Clayton Utz is home to market-leading environment and planning prowess in a number of areas. Not only does it advise on significant infrastructure projects across the entirety of Australia but its input is also sought for energy and natural resources, energy, and real estate construction planning matters. The team is also revered for regulatory approvals and compliance in the energy and resources sector and is also well-equipped for environmental law concerns, including both advisory and contentious affairs. Karen Trainor is a go-to name for corporate environmental compliance matters though operates a notably broad caseload on behalf of energy, manufacturing, mining, and government clients; her team also includes Sydney-based Brendan Bateman who in addition to advising on the high-profile Sydney Metro West project, has carved out a reputation for climate change law including emerging clean technology, renewable energy, and carbon markets. Additional key components of the practice include environment social governance issues and environment and planning-related inquiries. Kathryn Pacey is based in Brisbane alongside Trainor; she has led on a number of road and rail infrastructure projects of late, in addition to advising on environmental policy matters.

Allens is well-regarded for regulatory matters pertaining to pollution and environmental liability law with a documented history of acting on environmental prosecution defence matters. In addition, it excels in the environmental risk factors in the context of corporate transactions and privatisations and also actively works on development-related considerations; examples include community consultation, heritage, and native title issues, along with endangered species requirements. Key partner contacts include Bill McCredie, Felicity Rourke, Jillian Button, and Eve Lynch.

Herbert Smith Freehills is home to a dedicated environment, planning and communities department which specialises in risk minimalization, regulatory approvals, native title, and indigenous cultural heritage affairs, among other matters. The team is also well-equipped for incident and crisis management and supports on a range of projects, including those in the energy and mining, infrastructure, urban development, and regeneration sectors. Sydney-based Peter Briggs leads the department.

Representing a client roster of blue-chip and government clients, King & Wood Mallesons enjoys a strong reputation for large scale infrastructure and natural resources advisory matters, also handling disputes in the transport, global retail, education, and sporting facility sectors. In Brisbane, Matthew Austin imparts market-leading expertise in relation to PFAS contamination as well as mining rehabilitation and performance security reforms. Elsewhere in Sydney, Debra Townsend has recently advised on a number of high-end projects, supporting on a range of issues including biodiversity offsets, acquisition issues, rehabilitation strategies, and approval risk issues. The pair jointly head the department alongside Melbourne-based Mark Beaufoy, an expert when it comes to contaminated lands, greenfield, and infrastructure development planning approvals, water regulations, and environment-related disputes.

Hailed as ‘well-structured with a broad of skills and expertise’, the team at Minter Ellison is geared to handle planning and environmental approvals, licenses to operate, NGO litigation, permits, compliance investigations, and regulatory actions, including prosecutions. Sydney-based Simon Ball ‘stands head and shoulders above his peers’ in relation to native title, mining, and petroleum and administrative law matters with the distinguished accolade of being a qualified above ground mind manager. He heads the department which specialises in the retail, mining, infrastructure, urban renewal, quarrying, and resources development sectors and frequently acts for government entities.

Clients recommend Baker McKenzie for its ‘rapid responses and ability to quickly review information and understand key issues. The team is jointly led by Kate Phillips, Paul Curnow, and Ilona Millar, all of whom are based in Sydney, and holds proficiency in relation to environmental advisory, litigation, waste, compliance, and due diligence matters. It is also adept in planning law, product and emission regulation, native title and climate change considerations, frequently acting on critical infrastructure and transport, water and waste projects.

Clients recommend Colin Biggers & Paisley for its ‘depth of experience and excellent strategical advice’. On the planning side, the team is best-known for supporting on retail, residential community, commercial, tourism, industrial, and resource projects, supporting structure plans, planning schemes, and disputes, among other matters. Active also on the environmental front, the workload includes compliance, licensing, contamination, and enforcement matters in addition to impact assessment mandates. Brisbane-based Ian Wright leads the department and is acclaimed for his ‘excellent knowledge and thorough robust discussion’.

A ‘superb multi-disciplinary team that goes beyond expectation’, Maddocks regularly advises on the planning and environmental aspects of major land releases and urban renewal projects. The team represents a broad number of commercial clients though holds distinguished expertise in acting for public sector clients, regularly supporting government clients on regulatory matters, and also acting for councils on waste collection, disposal strategy, processing recycling matters. Sydney-based Michael Winram fronts the department together with Maria Marshall in Melbourne.

The offering at McCullough Robertson includes strategies and processes for regulatory approvals, water rights, risk mitigation, and environmental impact assessment matters. Working across large greenfield and expansion projects, among others, the team is co-headed by Brisbane-based Stuart Macnaughton who has recently handled a number of planning advice and appeal matters, as well as Patrick Holland, a lawyer well-versed in environmental regulation and project approvals who frequently acts on government, mining, water management, and property development matters.