Nick Harding Senior Associate Co-chair of ThinkHouse Foundations

Nick Harding

Nick is a senior associate based in Gowling WLG's London office, specialising in environmental law.

Nick has experience of advising clients on environmental regulatory matters such as waste management, environmental permits and greenhouse gas emissions, as well as providing environmental support to corporate, real estate and projects transactions. Nick is also involved in contentious matters, including defending clients against judicial review and advising clients regarding Environment Agency and Police investigations.

Nick is also an active participant in the firm's Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) team, advising clients in relation to corporate reporting and sustainability.

Nick is a part of Gowling WLG's Legal 500-ranked Environment team and is noted by the directory as a "key lawyer".

Nick is a co-chair of ThinkHouse Foundations, Gowling WLG's tailored programme for junior in-house counsel. Nick is responsible for organising and chairing events throughout the year providing useful knowledge and practical tips to those who are starting their in-house legal careers.

Experience

Energy & Infrastructure

• Advised an infrastructure investor on the acquisition of a recently-consented solar farm, which once constructed will be the largest in the UK. Advice included reporting to the client on the Development Consent Order, other consents required and in respect of the Environment Agency's powers;
• Advised an American private equity investor regarding investment into a UK-based water company in respect of environmental compliance;
• Advised an owner of a battery storage project, regarding breaches of the Environmental Permitting Regulations relating to the back-up generator at the project, including liaising with the Environment Agency to remedy the breach;
• Advised a nuclear authority regarding legacy obligations in respect of the remediation of contamination at decommissioned sites upon disposal;
• Advised one of the UK's leading renewable energy funds in respect of the consenting requirements of battery storage projects across the country;
• Advised a leading UK chemicals company regarding all aspects of successfully obtaining a Development Consent Order for the construction of an underground gas storage facility in Cheshire;

Real Estate

• Advising developers regarding nitrate neutrality issues associated with residential development schemes in the Solent and Stour catchment areas (including general strategic advice nationwide), including advising on solutions to offset increases in nitrate discharge and incorporating the solutions into planning agreements;
• Advising a developer regarding the allocation of liability in respect of the disposal of heavily-contaminated development sites;

Automotive

• Successfully advised an Indian car manufacturer regarding the interpretation of the EU Regulation on the CO2 emission performance standards of new cars sold in the EU;
• Advised an Indian motorcycle manufacturer regarding recent amendments to the Waste Framework Directive regarding registration of substances of very high concern with the European Chemicals Agency;
• Advising a German car manufacturer regarding compliance with the F-Gas Regulations and correspondence with the Environment Agency;
• Advised a US-headquartered car manufacturer relating to the management of construction waste at one of their engine plants in the UK.

ESG

• Advised a renewable energy infrastructure trust in relation to their environmental reporting obligations under the new Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting scheme in relation to its IPO, which raised £350 million;

Contentious

• Successfully represented an infrastructure contractor regarding the defence of a judicial review claim brought against the grant of a bat licence by Natural England to allow enabling and construction works for the construction of a major national infrastructure project;
• Represented a TV production company regarding a police investigation into alleged wildlife offences at a new production set. After drafting a response to police questions under caution, the police decided not to prosecute the client and agree a community resolution instead;