News & Events | News

Friday 30th November 2007

SJ Berwin has advised WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme) on its application for State Aid clearance from the European Commission for a new scheme designed to increase the amount of printing and writing paper recycled back into high quality office paper in the UK.  Simon Holmes (partner) and Matt Evans (associate) worked closely with WRAP and the UK Government throughout the regulatory process, guiding WRAP through the initial notification in 2005 and through the in-depth investigation launched by the Commission in December 2005.  The Commission’s decision to approve the aid scheme announced yesterday, provides WRAP with a further opportunity, subject to funding to work towards stimulating increased paper collection from offices and ensure that material is not only diverted from landfill, but also re-processed in the UK using the most advanced technology into quality P&W papers.

Dr Liz Goodwin, Chief Executive of WRAP, said “We are delighted to have obtained this State Aid clearance after what was, at times, a challenging Commission process.  WRAP, SJ Berwin and the DTI/BERR UKRep formed an effective team to obtain approval for this new scheme which, subject to funding provides WRAP with the legal framework to further develop the options available to incentivise innovative business solutions to improve the quality and quantity of recycled paper.” 

Commenting on the Commission clearance, Simon Holmes of SJ Berwin said “This is the fourth State Aid clearance we have helped WRAP obtain in as many years.  We are delighted to have played a part in helping the UK improve the quality and quantity of recycling and to manage its resources more effectively.”

For further information please contact:

Simon Holmes, EU & Competition Partner on +44 (0)20 7111 2281 or by emailing simon.holmes@sjberwin.com

Matt Evans, Senior Associate on +44 (0)20 7111 2258 or by emailing matt.evans@sjberwin.com

Dorota Wozniak, Business Development Executive on +44 (0)20 7111 5066 or by emailing dorota.wozniak@sjberwin.com.

Currently, only about 10% of printing and writing paper made in the UK uses recycled fibres.  It is expected that WRAP’s printing and writing scheme, if run will help stimulate increased office paper recovery and recycling, encourage the development of technology for the manufacture of recycled printing and writing papers and increase the sustainability of some collection schemes.

About WRAP:

• WRAP works in partnership to encourage and enable businesses and consumers to be more efficient in their use of materials and recycle more things more often. This helps to minimise landfill, reduce carbon emissions and improve our environment.
  
• Established as a not-for-profit company in 2000, WRAP is backed by substantial Government funding from Defra and the devolved administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  
  
• Working in seven key areas (Construction, Retail, Manufacturing, Organics, Business Growth, Behavioural Change, and Local Authority Support), WRAP’s work focuses on market development and support to drive forward recycling and materials resource efficiency within these sectors, as well as wider communications and awareness activities including the multi-media national Recycle Now campaign for England.
  
  
• More information on all of WRAP’s programmes can be found at www.wrap.org.uk. 

About SJ Berwin:

• SJ Berwin was created and thrives as a leading-edge legal services business, focusing on the European and international market place.  Our clients are sophisticated buyers of legal services, principally multi-national and entrepreneurial companies and financial institutions, whom we advise on a comprehensive range of services including corporate finance, commercial, real estate, banking, reconstruction and insolvency, financial services, litigation, employment and pensions, EU and Competition and tax.
  
  
• SJ Berwin LLP was named 'UK Firm of the Year' at the 2007 Global Chambers Awards.
  
  
• The EU & Competition Department of SJ Berwin is one of the leading UK and EU competition practices in Europe with strong working relationships with the European Commission and in the UK the Office of Fair Trading, the Competition Commission and the Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.  It has been a core practice area of the firm since its establishment in 1982.  The pan-European team advises on State aid; mergers and JVs; cartel and monopoly enquiries; national and EC complaints and litigation; notifications to competition authorities; regulatory work; IP and competition interface issues; advisory and compliance work; trade and customs; free movement; lobbying and arbitrage.
  
  
• SJ Berwin’s EU & Competition team won 'Competition Team of the Year' at the 2006 Legal Business Awards.  This was the third time that the team has been named team of the year, more than any other UK law firm.
  
  
• Clients include: ABS (American Bureau of Shipping); AES; Apple; Associated British Foods plc; Akzo Nobel; Biogen Idec; British Broadcasting Corporation; DeBeers; Diageo; EasyJet; Expedia; Fonterra Cooperative Group Limited; Fyffes plc, JVC; Ladbrokes plc; Marks and Spencer; Merck Generics; Morgan Stanley; Organon; O2/Telefonica; Nutreco Holding NV; Procter and Gamble; Qantas; United Biscuits; Universal Music; Virgin Media; WRAP; and most of Europe’s leading private equity houses.
  
  
• SJ Berwin's Planning and Environment Group is recognised as a leading adviser on environmental and planning law.  The Group's work includes advice to major businesses on environmental regulation and their strategic response to new controls, as well as climate change issues such as emissions trading, renewable energy and sustainability requirements.
  
  
• On 1 June 2005, SJ Berwin became SJ Berwin LLP, a limited liability partnership. SJ Berwin LLP or an affiliated undertaking has an office in Berlin, Brussels, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Munich, Paris and Turin.  More information on SJ Berwin’s services can be found at www.sjberwin.com.