Biography: Environment

Robyn Stein is a director at Edward Nathan Sonnenbergs (ENS) and has 20 years experience as an environmental law attorney. She specialises in advising local and foreign governments, businesses, NGO's and international organisations on the development and implementation of effective policy and legislative frameworks in the fields of environmental, water and sustainable development law and governance. She also specialises in the field of minerals and energy.

Robyn's general practice experience includes planning and implementing phases of water resources management as well as water supply and sanitation projects. She has also advised governmental and non-governmental sectors on integrated water management issues with a focus on the constitutional and national legislative imperatives of sustainable development. She has advised on the national, provincial and municipal aspects of cooperative governance both nationally and internationally. She has gained experience and has advised on the legal and policy aspects of large-scale infrastructural development projects in the water sector particularly focusing on the social, ecological and economic pillars of sustainable development. She has advised on issues arising from the due diligence aspects of mergers and acquisitions, project finance and corporate listings as well as legislative and policy drafting, permitting processes and litigation.

She is the co-editor of the book "Rule - Reforming Water Governance 2009" published by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, and co-authored the South African Country Chapter in the PLC Cross-border Environment Handbook 2010. She was appointed as a Special Advisor to the Minister of Water Affairs and Forestry in respect of the Water Law Reform Process and participated in drafting the National Water Act 1998, the Water Services Act 1997, the White Paper on a National Water Policy for South Africa and various accompanying Regulations.

Robyn has taught Water, Environmental and Energy Law to LLB and LLM Students. She has acted as a Visiting Professor in advanced Environmental, Energy and Water law at the University of the Witwatersrand, Deputy Chairperson of the Water Tribunal and Honorary Associate of the Centre for Energy, Petroleum & Mineral Law & Policy of the University of Dundee, Scotland.

Additionally, she has chaired numerous environmental organisations such as the Endangered Wildlife Trust, the Dam Advisory Committee and is a member of IUCN (World Conservation Union) Commission on Environmental Law, the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations, the International Nuclear Law Association and the Environmental Law Association.

Robyn is recognised as a leading lawyer by the following reputable rating agencies and their publications: The International Who's Who of Environment Lawyers 2010 and 2011 – Environment (South Africa); PLC Which Lawyer? 2010 – Environment (South Africa); Best Lawyers SA 2010 – Environment (South Africa); Expert Guides – Best of the Best 2011 – Environment.

She has a BA and LLB (cum laude) from the University of Witwatersrand, she also has a LLM (with distinction) from the London School of Economics and Political Science, University of London, UK.

She was admitted as an attorney of the High Court of South Africa.