Industrials
Our London office at Holborn Gate, 330 High Holborn, London, WC1V 7QH, acts for manufacturers, distributors, infrastructure owners and investors across the industrials sector. Companies in this sector face a mix of transactional, regulatory and operational issues: M&A and joint ventures, complex supply chains, compliance with environmental and health and safety law, product liability and intellectual property protection.
Key transactional and commercial considerations
Transactions in the industrials sector commonly involve asset-level due diligence focusing on environmental liabilities, real estate and title, equipment warranties and maintenance contracts, supply-chain continuity and export controls. Commercial agreements should allocate risk clearly for long-lead items, spare parts and service-level commitments. Buyers and lenders will expect robust disclosure around historic contamination, permits and outstanding remediation obligations.
Regulatory, safety and environmental compliance
Operators must manage overlapping regulatory regimes. In England and Wales, relevant areas include environmental permitting, hazardous substances control, waste management, emissions reporting and the Health and Safety Executive’s requirements for process safety. Planning consents and utility connections are often critical for site development and expansion. Note that some environmental and planning processes differ in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Disputes, product liability and supply chain resilience
Product liability claims can arise from safety defects, inadequate instructions or non‑compliant components. Contractual protections (limits on liability, indemnities and recall protocols) should be carefully negotiated. Supply‑chain disruption risks—whether from trade remedies, sanctions, or logistical constraints—require contingency planning, diversification and contractual safeguards such as force majeure and termination triggers.
Practical checklist for industrials projects
- Confirm site ownership, easements and planning status; review environmental searches for contamination and historic use.
- Identify required permits (IPPC/EPR, waste, emissions) and outline timescales and conditions for transfer or variation.
- Audit health and safety systems, process safety assessments and maintenance records for critical equipment.
- Map the supply chain and identify single-source suppliers, critical parts and export control risk.
- Ensure product design and labelling comply with applicable standards; document traceability and recall procedures.
- Negotiate clear contractual allocation of latent liabilities, warranty periods and insurance requirements.
Jurisdiction and sources
Primary sources for regulatory and statutory information in England and Wales include:
- GOV.UK (government policy, guidance and statutory regimes)
- Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
- Environment Agency
- Competition and Markets Authority (CMA)
- HM Revenue & Customs and Companies House for tax and corporate filings
- Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) for data protection obligations
Where export controls, sanctions or product safety apply, consult the relevant UK government guidance and the UK Export Control Joint Unit. For devolved matters (notably certain environmental and planning regimes) check the applicable Scottish or Northern Ireland authority guidance.
General information only; not legal advice and not a substitute for advice on a particular matter.