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Water
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The water sector faces an ever more challenging future. Increasingly extreme and unpredictable weather, increasing EU and domestic regulation, growing pressure on finite water resources, unacceptable leakage levels, disputes over water resources, the growing geographical mismatch between resource and population density, an ageing infrastructure network and an increasingly vociferous customer base are just some of the issues you may be facing.

Working in this environment, you will want the ability to access leading expertise and advice.  This is a key factor that drives water sector clients to our door. We advise on both domestic and international deals as well as water regulation, financings,commercial contracts, construction, disputes, property, health and safety and employment services.

Recently, we have been helping clients prepare for the OFWAT 2009 price review, with continuing consultation on competition, the decoupling of investment and operations, on going acquisitions and increasing resource management. We believe these are likely to remain key issues for the industry and our team will be advising on them over the next few years. 

Internationally, we have advised on major water and sewage projects worldwide including some of the groundbreaking PPP deals such as the Sofia and Bucharest water projects as well as on the pathfinding UK PFI Project Aquatrine.

In particular, our lawyers advised on the World Bank water and Sanitation Toolkit; the manual on private sector participation in water and sewage projects worldwide.  This is the leading publication on private sector involvement in water projects.

We are members of the International Private Water Association (IPWA) and the UK water trade association, British Water. 

Examples of our recent experience include:
  • Advising the winning bidder on Project Aquatrine: the pathfinding UK PFI project covering 550 MOD sites;
  • Advising the World Bank on a contractual toolkit: the manual on a private sector in water and sewerage projects worldwide;
  • Advising on litigation relating to the construction and refurbishment of water treatment facilities.
 
  • © Osborne Clarke 2009