Justine Thornton
![]() |
This article is part of the Nuclear Spin project of Spinwatch. |
Justine Thornton is an environmental lawyer and the partner of UK Labour opposition leader Ed Miliband.
She is part of Thirty Nine Essex Street Chambers in London.
Contents
Background
Advising EDF Energy on new nuclear planning consent
Class action against Shell Nigeria
In May 2013 Thornton was instructed by Leigh Day solicitors in a class action against Shell Nigeria for two oil spills in 2008 which are alleged to have caused widespread damage in the Niger Delta. Justine joins the team alongside Richard Hermer QC and Jonathan Glasson QC from Matrix Chambers acting for approximately 13,000 clients based in Nigeria. Shell has admitted liability but disputes the extent of the damage and the amount of compensation payable.
Appointments
- Junior Counsel to the Crown. Member of the Attorney General's C Panel
- Advocate for the Welsh Assembly Government (Junior Counsel Panel)
- Case Law Editor for Journal of Environmental Law
- Co-convenor of UKELA Working Party on Environmental Litigation: 2000 -2008
- Government Adviser on environment and biotechnology: 1999-2005
- Visiting Lecturer at the Academy of European Law, Trier, Germany: 1998-1999
Clients
Clients include: Defra, Environment Agency, Welsh Assembly Government, the Marine Management Organisation, the Department for Transport; the Department for Communities and Local Government, [[EDF Energy]]; Veolia United Utilities, Bath & North East Somerset Council action groups and individuals
Publications
- General Editor of Thomson Reuters Encyclopaedia of Environmental Law
- Case Law Editor of the Journal of Environmental Law Oxford University Press
- Environmental Law (First and Second editions) Sweet & Maxwell 2009
- Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004: A Guide to the New Law Law Society 2005