David Abrahams, Barrister, Friends of the Earth (Call: 1998) 

David practised as a self-employed barrister specialising in public and planning law before moving to employed practice. Since joining the Friends of the Earth legal team David has worked on legal aspects of Friends of the Earth’s fossil-free campaign, focusing, in particular, on the campaign against fracking, as well as working, with other NGOs, to protect environmental law after Brexit by campaigning for environmental safeguards in the European Union Withdrawal Act and the promised new Environment Bill. David is leading Friends of the Earth’s current judicial review claim against the Environment Agency, challenging the lawfulness of Cuadrilla’s environmental permit for Preston New Road, and has also been working on Friends of the Earth’s response to the anti-protest injunctions currently being sought by a number of oil and gas companies. 

Ken Cronin, Chief Executive, United Kingdom Onshore Oil and Gas   

UKOOG is the representative body for the onshore oil and gas industry. Its objectives are to enhance the profile of the industry, promote better and more open dialogue with key stakeholders, deliver industry wide initiatives and programmes and to ensure standards in safety, the environment and operations are maintained to the highest level.   Ken has more than 25 years’ experience of working in the energy field in both commercial and communications roles across the nuclear, renewables, oil and gas and power sectors. Prior to his role at UKOOG, Ken spent 10 years at a worldwide communication agency as Head of Global Energy.

Charlotte Dyer (of Counsel, Herbert Smith Freehills)  

Charlotte advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious planning and development law, including on planning applications, planning agreements, environmental impact assessments and compulsory purchase.  She has considerable experience advising on nationally significant infrastructure projects.  Charlotte spent 18 months on an in-house secondment with EDF Energy to assist them with their new nuclear proposals within the UK.  She is also very experienced in advising on major, high profile planning appeals. Charlotte was listed as a Next Generation Lawyer in the 2017 Legal 500 Real Estate rankings. 

Julie Vaughan, Herbert Smith Freehills

Julie has an unusually broad base of experience gained from working across practice areas in multiple sectors. This allows her to understand the wider commercial backdrop to environmental issues. Time spent in-house with clients has also been invaluable to understanding the client perspective and she is praised by clients for insight and being very capable.  Julie is ranked as a Next Generation Lawyer by Legal 500 UK and as a Star Associate by Chambers UK. Julie's experience includes:  

defending extractive industry clients against leading class action cases brought in the English courts in respect of the operations of overseas subsidiaries. 

advising Cuadrilla Resources on environmental permitting for shale gas exploration sites in Lancashire advising a consortium bidding in the divestment of the gas distribution network assets of National Grid Gas providing environmental input on permitting 

and waste issues in the context of a string of biomass power developments  advising on 2 major transnational gas transportation pipeline projects involving application of international standards.