ONE of the top environmental experts in Kent has joined Vertex Law's expanding commercial property team.

Kieran Martyn comes to the Kings Hill-based corporate law specialists after 14 years with the Environment Agency.

Mr Martyn, from Challock, has in-depth knowledge of water issues, contaminated land remediation, waste management and environmental criminal law.

Richard Blackman, Vertex's head of commercial property, said: "Increasing development on brownfield sites and flood plains means that environmental issues are ever more important for property developers.

"The law is becoming ever more complex in this area and has major implications for owners and occupiers of old contaminated sites or those wishing to redevelop brownfield land or in flood plains.

"With the enormous financial sums involved, where clean-up costs can run into six figures and sites can take years to decontaminate, Kieran can provide crucial advice on how to ensure that these potential liabilities are avoided or reduced."

Mr Martyn's expertise will also be available to Vertex Law's other clients, particularly those in industries such as waste disposal and paper production where environmental issues are high on the agenda.

Before joining the Environment Agency and training as a solicitor, Kieran worked in scientific research, obtaining his doctorate from Wye College in 1991.

He said: "My scientific background means I can provide a combined technical and legal understanding of environmental legal problems."