Ian Sampson

Ian Sampson is a Partner and Head of the Environmental & Clean Energy Law Department at Shepstone & Wylie's Durban office. He is a specialist environmental lawyer advising clients in both the public and private sector on a range of environmental and sustainability issues, including environmental compliance assessments, due diligence assessments, contractual issues, structured finance, environmental management systems, opinions on new and pending legislation, and permit and licensing requirements.

He assists companies across a number of industries, including mining and resources, utilities, chemicals, steel, agriculture, automotive, waste, storage, building, and transport. He has been recognised by Chambers and Partners as a leading lawyer in the field of environmental law, by Best Lawyers as a stand‑out lawyer in environmental law, and by Who's Who Legal as a Global Thought Leader for South Africa for many years. He was the exclusive winner of the 'Environment & Climate Change for South Africa' award under the Client Choice Awards (2020).

He is the author of "A Legal Framework to Pollution Management in South Africa" (Water Research Commission, 2001), "A Legal Framework to Pollution Management in the Durban Metropolitan Area" (Durban Metropolitan Council, April 2000), and is the general editor for "Guide to Environmental Auditing in South Africa" (Butterworths 2000). He also authored a chapter in the PLC Cross‑Border Environmental Handbook (2006/7).

Ian is an internationally accredited mediator by the Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), the largest independent dispute resolution body in Europe, with a passion for alternative dispute resolution in environmental‑related matters. He holds a BA and LLB from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), a Short Course in Environmental Law from Potchefstroom University, and an LLM in Environmental Law from the University of Pretoria (UP). He is a member of the South African Environmental Law Association, the Law Society of South Africa, the IAIA, and the International Bar Association.