November 21st, 2024
ELF member spotlight: Edward Arash Abedian
Ed is a barrister at Landmark Chambers specialising in environmental, public and planning law. He has acted for individuals, community and campaigning groups, and NGOs on a range of environmental law matters. His recent work includes an ongoing challenge to a Development Consent Order application for a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project located on a nature reserve, and representing local residents in an application to register land as a town green.
His chambers profile is available here.
- Can you tell us about your background and what inspired you to specialise in environmental law?
I’m a career changer and I took a somewhat indirect route into law.
I attended a comprehensive school in London and was the first in my family to go to university, where I studied history and foreign policy. After working in a range of industries (including as a cybersecurity analyst and owning my own cafe!) I decided to retrain as a lawyer.
Growing up as the oldest child in a non-English speaking household meant that I had to advocate for others from a young age. As an academic I studied power and government decision making. The Bar seemed the ideal way to combine these skills and interests into a career.
While living in Colombia I developed an interest in international environmental law, particularly the granting of legal personhood to nature as a means of protecting ecosystems and the fundamental rights of local communities.
Fortunately I ended up at Landmark Chambers – a leading planning, environmental and public law set – where I completed my pupillage and am now a tenant.
- What motivated you to join ELF?
Landmark has a strong relationship with ELF and towards the end of my pupillage I began doing pro-bono work instructed by Emma Montlake, ELF’s Director of Casework. This included advising an environmental campaigner on sewage matters, water quality and safety concerns in respect of English beaches; as well as advising in relation to the review of minerals permissions concerning former mineral working sites. I haven’t looked back and pro-bono environmental work, particularly through ELF, is now a core element of my practice.
- How has working with the Environmental Law Foundation influenced your career and professional development?
ELF has been a catalyst for building not only my environmental law practice, but my practice overall. While I started off doing a lot of advisory work through ELF, this has evolved into larger instructions involving judicial review proceedings in the High Court and representing community groups during Development Consent Order (DCO) examinations. My work with ELF has therefore helped both to improve my knowledge of the law and develop my advocacy experience.
- Can you share a memorable case or project you worked on through ELF that had a significant impact on the community or the environment?
As I already mentioned, Emma Montlake and I are assisting a local community group in respect of a DCO application for a nationally significant energy project which raises a variety of significant issues, including its effect on habitats and protected species. The case is still ongoing, so the impact of our involvement is yet to be determined. Nevertheless, our meetings with the passionate and hardworking members of the group have highlighted the value of legal advice and representation in what is a complex and highly technical process. Our aim is to appear at the DCO examination hearings in due course and influence the outcome in a tangible way by ensuring that the ecology and environmental risks of the project are properly addressed.
- What are some of the unique opportunities or advantages you’ve experienced as a member of ELF compared to other professional networks or organisations?
ELF has allowed me to act in interesting and, at times, high profile environmental cases which I would otherwise have struggled to access in my early years. As a member of ELF you also have lots of opportunities to meet with other environmental lawyers, campaigners and NGOs to help build your professional network.
- In your opinion, why should other legal professionals consider joining the Environmental Law Foundation, and what advice would you give to those who are interested in pursuing a career in environmental law?
While true of many areas, the protection of the environment is an area where we need to do more to ensure that powerful interests are held to account and the voices of the marginalised are heard. The law, and lawyers, have an important role to play in that – and there are few better organisations for facilitating that than ELF.
One thing I always ask those who are interested in pursuing a career in environmental or planning law is whether they have ever been to a court hearing or planning inquiry. As someone with little connection to the legal profession growing up, I understand some of the barriers that face those trying to enter the field. But there’s no substitute to going and seeing what the job actually entails for yourself. Nowadays, many planning appeals are live streamed or recorded and available online – so there’s no excuse! Planning cases often raise a number of environmental issues – including air quality, ecology, pollution, water etc. – so it’s a great way to see the principles and policies you read about in textbooks applied in practice.