Francesca Puttock is an associate specialising in various aspects of environmental, safety and health (ESH) law. Her main interests and practice areas are chemicals regulation, the substantiation of claims about products made “on pack” or in other materials (e.g. “green” claims, nutrition and health claims), circular economy (including waste and producer responsibility regimes on packaging, batteries and electrical and electronic equipment), general product compliance and helping clients navigate regulatory divergence post-Brexit between the EU and UK/Great Britain (GB).
In her advisory capacity, Francesca’s clients include food and drinks businesses, chemical companies, automotive companies, trade associations and waste companies. Francesca has also defended businesses on ESH matters including in private nuisance proceedings, local authority prosecutions for breaches of health and safety legislation and has advised clients in anticipation of regulatory intervention for potential waste and water offences. She is also experienced in the corporate transactional setting, advising a range of buyers, sellers and investors on ESH, and allocation of environmental, safety and health liabilities.
Francesca also provides training to clients and other organisations (including Campden BRI). Examples include training to legal, marketing and advertising teams on new restrictions on “less healthy food” advertising, green claims, extended producer responsibility for packaging, deposit return schemes, food labelling requirements and regulatory divergence post-Brexit.
Francesca is a member of the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) West Midlands committee and was shortlisted in 2025 for the Insider Midlands Young Professional Awards “Young Lawyer of the Year” category.
She has been recognised in directories as an “other key lawyer” and referred to in testimonials as an “excellent associate-level resource in this team”.
Advising various businesses on environmental or “green” claims intended for use in marketing of products including alcohol, fruit and different consumer products.
Successfully representing a waste client in a group litigation case concerning an alleged odour nuisance claim at a material recovery facility.
Advising a large energy generator in respect of a potential prosecution by the Office for Nuclear Regulation.
Advising an energy service company on obligations under general waste duty of care and hazardous waste regulations in the course of the company's internal investigation into an incident at a third party's power station.
Advising an automotive industry client on the implications of the EU's “universal per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) restriction”.
Investigating (and producing a report on) a commodity trading and distribution company's EU Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) processes following a whistleblowing complaint.
Advising a semiconductor company on the implications of two substances in its supply chain being classified as "persistent organic pollutants" under the Stockholm Convention, the EU Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Regulation and local GB POPs laws.
Advising a chemicals company on the surrender of an environmental permit, input into the surrender document and including liaising with the Environment Agency.
Advising multinational companies on producer responsibility obligations, for example in relation to packaging and batteries.
Advising a packaging materials trade association over several years on the extended producer responsibility for packaging regime and avenues for challenging aspects of the scheme, e.g. base material fees.
Advising various companies on the implementation of deposit return schemes in the UK (including the aborted Scottish scheme and the schemes taking effect in 2027).
Advising various businesses on substantiation of on-pack claims including nutrition and health claims, environmental claims.
Periodic advice to businesses in the food and drinks industry on food information to consumer requirements, additives, vitamins, novel foods, labelling, alcohol and other issues.
Providing training to a major sandwich shop chain on changes to rules on advertising “less healthy products”.
Advising a food and drinks client on changes under the Price Marking Order to unit price marking.
Advising a global healthcare company on changes to rules on ecodesign in the EU.
Advising a global chemicals company on its procedures in relation to modern slavery statements, and inputting into the drafting of a single statement to cover obligations in different jurisdictions.
Advising a restaurant operator (following an accident involving a member of the public) in relation to a local authority prosecution for failure to have suitable and sufficient health and safety risk assessments.
Assisting a client with preparations for a hearing before the traffic commissioner in relation to its goods vehicle operator licence.
Carrying out and coordinating ESH, modern slavery, and bribery and corruption due diligence in transactions.
Member, UK Environmental Law Association