Chris Papanicolaou practices environmental law and general commercial real estate law, with a particular focus on contaminated land transactions. He regularly advises on environmental liability and real estate issues in complex business transactions.
Chris has advised clients on environmental permit issues; waste and water resources laws; infrastructure project issues, including compulsory purchase orders (CPOs); WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment), RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances), and REACH (registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemical substances) regulations and product compliance; carbon reduction and climate change; renewable energy projects; health and safety issues (including HSE [Health and Safety Executive] investigations); noise and odor nuisance; and environmental liability insurance. Chris also counsels clients on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) matters. In addition, he handles the structuring of brownfield contaminated land disposals and acquisitions. Chris oversees environmental due diligence in corporate and real estate transactions, and his commercial property law practice extends to advising major companies on disposals, acquisitions, lettings, and options and on general landlord and tenant matters. Chris has acted for established companies in the waste, minerals, building materials, automotive, chemicals, and renewable energy sectors as well as for property developers and investors.
Chris is a member of the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association.
Experience
Additional Publications
- July 2009
Carbon Reduction Commitment – The Arrival of Emissions Trading in the UK, reprinted in EuroWatch - June 2009
Carbon Reduction Commitment – The Arrival of Emissions Trading in the UK, The Bulletin - 2007
Legislative Calendar 2007/8: Check the Horizon, The EIC Guide to the UK Environmental Industry 2007, coauthor with Brian Ruddie - 2006
Legal Liability Issues Associated with Contaminated Land: The Circular Facilities Case, The Land Remediation Yearbook - November 1995
Criminal Liability for Damage, coauthor with Neil Turner, Estates Gazette - June 1993
Contaminated Land Register RIP, Integrated Environmental Management Issue No. 20 - 1993
Badlands - Essential Environmental Law for Property Professionals, coauthor with Clare Deanesly and Angela Turner, Cameron & May - March 1992
The Big Clean Up Begins, Post-Magazine:Risk Management Supplement - 1991
Year Book of International Environmental Law Volume 2 1991, coauthor with Phillippe Sands, Reports from the International Courts and Tribunals
Additional Speaking Engagements
- June 27, 2013
Environmental Insurance Claims : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, - June 27, 2013
Environmental Insurance Claims : The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, The ICO Conference Centre - October 23, 2008
New Policy and Regulatory Challenges: Implications of the New EU Directives, Policy, Practice and Profits. A Definitive Review of the Policies and Regulations Driving Brownfield Development (Conference notes) - February 2008
Measurement of Waste Industry Issues, copresented with Clare Deanesley, The Annual Summer School Environmental Law - May 16, 2006
Definition of Waste and The Implications of New EU Waste Directive, Environmental Industries Commission Land Remediation Policy Briefing, ICU 2006 - 1998
Director's and Officer's Liability, copresented with Martin Piers, Environmental Aspects 1998 Insurance Conference - April 1997
The 1997 Regulations, The Television Education Network Environmental Law Updates and Producer Responsibility, copresented with Clare Deanesly - 1995
Management of Waste Industry Issues, copresented with Clare Deanesly, The Annual Summer School Environmental Law
"He is extremely knowledgeable and detail-oriented. His industry knowledge is amazing."Chambers UK
- The College of Law, Lancaster Gate (Law Society Finals 1989, First Class Honours); University of Birmingham (LL.B. Hons. 1988, Upper Second)
- Solicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales
- Ranked for environmental law in Chambers UK (2024) and for real estate-environment in The Legal 500 UK (2017)