Legal Disputes

  • Environment Agency regulatory disputes
  • Waste permit appeals and public Inquiries
  • Judicial review applications and pre-action letters
  • Documentation reviews and advice re EA enforcement actions and prosecutions
  • EA enquiries, notices and potential prosecutions
  • Expert Witness service
  • Complaints to the European Commission
  • HMRC Excise Duty issues
  • Commercial arbitrations and dispute resolution
Legal Disputes

We have over 20 years’ experience with an excellent professional reputation working as an expert helping in defending clients with solicitors, faced with regulatory problems. These areas of law are complex and all too often, companies plead guilty if that appears to be the simplest solution. However, the ramifications of that decision rumble on long after the sentence. It is vitally important that all relevant documents are scrutinised at the earliest opportunity. Attention to detail is of paramount importance and no stone should be left unturned. Quite often, a regulator prosecutes for something they were already aware of and had previously provided tacit consent for. This is an abuse of the legal process, which means a prosecution should be stopped. However, without the attention to detail a company may not even realise that consent was provided. More so than in any other area of law, dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s is key to finding the perfect defence.

Likewise, when considering applying for waste permits, companies and individuals should not make the mistake of thinking that it is easier to beg for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission. However, asking for permission can be fraught with problems even if an application is properly prepared. When permit applications are refused, knowing how best to challenge the regulator’s decision is vitally important.

 

Testimonials

I have used Protreat’s services over the last few years and have been delighted with the quality of work carried out. As a regulatory lawyer who often requires specialist guidance and assistance on waste management issues, I have found Chris Williamson’s knowledge and understanding of environmental legalisation, second to none. I have found Protreat to be accessible, responsive, innovative and above all thorough. Consequently, I have always received a service of the highest quality and would have no hesitation in recommending them to others

Tom Cleary

Partner , Knights

Solicitors

2016-06-21T04:20:31+00:00

Tom Cleary

Partner , Knights

Solicitors

I have used Protreat’s services over the last few years and have been delighted with the quality of work carried out. As a regulatory lawyer who often requires specialist guidance and assistance on waste management issues, I have found Chris Williamson’s knowledge and understanding of environmental legalisation, second to none. I have found Protreat to be accessible, responsive, innovative and above all thorough. Consequently, I have always received a service of the highest quality and would have no hesitation in recommending them to others
Martin provided an invaluable mentoring and assessment service during my successful attainment of the WAMITAB Level NVQ4 COTC qualification. His friendly and supportive approach was excellent and helped me gain the qualification in less than three months. As a result of my experience, and 5 years later when I had two employees who needed to qualify for NVQ3 COTC, I contacted Martin and he supported them through their successful attainment. I would definitely recommend Martin to anyone wanting to gain similar qualifications.

Scott Williams

Strategic Client Officer Cheltenham Borough and Cotswold District Councils

2016-05-18T11:58:57+00:00

Scott Williams

Strategic Client Officer Cheltenham Borough and Cotswold District Councils

Martin provided an invaluable mentoring and assessment service during my successful attainment of the WAMITAB Level NVQ4 COTC qualification. His friendly and supportive approach was excellent and helped me gain the qualification in less than three months. As a result of my experience, and 5 years later when I had two employees who needed to qualify for NVQ3 COTC, I contacted Martin and he supported them through their successful attainment. I would definitely recommend Martin to anyone wanting to gain similar qualifications.
I have known Chris Williamson since 2006 and he has provided environmental & waste advice to CSG on an ongoing basis since 2011. His range of consultancy services are extremely diverse including waste treatment process design & build, project finance models, business plans, joint venture agreements, planning applications, permit applications, appeals, regulatory disputes, commercial dispute resolution, End of Waste applications, quasi legal advice, tied oil schemes, new initiatives etc. I have used most, if not all of these services over the past five years to the benefit of the company so I would highly recommend Chris to any organisation requiring expert environmental support and advice in the waste and industrial sectors.

Neil Richards

Managing Director, Cleansing Service Group

2016-06-21T04:20:31+00:00

Neil Richards

Managing Director, Cleansing Service Group

I have known Chris Williamson since 2006 and he has provided environmental & waste advice to CSG on an ongoing basis since 2011. His range of consultancy services are extremely diverse including waste treatment process design & build, project finance models, business plans, joint venture agreements, planning applications, permit applications, appeals, regulatory disputes, commercial dispute resolution, End of Waste applications, quasi legal advice, tied oil schemes, new initiatives etc. I have used most, if not all of these services over the past five years to the benefit of the company so I would highly recommend Chris to any organisation requiring expert environmental support and advice in the waste and industrial sectors.
As a specialist solicitor engaged in all types of regulatory, contractual, advisory, due diligence and litigation work in the fields of waste, pollution and industrial law, I have worked with Chris Williamson many times, and have found his technical and commercial acumen in these areas to be absolutely indispensable. Whether (for example) challenging government actions or framing difficult and highly specialist ‘end of waste’ cases, Chris’ many years of in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience of commercial industrial processes and the critical nitty-gritty of practical chemistry, are in my experience an essential part of a successful legal or regulatory process – no more so than when he drove the technical agenda (and heavily influenced the legal strategy) that won the groundbreaking OSS v Environment Agency end of waste ruling in the Court of Appeal. I unhesitatingly recommend him to lawyers and commercial operators working in this area.

Vincent Brown

Principal, Vincent Brown Associates

Specialist UK and EU Waste & Environment Law Practice

2016-06-21T04:22:10+00:00

Vincent Brown

Principal, Vincent Brown Associates

Specialist UK and EU Waste & Environment Law Practice

As a specialist solicitor engaged in all types of regulatory, contractual, advisory, due diligence and litigation work in the fields of waste, pollution and industrial law, I have worked with Chris Williamson many times, and have found his technical and commercial acumen in these areas to be absolutely indispensable. Whether (for example) challenging government actions or framing difficult and highly specialist ‘end of waste’ cases, Chris’ many years of in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience of commercial industrial processes and the critical nitty-gritty of practical chemistry, are in my experience an essential part of a successful legal or regulatory process – no more so than when he drove the technical agenda (and heavily influenced the legal strategy) that won the groundbreaking OSS v Environment Agency end of waste ruling in the Court of Appeal. I unhesitatingly recommend him to lawyers and commercial operators working in this area.
We met Martin when he was appointed as our Assessor by QSP Training, to mentor and assess one of our employees through a Level 2 WAMITAB NVQ. After our employee successfully attained this qualification, we called Martin back to help us tackle the challenges that presented themselves after we acquired the skip hire and waste transfer station business. Martin helped us with the permit transfer, and assisted with the organisational documentation that was required by the Environment Agency. In addition, and of equal importance, he mentored and provided guidance to my partner with his WAMITAB Level 4 waste transfer station management award, which resulted in him gaining his Certificate of Technical Competence, an operational condition of the sites waste permit. We would highly recommend Martin to any company needing assistance with any safety, environmental, quality or waste issues in their business.

Nicki Griffiths

Partner Ludlow Skip Hire

2016-05-18T12:01:53+00:00

Nicki Griffiths

Partner Ludlow Skip Hire

We met Martin when he was appointed as our Assessor by QSP Training, to mentor and assess one of our employees through a Level 2 WAMITAB NVQ. After our employee successfully attained this qualification, we called Martin back to help us tackle the challenges that presented themselves after we acquired the skip hire and waste transfer station business. Martin helped us with the permit transfer, and assisted with the organisational documentation that was required by the Environment Agency. In addition, and of equal importance, he mentored and provided guidance to my partner with his WAMITAB Level 4 waste transfer station management award, which resulted in him gaining his Certificate of Technical Competence, an operational condition of the sites waste permit. We would highly recommend Martin to any company needing assistance with any safety, environmental, quality or waste issues in their business.
During the last 5 years I have worked with Chris Williamson on environmental permit judicial review proceedings, a permit appeal Public Inquiry, a planning permission appeal and various other cases. Chris is a very able no compromise environmental consultant who will look for many angles to defend a client’s best interests in times of adversity

Gordon Wignall

Barrister, 6 Pump Court Chambers

2016-06-21T04:22:48+00:00

Gordon Wignall

Barrister, 6 Pump Court Chambers

During the last 5 years I have worked with Chris Williamson on environmental permit judicial review proceedings, a permit appeal Public Inquiry, a planning permission appeal and various other cases. Chris is a very able no compromise environmental consultant who will look for many angles to defend a client’s best interests in times of adversity