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How we can help

The Eversheds Water Group acts for a significant number of the UK’s major statutory water undertakers as well as other companies in the supply chain. Drawing on people across our network of offices we can offer a superb base of skills and experience in the water sector. As well as our UK capability, we also have substantial relevant expertise within our European and International network of offices.

Eversheds offer advice on all matters affecting the water industry. Examples include:

Advice on Competition law in the context of the existing competition regime and compliance requirements but also planning for changes if the recommendations and reforms set out in the Cave Review are implemented.

Procurement advice and compliance with the Utilities Contracts Regulations.

Pensions advice including advice on MIS and WPS protections, funding issues and benefit design/benefit changes. We are familiar with the treatment of pensions (including the Belstead commitments) at the time of water privatisation and we have experience of the post  privatised centralised WPS/MIS schemes, having advised on the demerger of those arrangements.

Renewable energy advice in the water industry. Providing advice in relation to the on-going regulatory requirements of Ofwat; relevant land transactions; planning; construction advice; development agreements; grid connection and power purchasing agreements.

Innovative procurement models which help improve efficiency and output throughout the supply chain.  We are very experienced in developing bespoke contractual frameworks for large capital expenditure programmes based on mechanisms for commercial risk and reward sharing.

Our litigation and dispute management team has undertaken many cases involving the rights and obligations of water companies and other parties under the Water Industry Act.  We also handle a large number of matters in relation to pollution of rivers and streams from commercial and industrial activities. 

Our environmental team regularly advises clients on abstraction rights, riparian rights, permits and discharge consents, the trading of abstractions rights, water pollution and the adoption of new and existing sewers.  We also advise on the policy surrounding climate change issues and how these affect the water sector and a variety of renewable projects related to the water industry.

The services that Eversheds can offer to the water industry include:

• Competition
• Pensions
• Procurement Strategy for major capital expenditure projects
• Commercial contracts and outsourcing
• EU utilities procurement
• Regulatory
• Employment
• Employers and public liability claims
• Environmental regulation and prosecutions
• Dispute resolution
• Tax
• Planning
• Real estate development
• Portfolio asset management
• Renewable energy

Our clients include many of the UK’s statutory water undertakers, contractors, consultants and specialist firms involved in the water sector.

If you would like more information or would like to discuss a matter with one of our specialist team please contact Amrik Kandola.