Fracking row: agency group responds to protest organisation

The Fisher German group has responded to a protest body which accused the firm of conflicts of interests in representing sellers of homes near fracking sites and also advising a firm involved in shale gas exploration.

Yesterday we covered the story of Frack Free Nottinghamshire which queried why Fisher German offered professional assistance to the chemicals and energy company Ineos in activities related to fracking, in addition to working for individual owners and vendors whose properties’ values may be adversely affected by the controversial process.

Now a statement by the group explains that two different firms within the Fisher German empire are involved - one advising Ineos and the other advising land and property owners. Each knows of the other’s activities.

The statement reads:

“We have a large, long established client base across Nottinghamshire and North East Derbyshire where Ineos wish to carry out a seismic survey.  A large number of these – many of who are long-standing, land-owning clients – have instructed us to act for them in dealing with compensation for any damage caused to their property or crops during the survey. It is entirely their decision whether or not to allow the survey work to go-ahead.

“In all our correspondence to property and land owners, we make it abundantly clear that whilst there is a connection between the two companies, they operate separately and Fisher German LLP only acts for those over whose land the survey is to be carried out and does not act for Ineos. Likewise Ineos are also well aware of the connection.”