Before leaving Severn Trent Water to set up Utility Law Solutions, Philip was their Principal Legal Advisor for Asset Management.

In this role Philip's responsibilities included: - 

Ensuring that the business had timely access to land through the exercise of statutory procedures to enable the execution of both the capital works program and the company’s general operational activities;

The provision of legal advice and support to the business in relation to all asset management issues arising out of the following company activities - sewage treatment, water supply and networks (water distribution and sewerage systems);

Engaging and influencing asset management activities and strategies both in the short and longer term within the business and nationally to protect and position the company e.g. self lay/adoption of sewers and water mains, Sustainable Drainage Systems (SUDS), pipe diversions;

Advising the business in relation to new and forthcoming legislation which may impact on the company in relation to asset management and environmental issues e.g. Traffic Management Act and Environmental Liability Directive;

Seeking to resolve disputes with third parties with a view to avoiding litigation;

Leading and managing the Asset Management Team;

Having a full understanding of the Water Industry Act 1991 and other relevant legislation combined with the ability to interpret and apply such legislation to the day to day activities of the water industry and utilities generally;

Having the ability to deal with highly complex legal issues and giving related advice and direction. Managing day to day problems and requests for advice that arose out of the existing statutory and regulatory framework and evaluating new areas of legislation that affected the water industry. There was frequently a requirement to give advice in extremely short timescales with a need to ensure that complete accuracy was maintained;

Establishing good working relationships with all areas of the business - trust of advice from the role being critical combined with the ability to engender personal relationships and to promote complete trust in relation to advice given.