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Planning and environment
Leading individuals

Planning and environment

1
- Eversheds LLP (Manchester)
2
- Pinsent Masons LLP (Manchester)
3
- DLA Piper UK LLP (Liverpool)
- Clyde & Co LLP (Manchester)
- Shoosmiths LLP (Manchester)
- Weightmans LLP (Liverpool, Manchester)
- Winckworth Sherwood LLP (Manchester)
4
- Aaron & Partners LLP (Chester)
- Addleshaw Goddard LLP (Manchester)
- Brabners LLP (Liverpool)
- ELM Law (Manchester)
- Hill Dickinson LLP (Liverpool, Manchester)
- Squire Patton Boggs (Manchester)
5
- Dyne Solicitors Limited (Chester)
- Gateley Plc (Manchester)
- Irwin Mitchell (Manchester)

Leading individuals

1
- Kate Creer - DLA Piper UK LLP
- Keith Davidson - ELM Law
- Rod Hunt - Clyde & Co LLP
- Kathryn Jump - Shoosmiths LLP
- Richard Lloyd - Eversheds LLP
- Mike Pocock - Pinsent Masons LLP
- Elizabeth Shepherd - Eversheds LLP

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Elizabeth Shepherd heads the ‘consistently good’ environmental team at Eversheds LLP, which includes ‘brilliant’ senior associate Catherine Henney and which stands out for its ‘pragmatic approach to solutions’. Richard Lloyd leads on planning matters, and Michelle Naylor (who was promoted to partner in May 2015) ‘understands the wider projects picture’. Highlights included advising Mayfield Development Partnership on the Mayfield regeneration scheme in Manchester. Principal associate Matthew Collings joined from Squire Patton Boggs in June 2015.

Pinsent Masons LLP’s team is headed by the ‘exceptional’ Mike Pocock, who is ‘hugely experienced in planning matters’ and led London Borough of Croydon on a judicial review regarding the redevelopment of a shopping centre. Legal director Claire Gregory is an ‘expert’ and heads the environmental team. Associate Alison Messenger specialises in contentious environmental work and joined from Eversheds LLP in November 2015.

Kate Creer heads the planning team at DLA Piper UK LLP, where associate Sophie Stewart is ‘a real star’. It continues to advise Liverpool Football Club & Athletic Grounds on the expansion of Anfield stadium and is assisting Cheshire West and Chester Council with the Chester Northgate regeneration.

Rod Hunt (who is ‘second to none in terms of his legal knowledge’) heads the contentious environmental team at Clyde & Co LLP, which handles high-profile criminal investigations. Chris Morrison is ‘adept at getting straight to the central issue in a no-nonsense way’. Jason Bleasdale is also noted.

The ‘thorough and tenacious’ team at Shoosmiths LLP advised Vastint UK Services on the CPO to deliver a mixed-use residential scheme on a derelict site. Kathryn Jump is ‘commercial and responsive’, and ‘always goes that extra mile to secure their objective’. The ‘fantastic’ Lisa Tye is also recommended.

The ‘impressive’ department at Weightmans LLP advised Charnwood Borough Council on the North East Leicester Sustainable Urban Extension project. The ‘excellent’ Simon Colvin heads the environment team and the ‘thorough’ Lee Gordon heads the planning team. Consultant Ray Clarke is based in the Leeds and Manchester offices.

The team at Winckworth Sherwood LLP is noted for its ‘high level of business acumen and industry knowledge’, and advised Peel Holdings on the £5.5bn Liverpool Waters scheme. It also advised London Borough of Wandsworth on the Vauxhall Nine Elms Opportunity Area. Colette McCormack is ‘always calm, collected, constructive and clear in her advice’.

David Harries heads the team at Aaron & Partners LLP and is noted for his expertise on energy projects. David Delaney is recommended for planning matters, and Richard Forrester is also singled out.

At Addleshaw Goddard LLP legal director Michelle Headridge is recommended for environment matters. Former planning head Grant Anderson joined Hill Dickinson LLP in July 2015.

Claire Petricca-Riding leads the team at Brabners LLP and is noted for her ‘impressively detailed, specialist knowledge of environmental law’. Director of planning Kevin Halewood is also recommended.

At specialist environmental firm ELM Law, Keith Davidson ‘brings his experience and tactics to secure the commercial advantage’.

In July 2015 Grant Anderson joined Hill Dickinson LLP from Addleshaw Goddard LLP alongside senior associate Lynette Day. Anderson heads the team, which acted for Bamford Property and a consortium of landowners on the promotion of 90 hectares of land in Derbyshire for a mixed-use housing development.

At Squire Patton Boggs, ‘brilliant’ team head Rob Elvin is experienced in environmental matters including air, water, ground pollution, and permit appeal cases. Matthew Collings joined Eversheds LLP in 2015.

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Press releases

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Legal Developments in North West for Planning and environment

Parking rights: here to stay? Consent might be the surprising answer  

In the field of the acquisition of easements by prescription, little has caused more consternation over the last decade or so than the question of whether a right to park cars can be acquired by twenty years user as of right. The types of property capable of being adversely affected range from individual residential units all the way up to major development sites. The establishment of such a right can have a devastating impact on the value of the burdened land. 

- Falcon Chambers

Legal Developments in the UK

Legal Developments and updates from the leading lawyers in each jurisdiction. To contribute, send an email request to

Cayman Islands Introduces Beneficial Ownership Register

The Cayman Islands government has now introduced legislative changes which will require relevant companies (“Relevant Companies ”) to prepare and maintain a register of beneficial owners (the “Register of Beneficial Owners ”).

- Stuarts, Walker Hersant Humphries Attorneys-At-Law

THE DANGERS OF CARTELS.

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp consider two recent cartel cases and examine why businesses must take care not to become involved in such behaviour.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE SFO AND SECTION TWO INTERVIEWS: WHY ROBUST DEFENCE IS NEEDED

Aziz Rahman explains why the SFO’s insistence that solicitors cannot be present for interviews under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act can be and should be challenged.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE FOURTH EU ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING DIRECTIVE: WHAT IT MEANS FOR BUSINESS

With the Directive coming into effect, Aziz Rahman examines its implications.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

THE HUGE COSTS OF BRIBERY

Aziz Rahman looks at the case of Petrofac, explains how bribery can ruin a company and emphasises what must be done to prevent it.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CROSS-BORDER INVESTIGATIONS

The huge Petrobras bribery scandal has engulfed companies in many countries. Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp explain what needs to be done if your company is investigated in more than one country.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CORRUPTION: HOW TO DEFEND YOURSELF

Aziz Rahman outlines why allegations of corruption in football should act as a warning to everyone in business about the need to prevent wrongdoing.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

CHALLENGING FCA ACCUSATIONS

Nicola Sharp and Syedur Rahman explain how changes to the way the FCA investigates cases will make it easier for companies and individuals to negotiate the best possible outcome.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

OBTAINING A DPA

With deferred prosecution agreements (DPA’s) becoming more common, Aziz Rahman considers how a company under investigation can enhance its chances of obtaining one in order to avoid prosecution.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

WHAT THE CRIMINAL FINANCES BILL MEANS FOR ASSET SEIZURE AND FORFEITURE

Syedur Rahman and Nicola Sharp examine the changes likely when the Criminal Finances Bill becomes law.

- Rahman Ravelli Solicitors

Press Releases in the UK

The latest news direct from law firms. If you would like to submit press releases for your firm, send an email request to

Pitmans crowned as top firm for trainee work/life balance

Pitmans has been awarded winner of the best work/life balance in the 2016 Lex 100 - a survey that is recognised as the most comprehensive valuation of training opportunities at law firms across the UK.

- Pitmans LLP

Gender Pay Gaps: The Latest Reporting Requirements

On average, male employees are paid more than female employees. In 2015, men working full-time were paid approximately 9.4% more than women working full-time. As a result, the government is working to introduce measures with the aim of reducing this gap.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans acts on Westcoast’s acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Ltd

Pitmans LLP has acted on behalf of its longstanding client, Westcoast (Holdings) Limited on its acquisition of Art Systems Holdings Limited.

- Pitmans LLP

Insolvency Update: Changes that take effect from April 2016

The Department of Justice has issued a practice direction in connection with the new insolvency express trials pilot.

- Pitmans LLP

The Apprenticeship Levy

Following last year’s autumn statement, HMRC has now published draft legislation which introduces the proposed new apprenticeship levy. The levy will have effect from 6 April 2017.

- Pitmans LLP

Coutinho -v- Liverpool Victoria Insurance Company Ltd Judgment 29 April 2016

SOUTHAMPTON -- LV=, represented by Pitmans LLP, have won a case involving a fraudulent household insurance claim worth almost £50,000.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans promotes two Partners

Pitmans today announced that Oliver Kelly (corporate) and Matt Heyworth (private client) will become partners as of 1 May 2016.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advised the acquirer and the management team on the £12M MBO of Westfield Medical

The management team were backed by Maven Capital Partners with PNC providing debt facilities.

- Pitmans LLP

Supreme Court ruling will lead to increase in business rates

Many businesses will be liable for increased business rates following last year’s Supreme Court ruling in Woolway (Valuation Officer) v Mazars LLP.

- Pitmans LLP

Pitmans advises Premier Marina Ltd on Noss Marina Acquisition

Pitmans has advised Premier Marinas Limited on its acquisition of Noss Marina, which is just outside Dartmouth, from the Administrators Duff & Phelps.

- Pitmans LLP