Planning in London Bar

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Planning - Leading Sets

Landmark Chambers

39 Essex Chambers

Francis Taylor Building

Cornerstone Barristers

SIX PUMP COURT

Leading Silks

Morag Ellis QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Her ability to see the bigger picture in among all the detail is fabulous. ’

David Elvin QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ An excellent silk of note. ’

Russell Harris QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ A first-class advocate with an uncanny ability to get right to the heart of an issue quickly. ’

Michael Humphries QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ An absoltue leader in his field and a prized asset of the set, ’

Christopher Katkowski QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ He deserves his reputation as one of the top planning barristers. ’

Christopher Lockhart-Mummery QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ He has a track record of high-profile cases. ’

Tim Mould QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ His skilful advocacy style is attractive and persuasive. ’

James Strachan QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Truly amazing in the way he absorbs huge amounts of evidence. ’

Neil Cameron QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Excellent at inquiry, his cross-examination is highly effective. ’

Timothy Corner QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Excellent on light issues, heritage and tall buildings. ’

Neil King QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Highly capable, very experienced and with an excellent reputation. ’

Martin Kingston QC - No5 Barristers Chambers ‘ He has a track record of airport and nuclear power work. ’

Mark Lowe QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Disarming and gentle, he gets to the truth. ’

James Maurici QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ The go-to man for anything really big. ’

John Steel QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Approachable, good-humoured and intellectual able to grasp and communicate the most complex issues. ’

Andrew Tait QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He advises in a way the client will respect what he says, even if it is not what they want to hear. ’

Stephen Tromans QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ His knowledge of planning matters in the waste sector is without equal. ’

Peter Village QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A real fighter, and a compelling and skilled advocate. ’

Sasha White QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ A hugely impressive High Court and inquiry advocate. ’

Brian Ash QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Very effective in cross-examination in public inquiries. ’

Simon Bird QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ London firms have a lot of respect for him. ’

Christopher Boyle QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Judges appreciate his well-mannered and helpful approach, which is influential in persuading them. ’

Paul Brown QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ An excellent inquiry and High Court advocate. ’

James Findlay QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Exceptionally intelligent and logical, but at the same time excellent with clients. ’

Richard Glover QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He manages cases well and is empathetic with committees. ’

Thomas Hill QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He has a track record of ports and airports work. ’

Matthew Horton QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He has a practice including planning inquiries and compulsory purchase matters. ’

Jonathan Karas QC - Falcon Chambers ‘ A compelling and precise advocate who leaves no stone unturned in his preparation. ’

Dan Kolinsky QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ He combines good advocacy skills and an excellently approachable presence with clients. ’

Rhodri Price Lewis QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ A great strategist who cuts through the key issues. ’

Richard Harwood OBE QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ His cross-examination is forensic and exposes weaknesses of opposing witnesses. ’

James Pereira QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Effervescent and clever – quick-witted and very much a team player. ’

Hereward Phillpot QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Enviably good when it comes to development consent orders. ’

Paul Stinchcombe QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Able to quickly grasp the salient facts and develop a logical strategy. ’

Reuben Taylor QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Very commercially astute and practical in his advice. ’

Rupert Warren QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ An excellent strategist and exceptionally good as an advocate on public inquiry work. ’

Marc Willers QC - Garden Court Chambers ‘ Extremely approachable with a great client manner. ’

Michael Bedford QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Incisive and strategic in his thinking. ’

Alexander Booth QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Knowledgeable and collegiate with his experience and expertise. ’

Thomas Cosgrove QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ A very effective advocate with a charming manner. ’

Douglas Edwards QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He comes at things from new directions and with new insight. ’

Richard Ground QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ An outstanding advocate – very sharp and extremely thorough, with an excellent eye for detail. ’

Richard Humphreys QC - No5 Barristers Chambers ‘ He handles compulsory purchase and residential matters. ’

Gregory Jones QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ A very able silk. ’

Matthew Reed QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ A very good advocate: firm and sensible. ’

Paul Shadarevian QC - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ His cross-examination of experts is succinct, superb and devastating. ’

Saira Kabir Sheikh QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ An extremely strong individual, she thinks practically and strategically. ’

Andrew Tabachnik QC - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A legal powerhouse with a persuasive presence as an advocate. ’

Craig Howell Williams QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He delivers masterful cross-examination and leads the team through in an effective and calming manner. ’

David Wolfe QC - Matrix Chambers ‘ A well-established public law silk with particular expertise in planning. ’

2018 Silks

Graeme Keen QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ A superb inquiry advocate with a sharp intellect and a very attractive manner. ’

Jeremy Phillips QC - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He has a track record of work on infrastructure projects. ’

2019 Silks

Charles Banner QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Extremely enthusiastic, proactive and commercial. ’

Tim Buley QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ He can read judges very well and give them clearly just what they need to find in favour of his client. ’

William Upton QC - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ A new silk well liked by local authorities. ’

Robert Walton QC - Landmark Chambers ‘ Absolutely top-drawer with clients and professionals alike. ’

Leading Juniors

Richard Honey - Francis Taylor Building ‘ First-class – he gets into the real detail of a case and leaves no stone unturned. ’

Stephen Morgan - Landmark Chambers ‘ Very thorough in his preparation for planning appeals. ’

Megan Thomas - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ Her knowledge is second-to-none and she delivers practical solutions. ’

Mark Beard - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ Instructed by councils on controversial matters. ’

David Blundell - Landmark Chambers ‘ Just superb – he wears his massive ability lightly. ’

Celina Colquhoun - No5 Barristers Chambers ‘ She has a track record of infrastructure matters. ’

Gwion Lewis - Landmark Chambers ‘ Very smart and excellent on his feet. ’

Scott Lyness - Landmark Chambers ‘ Without doubt a silk in waiting. ’

Richard Moules - Landmark Chambers ‘ Very knowledgeable with a calm no-nonsense approach, he inspires confidence. ’

Melissa Murphy - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Thorough, committed and enthusiastic. ’

John Pugh-Smith - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Always alert to the commercial side of a client's case. ’

Richard Wald - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A superb advocate, extremely intelligent and tactically astute. ’

Stephen Whale - Landmark Chambers ‘ His advocacy is understated and efficient. ’

Anne Williams - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ She brings expertise as a former town planner. ’

Wayne Beglan - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ A government panelist handling challenging instructions. ’

James Burton - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A leading planning junior – thorough and resourceful. ’

Josef Cannon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ He has an acute legal and forensic mind. ’

Jonathan Clay - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ An excellent advocate on all levels. ’

Rebecca Clutten - Francis Taylor Building ‘ A terrific junior, outstanding in hearings under extreme pressure. ’

Edward Grant - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Very thorough and an astute advocate. ’

Robin Green - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Expert at assisting councils with the full range of matters associated with gypsies. ’

Martha Grekos - Hardwicke ‘ She turns things round faster than the opposition expects. ’

Emmaline Lambert - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Approachable and well-prepared, she performs well in court. ’

Jacqueline Lean - Landmark Chambers ‘ The complete advocate: she has a powerful intellect and a lightness of touch that makes her first on the team sheet. ’

Meyric Lewis - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Persuasive in front of the court. ’

Asitha Ranatunga - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ When cross-examining, he establishes a rapport with the witness, allowing him to extract concessions on key points. ’

Zack Simons - Landmark Chambers ‘ His real strength is his advocacy, both in the High Court and in conference. ’

Harriet Townsend - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Very good at dealing with difficult and disorganised clients. ’

Guy Williams - Landmark Chambers ‘ A highly skilled planning lawyer, particularly strong in relation to compulsory purchase matters. ’

Christiaan Zwart - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A team player who is skilled at understanding technical issues quickly. ’

Giles Atkinson - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ A former town planner instructed in housebuilding and enforcement matters. ’

Sasha Blackmore - Landmark Chambers ‘ A highly skilled barrister, very thorough and tenacious in her arguments and presentation. ’

Ashley Bowes - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Technically brilliant, with helpful sangfroid. ’

Andrew Byass - Landmark Chambers ‘ A delight to have on a team, he provides commercial nous. ’

Estelle Dehon - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Her expertise spans planning, environment and village greens. ’

Hugh Flanagan - Francis Taylor Building ‘ A mature head on young shoulders, he is quick to get things and very effective. ’

Michael Fry - Francis Taylor Building ‘ An exceptionally bright mind with innovative outlooks – a renaissance barrister. ’

Leon Glenister - Landmark Chambers ‘ A keen junior with an understanding of planning law issues. ’

Alex Goodman - Landmark Chambers ‘ He gives very clear and insightful advice. ’

Stephanie Hall - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Extremely knowledgeable and provides practical, sensible advice in a timely manner. ’

Ned Helme - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Bright and quick to grasp the important points, he is punchy in writing. ’

Victoria Hutton - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ Able to command the facts and deploy knowledge to convey the importance of the issues. ’

Philippa Jackson - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ A team player who can grasp complex facts quickly and present a compelling case. ’

Daniel Stedman Jones - 39 Essex Chambers ‘ He handles planning cases as a government panellist. ’

Juan Lopez - Francis Taylor Building ‘ He approaches the issues with forensic detail and a clear strategy. ’

George Mackenzie - Francis Taylor Building ‘ His opening and closing submissions present a compelling case. ’

Alistair Mills - Landmark Chambers ‘ His advocacy is effective and his analysis strong. ’

Hashi Mohamed - No5 Barristers Chambers ‘ His engaging character helps get judges and planning inspectors on side. ’

Nicholas Ostrowski - SIX PUMP COURT ‘ Good on difficult issues when clients need to be delivered unpalatable truths. ’

Jack Parker - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Diligent and capable, he strikes up a good relationship with the court. ’

Clare Parry - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ She has a quick legal brain and is unfazed by complex legal issues. ’

Annabel Graham Paul - Francis Taylor Building ‘ She has a steely determination in putting her points across. ’

Sarah Sackman - Francis Taylor Building ‘ She stays calm when the pressure is on. ’

Heather Sargent - Landmark Chambers ‘ She does the work of barristers five years more senior. ’

Mark Westmoreland Smith - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Very good at getting his head around complex issues. ’

Isabella Tafur - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Unflappable and quick to grasp the issues. ’

Ned Westaway - Francis Taylor Building ‘ Always great at delivering, he has an inquiring mind that chases down every possible route. ’

Robert Williams - Cornerstone Barristers ‘ Very smart and a good advocate, he has a superb practice. ’

Tier 1 firms

'The pre-eminent planning set', 'totally dominant' Landmark Chambers has 'unrivalled strength in depth, with an enviable list of senior and junior counsel'. James Maurici QC represented the Secretary of State for Transport in the challenges to the London Heathrow third runway project. In the Supreme Court, Richard Moules represented the local authorities, and 2019 silk appointment Charles Banner QC represented Transport for London, in Transport for London v City of London & Southwark LBC, in which the Supreme Court grappled with the meaning of the word "highway" in the Highways Act 1980. In addition, Stephen Whale represented Ealing Council and Reuben Taylor QC acted for Queen's Park Rangers in a Court of Appeal challenge to a grant of planning permission for the football club's new training ground.

Tier 2 firms

'A leading set for planning', 39 Essex Chambers includes members instructed to assist with all manner of infrastructure and house-building projects. The plans for Heathrow's third runway, and aviation in general, has been a key source of work for the set, with Stephen Tromans QC representing Transport for London and John Steel QC representing Heathrow Hub; Steel also advised Plymouth City Council on the re-opening of its airport. Paul Stinchcombe QC represented New World Payphones in a test case concerning the use of permitted development rights to install what are described as "telephone kiosks", which feature large advertising displays. In the junior ranks, Christiaan Zwart is instructed by the States of Jersey to promote a proposed new hospital in St. Helier. James Strachan QC and Jonathan Darby act for United Utilities in proposals for the first compulsory purchase using section 155 of the Water Industry Act 1991.

'With both strength and depth', Francis Taylor Building has 'a comprehensive offer in the planning and infrastructure specialism'. The set includes numerous members of national and devolved government panels, and many instructions concern local plans. In infrastructure, Michael Humphries QC advises Horizon Nuclear Power on the planned construction of two new advanced boiling reactors reactors next to the decommissioned Magnox nuclear power plant at Wylfa, and Morag Ellis QC represented the Welsh Government in the inquiry concerning the proposed diversion of the M4 around Newport. Saira Kabir Sheikh QC represented Westminster City Council in its High Court case concerning New World Payphones' proposal to install advertising hoardings with telephone facilities under the General Permitted Development Order for telephone boxes. Elsewhere, Melissa Murphy represented the London Borough of Southwark in a planning inquiry concerning a proposal to acquire the notorious Aylesbury Estate by compulsory purchase. Also of note, Michael Fry returned to to the independent Bar from DLA Piper, where he was a senior associate (including secondments to HS2 Ltd).

Tier 3 firms

An 'established set with a full range of counsel on planning matters, including some good upcoming juniors', Cornerstone Barristers cover a mix of work across projects, with a large number of instructions coming from local authorities. Mark Lowe QC and Jack Parker represented Hertfordshire County Council in a called-in inquiry over a waste-to-energy plant proposal designed to turn the entire county's waste into 33.5MW of energy. Robin Green represented Welwyn Hatfield District Council in a challenge to its decision to approve the construction of a crematorium, brought by a competitor. In housing, Wayne Beglan, represented Waverley Council in a planning inquiry concerning an application to build 1,800 homes on the former site of RAF Dunsfold, better known as the Top Gear test track.

Tier 4 firms

Particularly strong in the south east of England, SIX PUMP COURT's members handle work for, among others, a range of local authorities. Giles Atkinson represented Sevenoaks District Council in an inquiry concerning the refusal of permission for a gypsy site to be erected on green belt land, with the gypsy status of the applicants subject to dispute.

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