Environment expert for A&O specialists

ALLEN & Overy has appointed a scientist-turned-lawyer to boost one of its fastest growing areas of practice.

Trevor Adams joined the firm's environmental group from Ashurst Morris Crisp last week. He will work under department head Owen Lomas as an associate and will be involved in major privatisations.

Adams took a PhD in environmental chemistry and worked at Belfast University before moving to the Rothamsted research station in England, studying sewage sludge disposal. He retrained as a lawyer and worked at McKenna & Co, before moving to Ashursts, where he was involved in transactions work.

Adams said his move to Allen & Overy took his work onto a "bigger playing field".

His arrival at Allen & Overy will boost the department's transactional work, according to Lomas. "Our growth has been phenomenal," he said.