Nuisance, Noxious Escapes and the Environment
Her experience includes cases of
- Alleged discharge and pollution
- by oil, odour, fume, effluent, noxious waste
- to air, ground and water.
- Foundries and Steelworks
- Coal and other minerals, mining, property rights
- Subsidence, mining
- Subsidence, general including tree roots
- Planning and development
She has advised on rights, duties and liability in connection with mining, minerals and subsidence.
She led the successful defence of a West Midlands foundry in a lengthy criminal prosecution under the Environmental Protection Act (alleged breach of authorization conditions). The case involved a team of experts co-ordinating environmental and scientific evidence. Art.6, European Human Rights Convention was engaged, and the case was dismissed.
Enforcement appeal public enquiry into alleged EPA authorization contravention: this was successfully compromised with the local authority on the eve of a full enquiry.
She represented an industrial estate tenant in proceedings arising out of alleged discharge of oil and waste and resulting contamination: issues of permeability of soils, surface water flows, migration and drainage systems; watercourse; oil and diesel; obligations under lease. The case was successfully settled by mediation.
She has advised on IPPC authorisation conditions.
She successfully advised in connection with a multi-party environmental claim for neighbourhood nuisance and industrial pollution: the case was discontinued.
Selected Cases
View full profile »Articles
- Margaret Bickford Smith KC has contributed to the May 2016 edition of The Resolver
- Margaret Bickford-Smith KC’s inaugural CIArb Oxford Lecture published
News
- Margaret Bickford-Smith KC to deliver inaugural CIArb Oxford Lecture
- AB (a child) v Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
Qualifications
- MA (Oxon)
- Called to the Bar 1973
- Recorder (Civil and Criminal cases) 1997-2020
- Appointed Queens Counsel 2003
- MCIArb 2006
- Accredited Mediator 2004
Memberships
- Member CIArb Commercial Mediation Panel 2007
- Chair, CIArb London Branch 2012-2015
- Chair, Inns of Court Conduct Committee 2012-14
- Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple 1993-
Recommendations
“Highly experienced in clinical negligence as well as injury and disease work.”
Legal 500 2014
“Committed…utterly dependable…has a fantastic manner with clients.”
Legal 500 2010
“Recommended where complex care and social issues are involved.”
Legal 500 2009