Partner

Esme Saynor

Languages

English
French

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Esme Saynor is a Partner in our environment, health, and safety team specialising in regulatory matters, covering both advisory and contentious work. She advises and has represented a broad spectrum of clients across sectors and has broad experience including regulatory compliance, disputes, liability, risk transfer and strategy matters.

Esme has particular expertise in product compliance and regulatory law, and given that consumer products and commercial products are often made in one place and sold in a number of regions, she is often instructed to assist with cross-jurisdictional projects. She delivers compliance advice to clients in the fast-changing landscape of obligations regarding the protection of people and the environment. Her clients are often preparing for product launches or enabling on-going product sales, whilst managing the supply chain supply chain and associated liabilities. She also assists when remedial measures are required to manage an identified risk, or regarding investigations and enforcement action in these areas and dealing with regulators, consumers and competitors alike. Esme has also done her fair share of traditional environment and health and safety work since she qualified as a solicitor back in 2007, and has spent three years prosecuting for the Environment Agency in-between.

Relevant experience

On product recall of some dozens of product lines including consumer communications, responding to enforcement notices, notifications to the regulator, reinstating online sales, liaison with port authorities for goods stopped at import, and compliance advice.
On matters including notifications to a regulator of risk to safety caused by goods in the market in multiple jurisdictions, compliance advice and training to client in consumer product supply chain management.
On supply chain management, regarding duties and liabilities regarding health, safety and environment as between manufacturers, brand owners, marketplaces, importers and certifiers.
On environmental aspects of product regulation and compliance such as environmental claims, materials regulation incl plastics, chemicals, packaging, waste management and producer responsibility.
On brand owner and manufacturer obligations including assisting with scheme contract negotiations and advising on management of waste duties as a producer.
On construction products incorporated into buildings in advance of safety defects materialising, leading to large scale safety reporting and remedial action with suppliers, and liaison with the regulators.
On the application and impacts of corporate sustainability regimes on the client’s business, and implications of the same, with advice on compliance and risk mitigation, working with supply chain providers.
On ESG reporting and disclosure requirements on deforestation-free products, batteries regulation, and corporate sustainability due diligence and reporting, including due diligence reporting, auditing and gap analysis, considering material supplies through to end sales.
On eligibility and obligations under the energy efficiency regulations, as well as assisting a corporate group served with enforcement notices relating to energy efficiency regulations, resulting in withdrawal of all notices and waiving of potential large fines.
Horizon scanning advice to allow business planning for forthcoming regulatory changes and developments relating to product liability, supply chain management matters, ESG matters.
Undertaking due diligence on acquisitions covering a range of environmental, ESG and product liability topics.
Working with local counsel in a large number of jurisdictions where product is placed on the market regarding contentious and non-contentious product regulation matters, delivering a united service to the client, whilst collating multi-jurisdictional legal advice.

Memberships & Roles

Member of the Health and Safety Lawyers' Association
Member of UK Environmental Law Association

Education

2004 – LPC University of the West of England
2002 – LLB Law with French, Birmingham
2001 – Diploma in French Law, Limoges

Practice Areas

Environment Health & Safety Compliance Construction

sectors

Consumer Products

Insights

Global Reach

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