United Kingdom > London > Real estate > Planning
Index of tables
Planning
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1
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2
- Ashurst
- Eversheds LLP
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Hogan Lovells International LLP - Nabarro LLP
- SNR Denton
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3
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Olswang - Stephenson Harwood
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Winckworth Sherwood
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Richard Buxton (Cambridge) -
Richard Max & Co - Slaughter and May
- Speechly Bircham LLP
- Taylor Wessing LLP
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- DMH Stallard LLP
- Davitt Jones Bould
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Dechert LLP - Dundas & Wilson LLP
Leading individuals
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Richard Buxton -
Richard Buxton - Michael Cunliffe - Forsters LLP
- Anthony Curnow - Ashurst
- Martin Evans - Nabarro LLP
- Duncan Field - Wragge & Co LLP
- Wesley Fongenie - Mishcon de Reya
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Michael Gallimore -
Hogan Lovells International LLP -
Ian Ginbey -
Clyde & Co LLP - Trevor Goode - Ashurst
- Brian Greenwood - Osborne Clarke
- Tim Hellier - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Barry Jeeps - Stephenson Harwood
- Timothy Pugh - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Simon Ricketts - SJ Berwin LLP
- Patrick Robinson - Herbert Smith LLP
- Tim Smith - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- Ian Trehearne - Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
- David Watkins - Linklaters LLP
- Matthew White - Herbert Smith LLP
- Chris Williams - CMS Cameron McKenna LLP
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Richard Buxton -
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP has a comprehensive and prolific planning practice, with a ‘very strong’ team of seven partners and 25 associates providing a ‘first-class’ service to clients. Its work ranges from national infrastructure matters, compulsory purchase orders, High Court challenges, new settlements and central London developments. It has been advising on the Thames and Lee Tunnel projects and the redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, and continues to advise Tesco on matters including the mixed-use redevelopment of Sittingbourne town centre. The department is co-led by Tim Hellier, who provides ‘great strategic advice’, and Tim Pugh, who is ‘an outstanding planning lawyer’.
Herbert Smith LLP's three-partner team ‘acts for a wide range of developers’ and ‘can be relied on to provide an excellent service to clients’. It assisted EDF Energy on its successful application to the Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC) to construct a new nuclear power station at Hinkley Point in Somerset, and advised BSkyB on its proposed headquarters redevelopment in Osterley. Matthew White has ‘excellent negotiating skills’, and senior associate Catherine Howard has ‘extensive, detailed knowledge of the planning process’. Practice head Patrick Robinson is very highly rated.
Ashurst’s experienced two-partner team is led by Anthony Curnow. It continues to act for Westfield regarding its Stratford retail development, recently advising in relation to APG and Canada Pension Plan’s £871m joint venture investment in the retail site. The team also provided planning and compulsory purchase advice to LandProp (an Inter IKEA subsidiary) on its Strand East mixed-use development, next to the Olympic Park. New client wins include Grosvenor West End Properties, Airport Group International and City of London Corporation.
Eversheds LLP’s sizeable team is appreciated for its ‘skills and depth of resources’, and its ‘very competitive fee structure’. It is advising Covent Garden Market Authority on the £2bn redevelopment scheme in Vauxhall, and also advised North London Waste Authority on issues associated with bids submitted by potential operators of large waste sites in the area. The team includes the ‘very accessible’ and ‘highly experienced’ Marcus Trinick, as well as two parliamentary law partners acting on related legislative issues.
Hogan Lovells International LLP’s two-partner team saw an increase in London regeneration and redevelopment projects, and was instructed by Braeburn Estates (a joint venture of Canary Wharf Group and Qatari Diar) on the redevelopment of the Shell Centre on London’s South Bank. It also advised Land Securities in relation to two new buildings in central London, and continues to advise on the 1 New Street Square site, which was recently granted planning consent. Practice head Michael Gallimore has ‘leading industry knowledge’, and provides ‘uncluttered, measured advice’.
Nabarro LLP’s ‘expert’ planning department acted for 2CO Energy Limited in making the case for the £6bn Don Valley Power carbon capture and storage project, which is a pathfinder for the growing carbon capture industry and includes a 900MW gas-fired power station. It also advised Project Blue on a new planning application for the Chelsea Barracks site to secure amendments to the scheme, as well as on the sustainable energy strategy for the development. Martin Evans leads a ‘bright, very responsive and commercial’ team.
SNR Denton ‘thinks outside the box’, and ‘provides clear legal advice with a commercial edge’; ‘all its lawyers have first-class knowledge’. The team is advising Westminster City Council on all planning and compulsory purchase matters relating to Land Securities’ redevelopment of the Victoria Transport Interchange. It also continued to represent J Sainsbury in seeking planning permission for various store extensions. David Cox is ‘brilliant, and very effective’.
Bircham Dyson Bell LLP is increasingly prominent in infrastructure work and related legislation to enable development. The firm was appointed as legal adviser to the newly created Infrastructure Planning Commission (IPC), which examines applications for nationally significant infrastructure projects. It was also instructed by HS2 Ltd to advise on the proposed high-speed railway to link London to the West Midlands, and advised TfL on matters including the planning aspects of the Thames Cable Car system. Mark Challis is an experienced planning lawyer.
CMS Cameron McKenna LLP’s team now has two partners, following the recent promotion of Ashley Damiral, who has ‘a great deal of experience’ and specialises in strategy and environmental impact assessments. The team advised EDP on marine licensing and EIA matters relating to the development of three Scottish offshore wind farms, and continued its work for CitizenM Hotels in relation to the development of boutique hotels in Southwark and Tower Bridge. Chris Williams heads the practice.
Clifford Chance has seen a rise in energy and infrastructure mandates, and recently advised the lenders on phase one of the London Gateway port development, which involved the construction of three berths and related connections. The team also worked with environment colleagues on the consenting aspects of the ongoing Horizon nuclear power project to develop new facilities in England. Nigel Howorth is the key figure.
DLA Piper UK LLP was instructed by Halton Borough Council on a £2bn development to create a six-lane toll bridge across the River Mersey. It has been active in energy matters; it advised National Grid regarding the company’s largest project, promoting the electrical 400kv connection to Sellafield to enable a new nuclear power plant to be built; and also acted on energy projects for C.Gen. and Covanta Energy. The London team added two associates to its ranks, to support Howard Bassford.
Linklaters LLP advised Bloomberg on the development of its new headquarters in the City of London, on a site that contains the archaeological remains of a Roman temple and is surrounded by Grade I listed buildings. It also advised Henderson Global Investors on two development sites in London, including Smithfield Market Buildings, involving sensitive conservation issues. Department head David Watkins is ‘personable, diligent and commercially astute’.
In a busy year, the team at Osborne Clarke acted for Associated British Ports in transactions relating to the ports of Southampton, Hull and Newport; defended two judicial reviews brought against Asda by competitors; and advised City of London (among others) on the Spitalfields Market redevelopment. Brian Greenwood heads the planning team, which is based across London, Bristol and Thames Valley.
Pinsent Masons LLP is valued for its ‘innovative solutions’ and ‘exceptionally competent’ lawyers; Richard Ford shows ‘good intellectual understanding’, and solicitor Victoria Lindsay is ‘diligent, very organised and thorough’. The firm is advising on the 8,000-home redevelopment at Earls Court and Olympia, and is acting for the ODA on proposals for the Legacy Communities Scheme. It also attracted instructions on various energy projects.
SJ Berwin LLP provides an ‘outstanding’ service. It advised a number of action groups on objections to the HS2 high-speed rail project, which is subject to judicial review; and also advised Royal Mail Group on the redevelopment of its site within Battersea’s Nine Elms Parkside project. Practice head Simon Ricketts is ‘incisive’, and ‘incredibly knowledgeable’. Duncan Field is now with Wragge & Co LLP.
Addleshaw Goddard LLP’s ‘well-established’ practice won standout new work in retail and infrastructure during 2011, including advising J Sainsbury on the planning aspects of a proposed new store at Bishops Waltham. On the infrastructure side, it advised on two separate planning cases for three multinationals in the energy, waste and transport sectors. Marnix Elsenaar is well known.
Forsters LLP’s small planning team adopts ‘a collaborative approach’, and is ‘keen to build lasting relationships’. Much of its work involves advising private companies and individuals, with recent highlights including obtaining planning permission for the chef Mark Hix’s new restaurant in Soho.
Mishcon de Reya enhanced its credentials by hiring former Nabarro LLP partner Wesley Fongenie as a consultant. The practice was involved in a number of major transactions, including advising the Delancey/Qatari Diar joint venture on the real estate and planning permission aspects of the £557m purchase and post-games management of the Olympic Village.
Norton Rose LLP continues to provide planning, highways and compulsory purchase advice to DP World regarding the London Gateway port, and also advised London Thames Gateway Development Corporation (LTGDC) on a planning proposal by Tesco to develop a district centre in Bromley by Bow. Nigel Hewitson is ‘able to cut through bureaucracy’.
Olswang won a competitive bid to provide full-service legal support to Imperial College London regarding its proposed new campus in West London. The firm also added property developer Ocubis as a client, assisting it to secure planning permission to redevelop a site in Holborn. Richard Keczkes is the main contact.
The ‘excellent’ Stephenson Harwood is noted for its ‘competitive pricing’. It won its first instructions from Capital Shopping Centres, advising on the renegotiation of a planning agreement in Manchester. The team also helped University of Greenwich on the legal audit of its planning application for a new £76m building. Barry Jeeps is valued for his ‘attention to detail and perseverance’.
Winckworth Sherwood added two partners and a senior associate from Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP in 2011. Its ‘extremely competent’ lawyers deliver a ‘second-to-none’ service in the areas of residential, regeneration and commercial development. The team is advising London Borough of Wandsworth on the Nine Elms redevelopment in Vauxhall. Karen Cooksley is the new practice head.
DAC Beachcroft LLP’s planning team, post merger, has two partners and nine other fee-earners, and is led by Tim Johnson. It recently acted for David Wilson Homes on the proposed redevelopment of Newbury Racecourse.
Farrer & Co’s ‘absolutely first-class’ team is able to ‘combine exemplary service with sensible costs’. It is acting for WWF-UK on its Living Planet Centre headquarters project, and is also advising a national charity on possible exemptions to the Mayoral Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Practice head Karen Phull has experience to ‘match any planning lawyer’.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP’s planning team works within the firm’s real estate department, assisting with infrastructure, transport, energy and natural resources mandates. It is advising Westfield Shoppingtowns on its development proposals for Bradford town centre. Jonathan Isted leads the group, which recently recruited senior associate Anita Rivera from SNR Denton.
K&L Gates LLP provides an integrated planning and environment service. It team advised London Borough of Hounslow on multiple s106 planning obligations, and acted for RREEF UK Office Property Fund on EIA and other issues relating to a site in Staines. Sebastian Charles is the main planning partner.
Lawrence Graham LLP has the ability ‘to progress complex and long, drawn-out litigation in the CPO field’. It acted for Lord Derby in the public inquiry into a mixed-use development (including 1,200 residential units) in Newmarket. Trevor Blaney is ‘efficient’. Clare Fielding recently joined from Herbert Smith LLP, and has ‘a thorough knowledge of planning’.
Cambridge-based Richard Buxton covers planning within its environmental and public law remit. It is a go-to firm for interest groups and individuals seeking to challenge decisions through court actions, such as judicial review. Richard Buxton is highly regarded.
Richard Max & Co provides a ‘bespoke’ and ‘very good boutique service’. It represented Ministry of Sound in opposing two residential developments near its premises. Richard Max is ‘a real fighter’.
Slaughter and May continues to advise Arsenal Football Club on numerous planning agreements with London Borough of Islington following the club’s stadium move. Steven Edwards is the lead contact.
Clare Prior heads the planning and environmental team at Speechly Bircham LLP, and has particular experience in town centre redevelopment and highway law. The group worked with Barnardo’s on the completion of a planning agreement to build 144 new dwellings at the group’s headquarters.
Taylor Wessing LLP recently advised Brewsters Waste Management on a £12m CPO claim against the London Development Agency. Other clients include Amazon, Lloyds Banking Group, Stansted Airport Limited and Canada Life. Alistair Watson specialises in infrastructure and EIA matters.
DMH Stallard LLP ‘leaves no stone unturned in finding a solution for clients’, and is distinguished by its strength in waste planning. It recently acted for Ethos Energy Group, an energy-from-waste company. Michael Krantz is ‘a consummate professional’.
Davitt Jones Bould’s planning team provides an ‘excellent’, ‘very professional’ service. It has a strong presence in the public sector, and won six local authorities as new clients in 2011, including Guildford Borough Council. Diane Alison is recommended.
Dechert LLP’s planning practice provides ‘good personal contact with strong backup’. Justin True heads the department, which continues to act for The Crown Estate on significant urban extensions which fall within Crown Estate land in the east of England.
Dundas & Wilson LLP is assisting National Grid in applying for development consent orders for two projects, to qualify as nationally significant infrastructure projects. Stephen McNaught leads the two-partner team.
Fladgate LLP’s planning practice is ‘developing a strong reputation’ in the London market, and team head Mark Harnett has an ‘excellent grasp of strategic issues’. The group is advising University of East London on applications for a new campus and library.
RPC’s ‘very commercial’ and ‘down-to-earth’ planning department is assisting RWE npower in relation to a major pipeline project, which will be the subject of an application to the IPC for a development consent order. Senior associate Eleanor Penn is ‘excellent’.
Travers Smith LLP advises Patron Capital LLP on its portfolio of care homes, including gaining consent for development, changes of use and highways matters. Senior associate Romola Parish is ‘thorough and diligent’.