Testimonials
“A leader at understanding and commercially managing environmental liability”
Chambers UK
“Keith Davidson is described by sources as a brilliant environmental practitioner”
Chambers UK
“Numerous of these sites were environmentally challenged. Keith’s approach and outstanding knowledge in the field made the impossible seem possible again”
Bernard Harvey
MD Evonik Degussa
Expertise
Keith is top ranked for Environmental Law in the Chambers UK Guide and Legal 500.
He provides high level environmental and health & safety (EHS) support in corporate and property transactions and has particular expertise with contaminated land, brownfield development projects, environmental liability transfer advice, asbestos, permitting and environmental insurance.
Keith started his career at Nabarros in London and did a Masters’ degree in environmental law at SOAS, University of London. He spent 5 years at Eversheds and became a partner at Cobbetts in 2002. In 2014 he headed LexisPSL Environment in London, drafting precedents, toolkits and practice notes for corporate and property lawyers.
He is a former Environment Commissioner for Greater Manchester and was awarded the Business Green Leaders Award and Legal Week Green Innovation Award and in recognition of his transactional work.
Experience Highlights
- Ministry of Defence portfolio sales to Crest, Taylor Wimpey and St Modwens
- Evonik Degussa sale of former Laporte chemical sites
- Malthurst Group sale and leases of petrol filling stations to Sainsburys, BP and Esso
- Several acquisitions for hazardous waste operator Tradebe
- Chevron sale of UK distributor business to GB Oils involving 120 filling stations
- NPL Estates acquisition of Viridor landfill sites
- BASF sale of the Seal Sands chemical plant in Teesside to INEOS
- Staffordshire County Council acquisition of land for the Jaguar Land Rover plant
- Manchester Airport Group sale of Humberside International Airport
- Homes and Communities Agency public land transfers
- Contaminated land proceedings with BMW and Peel Group
- Belfast Harbour Commissioners lease of BP Oil terminal
- Atlantis Resources acquisition of SIMEC Uskmouth, owner of mothballed power plant in South Wales
- Successful £6m environmental dilapidations claim for DB Schenker against former international oil plc tenant
Career History
Previous Law Firms
- Pannone – Partner 2007-2013
- Cobbetts – Partner 2002- 2007
- Eversheds – Associate 1997-2002
- Nabarro London – Solicitor 1995-1997
Previous Roles
- Head of PSL Environment, LexisNexis 2014- 2015
Degrees
- LLB 2(1) Queens University Belfast
- LLM Environmental University of London
Qualifications
- Dual qualified solicitor Northern Ireland and England/ Wales
- IEMA qualified environmental auditor
Current Positions
- Contaminated Land Panel for Chartered Institution of Water & Environmental Management – 2019
- Consulting Editorial Board Member for LexisPSL Environment – 2015
Previous Positions
- Environment Commissioner for Greater Manchester 2009 – 2013
- Council Member for the United Kingdom Environmental Law Association 2005-2008
Awards
- Green Innovation Award – Legal Week Legal Innovation Awards
- Law Firm of the Year – Business Green Leaders Awards 2015