Martello, the independent company in the UK to provide environmental searches for conveyancing professionals, has announced the addition of Stephen Sykes, a distinguished figure in UK commercial environmental law and the environmental search sector, to its senior team.
Stephen’s appointment as Martello’s Environmental Law and Innovation Advisor underscores the company’s ambition and commitment to delivering top-tier environmental search services for commercial and residential solicitors and licensed conveyancers, focusing on expert advice, better user experience and innovation.
Stephen’s illustrious career includes co-founding Argyll and advising other environmental search providers, including Groundsure and Geosmart. He also co-founded the City of London’s Environmental Insurance Market as legal director at what became the market’s leading underwriting agency. His role as a former Chair and Honorary Member of the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) and his coordination of UKELA’s response to the Law Society’s Guidance on Climate Change for Solicitors in April 2023 are testaments to his expertise and influence in the field. Stephen is a practicing solicitor, providing expert environmental law support to real estate lawyers. He is the Head of Climate, Environment and Sustainability at Capital Law.
“I am delighted to join Martello. The business is uniquely positioned with strong interdisciplinary and first-hand legal practitioner insights to improve the quality of environmental search products currently available to solicitors” Stephen Sykes commented. “I will use my extensive experience in environmental law and product development to ensure that Martello provides its solicitor clients with an excellent service, underpinned by the best and most reliable environmental data in the market. This is especially relevant for solicitors as the Law Society develops new guidance on climate risk and the use of climate searches. I am continuing to help the Law Society with this important work”.
Dr. Henry Crosby, Co-founder and CEO of Martello, said:
“Bringing Stephen on board represents our continued commitment to offer top-tier environmental searches with the user in mind, especially as he continues to be a practicing lawyer and user of such products. Stephen’s wealth of knowledge and experience in environmental law, environmental searches, and environmental insurance will further enhance our understanding of what needs to be reported on, whilst his commercial real estate experience greatly benefits our understanding of the users’ experience, and our network in the commercial real estate sector.”
At Martello, Stephen will focus on ensuring that the company’s environmental services not only meet but exceed industry standards, with a particular interest on the user’s (lawyer’s) requirements to meet their legal duties to clients. His insights will be instrumental in aligning Martello’s offerings with the latest developments in environmental law and climate change, particularly pertaining to commercial real estate.
One Response
We are absolutely delighted to have you join the team Stephen!