Surgery Sessions

Ask questions relating to your renewable energy installation, surgeries run by local experts where you can drop in and ask questions about legal implications, regulations, EIA’s, finance, communications, tax and planning permission; as well as find out about courses on renewable energy and commercial scale installations.  Surgery sessions will happen between 10-12AM and 2-4PM.

Bill Hull, partner, TLT LLP:  Bill heads TLT’s Commercial Services group and specialises in all areas of commercial and contract work. Bill has particular expertise in energy law and UK/EU competition/public procurement law compliance. For many years, he has advised leading organisations in the energy sector including Triodos Bank NV, the Energy Saving Trust, Building Research Establishment and, prior to its acquisition by Scottish & Southern, Atlantic Electric and Gas. (AM)

Maria Connolly, partner, TLT LLP:  Maria is head of TLT's Renewable Energy team. She has leading expertise in the renewable energy sector, acting for lenders developers and property owners in connection with a significant number of wind-farm, solar/PV, hydro schemes and other renewable energy projects. Maria provides strategic advice on the structuring of transactions, drafting and negotiating key documents, due diligence and funding issues. Recently Maria has been at the fore-front of advising many developers and lenders in relation to solar PV roof top and ground mounted installations and developed plain English documentation which is being rolled out to thousands of homes, schools, commercial and public sector properties nationally. (AM)

Bernice Roberts, director, The Landmark Practice:  Bernice’s early career was spent in community planning in SW England, followed by academic roles in research and teaching She set up the Landmark Practice’s Environmental Planning Unit, and won the RTPI Environmental Planning Award for her work on the Bristol Port Company’s Avonmouth Docks wind turbine scheme, which has been operational since 2007. Bernice was also heavily involved in the successful planning applications for Bristol City Council and Wessex Water’s wind turbine schemes at Avonmouth, and for the Bristol Port Company’s subsequent consent for three more large turbines. She also has considerable experience in planning for large scale solar PV and biomass schemes. She is a member of the RTPI SW Regional Activities Committee and was a runner-up Regen SW Energy Champion in 2009. (PM)

Adrian Hunter, principal consultant, The Landmark Practice:  Adrian is Chartered Town Planner, with over sixteen years post qualification experience including five years working as a local authority development control officer. He has spent the past eleven years working as a planning consultant in the south west advising a range of clients on the promotion and development of land. Adrian joined The Landmark Practice in July 2011 and is currently providing planning advice and support on a number of renewable energy projects, including proposed solar schemes and wind farm developments. (AM)

Alan John - partner, head of environment and energy, Osborne Clarke:  Alan is a partner is our projects practice in Bristol and has headed the firm's environment and energy group since 1990. He has more than 20 years’ experience working for clients across the renewables technologies including wind, solar, biomass, water, landfill gas, energy from waste and anaerobic digestion, and is embedded in the industry.

Holistic advice on low carbon business is a core part of his practice. He has a particular specialism in power and heat purchase agreements and private wire supply arrangements.

Alan works for a wide range of clients across the environment and energy sector. He prides himself on speaking the same language as his clients thanks to his deep enthusiasm for the sector, and he enjoys a network of relationships across the industry that allows him to remain at the cutting edge of market developments.

Alan qualified at Osborne Clarke in 1984. He is also a director of Regen SW. (AM)

Elspeth Vincent – solicitor, environment and energy, Osbourne Clarke: Elspeth is a solicitor in the firm's environment and energy team at Osborne Clarke's Bristol office. 

Elspeth acts for a broad range of domestic and international clients on renewable energy projects, climate change and sustainability regulation, waste management, pollution, contaminated land and producer responsibility. She also acts on behalf of clients facing prosecution under environmental law, and provides environmental advice in property, corporate and banking transactions.
Elspeth joined Osborne Clarke as a trainee solicitor in 2008 and qualified in December 2010. (AM)

Graham Waddell, Bicton College:  Graham Waddell is Head of the EaRTH centre at Bicton College, a leading centre for environmental and renewable technologies training. He is also Head of Energy at the European Policy Information Centre, a training & development organisation operating across Europe. Prior roles include Director of his own company and Head of energy and low carbon policy at the West Midlands regional development agency. His particular interests are in energy policy, renewable technologies and low carbon economic development. He is currently a STEM Ambassador for energy and sustainability. (AM)

Ian Holyoak, Mitchelmoors LLP:  Michelmores' Energy and Renewables Group consists of lawyers experienced in the sector, with specialisms including commercial, environmental, property and planning aspects. Our team provides support and advice to investors, developers, landowners and other bodies embarking on renewable projects, across all technologies. Ian will be 'in surgery' from [10am to noon] and the team will be at Westpoint throughout the day. If you are not able to catch up with Ian at the surgery, do join us over lunch for help with any legal queries and up-to-date advice.

Nick Keel, Solar SW:  Nick Keeler from Solar South West is uniquely placed to answer your questions on installing PV to your farm or business. Our recent customers include goat and milking dairies, an electrified rail supplier, tractor sales, warehousing and a community swimming pool. Asbestos roof? Roof lights? Need black panels? Stop by for a chat between 2-4PM.

Fergus Charlton, associate, Foot Anstey LLP:  Fergus specialises in planning and compulsory purchase law. He has a special interest in supporting the minerals, waste and energy sectors and has advised on several small and large scale renewable energy projects. If you have a planning issue, then Fergus would be pleased to see you. (AM)

Sonya Bedford, Stephens Scown:  Sonya Bedford, Head of Renewable Energy at Stephens Scown LLP has a wealth of experience in advising landowners and businesses through all stages of renewable energy projects including solar, wind, biomass and other technologies. She will be available to answer your questions on the legal aspects of your project.

James Reddy, James Reddy PR and Communications:  Raising your company's profile and 'getting noticed' by your target audience can significantly increase the number of potential customers that are interested in what you have to offer. And that's where James Reddy PR and Communications can help. Over the past 15 years James has helped raise the awareness of regional, national and international brands (including Regen SW, Bridgestone Tyres, Unilever Bestfoods and Harrogate Spa Water). Previously the communications manager at Regen SW, since May 2011 James has helped raise the profile of two renewable energy installers - SunGift Solar and Source Renewable - helping them win high profile awards, gaining them significant coverage in local regional and national media, writing copy for their marketing collateral, and advising on their general marketing activities.

So, whether you're a company involved in renewable energy company, a community organisation or a general business, I'll be happy to chat to you about how you can formulate your communications plan and raise your profile to help generate new business. (AM)

Jonathan Johns, Climatechangematters Limited: Jonathan is Director and Principal of Climatechangematters Limited, a consultancy that specialises in mentoring a limited number of businesses on the opportunities and challenges posed by climate change. He is also principal of Jonathan johns consulting whereby he provides thought leadership and speaking services to the renwables waste and cleantech industry. Previously he was Head of Ernst and Young's award-winning Renewables, Waste and Cleantech team which he founded. He also originated Ernst and Young's influential renewable energy country attractiveness indices for which he remains guest lead article writer and is a regular speaker and chair at renewable energy and waste conferences. He has advised on over USD3 billion of renewables and waste transactions on three continents; he has written a number of reports to government on energy policy and testified to the US senate on energy policy. He is currently a chartered accountant and chartered tax advisor.

Viv Hignell, Lead Business and Environment Manager, Lloyds TSB Commercial, Devon & Cornwall:  Viv, who has over 18 years experience in business banking, has been leading Lloyds TSB Commercial’s engagement with SMEs on the sustainability agenda for the last 4 years. He heads up a network of frontline managers in Devon & Cornwall who are able to support businesses in understanding the risks, issues and opportunities that arise around sustainability.

Over the past five years Lloyd Banking Group has arranged or underwritten finance for 45 renewable energy deals, with £2.6 billion committed. This equates to over 6,000MW of renewable generation – enough to supply more than three million homes. (http://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com/community/environment.asp) (PM)

Judith Hayes, director, JCH Planning Limited, Planning Consultancy:  Judy has worked within the Town and Country Planning Sector for the past 19 years, previously as a Planning Officer for North Devon Council and the Exmoor National Park Authority and now as a Planning Consultant.

Specialising in micro-renewables, equestrian, householder and agricultural planning applications alongside agricultural appraisals and enforcement issues. With a background within the farming and tourism sector as a Partner of a large beef and sheep farm. Her passion is to raise awareness of the need for rural diversification, sustainable development and the needs of the farmer and landowners in the South West.

No matter how small your enquiry Judy is happy to talk you through the best approach and looks forward to meeting you. (PM)

 

Nathan Swankie, Environ: Nathan has over fifteen years of experience in environmental consulting and specialises in Environmental Impact Assessment. Nathan is particularly experienced with wind farm sites across Scotland including: Barcloy Hill and Glenchamber in Dumfries and Galloway; Harrow’s Law in South Lanarkshire; Calliachar in Perth and Kinross; and Glencassley and Strathy North in Sutherland. ENVIRON is an international, employee owned, environmental and health sciences consultancy with a global network of over 80 offices and a staff of over 1,200 talented environmental professionals. We have 10 UK offices including long-established south west offices in Bath, Exeter and Cardiff. As well as environmental planning expertise we offer carbon management, emission reduction and GHG management.