top tips for making progress now, despite legislative uncertainty:
- Start with a dual-focus risk assessment
- Prioritise what matters most
- Build internal ownership
- Map your stakeholders and rights holders
- Make it continuous – not one-off
Why ESG still matters: Risk, resilience and the case for action
As political rhetoric around environmental, social and governance (ESG) intensifies, businesses are at a crossroads. With elements of the EU’s corporate sustainability agenda facing delays and criticism, some may question the value of continued investment in ESG. But this insight from Emily Lee, Head of Human Rights at Nature Positive, makes a compelling business case for staying the course. From climate risk and supply chain disruption to investor expectations and brand resilience, this article outlines why ESG isn’t a trend – it’s a toolkit for navigating uncertainty and protecting long-term value.
Explore how your business can use ESG frameworks to manage real risk and build long-term resilience.
Read full article hereCan new sustainability reporting regimes around the world drive corporates to deliver results that will mitigate the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises, or will business as usual prevail?
Mitigating climate risk: Preventing litigation through proactive measures
Beyond compliance: Turning sustainability reporting into impact
With new sustainability disclosure requirements taking shape across the UK, EU and beyond, UKELA 2025 will explore how reporting can evolve from a regulatory obligation into a driver of measurable environmental and social progress.
The RSK team will be available to discuss how materiality assessments, science-based targets and practical ESG strategies are being used to drive real-world outcomes on climate and biodiversity. Whether it’s carbon accounting, managing litigation risk or aligning with evolving climate law, our experts can share how we’re helping clients take meaningful, informed action.
Visit us at the UKELA Conference to connect and learn more.
Some of our experts in this space:
The future of environmental risk: What the next generation of due diligence looks like
As the ESG landscape rapidly evolves, so too must the tools and strategies used to assess risk and opportunity. For environmental, health and safety (EHS) lawyers, corporate mergers and acquisitions (M&A) teams and real estate investors, the traditional boundaries of due diligence are no longer sufficient. The future demands a more integrated, forward-looking approach, one that not only identifies liabilities but also unlocks long-term value.
At RSK Group, we believe the next generation of due diligence is already here. By combining deep technical expertise with cutting-edge ESG insight, we’re helping clients navigate a world where environmental risk is dynamic, multidimensional and increasingly material to business success.
Some of our experts in this space:
RSK Global Experts: Legal insight backed by technical depth
As the world’s largest and most diverse panel of in-house experts, RSK Global Experts provides subject matter and testifying expert services to the legal profession across matters arising in each sector. At UKELA 2025, our team is available to discuss how our integrated legal and technical expertise can support your environmental law challenges.
Whether you’re navigating the complexities of the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, addressing PFAS contamination or seeking guidance on sustainability reporting, our experts are here to share insights and discuss how we can assist. With over 130 service areas covered, RSK Global Experts is equipped to provide comprehensive support tailored to your needs.
Connect with us at UKELA 2025 to explore how our expertise can support your legal and environmental objectives.
Some of our experts in this space:
Collaboration that delivers legal and environmental impact
At RSK, our strength lies in our collective capability, bringing together environmental lawyers, planners, engineers, scientists and sustainability experts to support projects that work for people, places and nature. By combining deep technical knowledge with regulatory insight, we create integrated solutions that support compliance, unlock delivery and drive positive environmental outcomes.
At UKELA 2025, we’re showcasing how this collaborative approach is helping clients navigate planning reform, nature recovery, PFAS risk and ESG regulation. Whether it’s shaping environmental delivery plans, aligning with climate law or managing environmental liabilities, we work across disciplines to help clients act with confidence.