Please join us for this early evening session on waste crime and Environment Agency Prosecutions. The problem of waste crime is increasing and with the newly established waste crime task force, this could lead to an increased number of prosecutions moving forward. Over the last few years, a number of growing trends have already started to emerge such as enforcement undertakings as an alternative to prosecution in less serious cases and the prosecution of directors in more serious cases. These and other growing trends will be explored by the speakers during the course of the evening.

Speakers

Anna Willetts, Senior Associate and Stephanie Lunt, Senior Associate, Clyde & Co LLP

Anna and Stephanie will speak on the role, increase and trends seen in relation to enforcement undertakings in waste crime as an alternative to prosecution.

Dr Anna Willetts is dual-qualified, having completed a PhD in geochemistry and working as an environmental consultant for 5 years, before qualifying as a lawyer. Anna is now an environmental criminal defence lawyer, representing waste and recycling businesses and directors. She advises and defends companies who are prosecuted by the regulators for environmental offences. She was successful in the Court of Appeal in January 2017 in a landmark case appealing a ruling on the dual regulation of an aggregates recycling facility.

Anna is a Fellow of the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Junior Vice President. She is Chair of the CIWM East Anglian Centre Council and the New Members' Network Co-ordinator for the region, as well as Vice Chair of the CIWM Regulatory Special Interest Group.  Anna is a Co-Convenor of the UKELA's Waste Working Party.

Stephanie Lunt is an Associate in Clyde & Co's nationally recognised Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) Regulatory team. Her practice is focused on representing businesses and individuals subject to criminal investigations by regulators from initial incident up to and including trial. Stephanie has experience across the field of regulatory work and her areas of expertise include: corporate and gross negligence manslaughter, health and safety, environment, food safety, fire safety and Coroner's inquests. Stephanie is a member of CIWM and UKELA.

Samantha Riggs, Barrister, 25 Bedford Row

Samantha will speak on recurring themes and growing trends in Environment Agency Prosecutions

Samantha Riggs is recommended in Chambers & Partners & Legal 500 as a leading barrister specializing in defending companies and individuals in environmental, financial and regulatory matters. She has particular expertise in waste management and environmental permitting and has taken legal challenges to the permitting regulations in a number of prosecutions. She has been described as “a fierce and fearless barrister whom it is good to have on your side” and “a great tactical player” who is “clever and conscientious and has good client skills”. She is experienced in working with experts on technical aspects of cases and regularly speaks at industry events. Samantha sits on CIWM waste and health & safety steering groups, is also a member of UK Environmental Law Association sitting on the waste working and waste litigation party and a member of the Health & Safety Lawyers Association. Samantha is currently co-authoring The Practical Guide to Waste Management Law due for publication later this year.

Simone Aplin, Technical Director, Anthesis Group

Simone will speak on constructively challenging the Environment Agency’s assessment of cases within the context of the Environmental Offences Sentencing Guidelines and analyse common mistakes and pitfalls

Simone is a Chartered Waste Manager with over 20 years’ experience in waste and resource management in operations, as a regulator and now as a consultant. As a Technical Director in Anthesis, she works with public and private sector clients across a wide range of resources & waste issues. This includes support to develop and consult on a Resource & Waste Sector Deal for the UK Resources Council and leading the development of a nationwide smart waste tracking system for Defra.  Simone acts as an expert witness to UK courts in criminal and civil disputes, preparing expert evidence and giving verbal evidence in court in cases involving waste offences and their impact on the environment. She also advises public and private sector clients on regulation and compliance, having an in-depth understanding of waste legislation and its application by the regulator, and has delivered a large number of projects relating to waste and waste crime for the Environment Agency.  Simone is a trusted advisor for waste market and regulatory due diligence and has used her understanding of waste data and the policy landscape to deliver feedstock and market assessments for businesses and funders to support investments and acquisitions. She has an in-depth technical understanding of waste, waste treatment, products and materials through her project work supporting procurement and providing solutions for a wide range of clients. Simone worked in waste management operations and was TCM for hazardous landfill.

The Meeting will be chaired by Tim Clare, Director, Anthesis Group

Tim is a former UKELA Trustee and Vice Chair. At Anthesis Tim is the head of the Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) Advisory Practice. An experienced environmental auditor, Tim has significant experience of waste facilities and the waste industry and started his career 25 years ago as a waste management consultant.

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