A Manx law firm thinks there is an opportunity to do more business in environmental legislation.

Three lawyers at M&P Legal are now specialising in Manx environmental law.

The move comes after Tynwald approved a long term climate change mitigation strategy.

M&P Legal, based on Buck’s Road, Douglas, says it has already advised on some environmental law aspects as part of other legal services it offers to clients.

Its environment unit comprises the firm’s managing director John Aycock, plus solicitor and trainee advocate Joshua Quinn and advocate Michael Mudge, both of whom have recently joined M&P Legal from other Manx practices.

Unit head John Aycock said that the work covers Acts of Tynwald and relevant Acts of Parliament plus international environmental law treaties to which the Isle of Man may be party.

He said: ’The unit is timely as Tynwald has just absorbed and approved the findings of the Climate Emergency Consultative Transformation Team headed by Professor James Curran.

’Even a cursory review of Professor Curran’s report shows the complexity involved in how the Isle of Man can play its part in mitigating the effects of climate change.

’It seems clear that the Isle of Man has an opportunity to take a lead given its self-contained nature and the nimble law-making facility already in place here.’

He said that his firm hoped to attract clients who need advice on property and planning (for example environmental impact assessments on major new projects).

He said that environmental law covers many different topics including farming, animal welfare, litter, public health, human rights, drainage, energy, minerals, fisheries and the marine environment and pollution matters.

Mr Aycock said that the Isle of Man did not simply reproduce the UK’s law as to the environment.

For instance, the Wildlife Act 1990 of Tynwald specifically takes account of Manx marine fauna in regard to species protection such as basking sharks.

The 1990 Act also differs from the English version in that it has wider scope as it covers offences where the perpetrator has acted recklessly as well as intentionally (the English Act having a more narrow scope).

Mr Quinn graduated from Durham University with a degree in environmental geoscience and worked as a solicitor in England for five years in a practice that focused on rural legal matters.

In acting as a solicitor there, Mr Quinn advised on environmental law matters and acted in a number of farming related cases.

Mr Mudge has local property law experience and an interest in human rights.

The M&P Legal environmental law unit has already prepared a comprehensive digest of all Manx environmental law running to 13 pages of Acts of Tynwald and various other legislative and treaty items.

’The Professor Curran report maps out a way forward that seems likely to affect every individual in the Isle of Man,’ said Mr Aycock.

’The framework seeks to achieve zero emissions by 2050.

’This will need considerable political will and focus not to mention visionary leadership.

’The legal profession as a service industry can help smooth and procure fundamental change such as this and I hope that our new environmental law unit will be the start of our contribution to the robust governance, wide public support and leadership at all levels of civic society that Professor Curran identifies in his report as being needed.’

M&P Legal has partner status with UNESCO Biosphere Isle of Man.