A Practical Guide to Payments for Environmental Services, a Natural Capital industry first guide authored by Ben Sharples, Partner and Head of Natural Capital at law firm Michelmores and a leading national Natural Capital legal expert, has launched today. The guide was published by Law Brief Publishing.

About the guide:

This highly anticipated and in-demand guide is written specifically for legal professionals, surveyors, landowners and students, in response to the new natural capital legislation which came into place in February 2024.

The book is intended to be a helpful companion to those seeking to understand the many and varied opportunities that exist in the market for environmental services, in particular, lawyers, surveyors and consultants who are responsible for providing professional advice supporting the structuring of deals.  

Ben Sharples, Author of the guide and Head of the Michelmores Natural Capital practice, said:

“The question that I am asked most regularly is "how do we commercialise these opportunities?"

“The environmental services market is only set to grow with the huge and increasing amount of climate risk mitigation responsibility falling on landowners while balancing their own costs and making a living.

“The lawyer's job remains that of sensibly drafting and structuring environmental service deals so that the practical benefits of environmental improvement can be delivered hand in glove with financial return, and this is what this guide aims to support.”

About the Author:

Ben Sharples is a Partner in Michelmores’ Agriculture team and Head of its Natural Capital team. Following a degree in agriculture at Newcastle University, Ben qualified as a Chartered Surveyor and Valuer managing landed estates and carrying out a wide range of professional work.

A change in career followed, and since qualification in 2003, Ben has specialised in resolving disputes arising from the use and ownership of rural land. He draws on his dual qualification in providing clients with pragmatic legal advice avoiding disputes wherever possible.

Ben maintains close links with the surveying profession, sits on the CAAV Property Committee, the Environment and Land Use Committee, and lectures regularly at events organised by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) and CAAV. Ben is also part of the Nutrient Neutrality Forum.

As Head of the Michelmores Natural Capital team, Ben advises clients on issues relating to carbon sequestration, payments for environmental services and sustainability.

Availability:

A Practical Guide to Payments for Environmental Services will be available for purchase at ‘A Practical Guide to Payments for Environmental Services’ by Ben Sharples – Law Brief Publishing

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