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Margaret Bickford-Smith KC

Call 1973 • KC 2003

"Highly experienced in clinical negligence as well as injury and disease work."
(Legal 500 )

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

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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


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