Planning and environment in North West

‘Thoroughly on the ball. Reliable, precise and very knowledgeable. When you place a matter with them you know it is in good hands and you know things are going to get done, and done well.’

‘Michelle Moss is excellent. Efficient, meticulous and dependable. She progresses matters with proficiency, care and skill. You always know what’s happening and you know that nothing is going to get missed.’

‘Great compulsory purchase order and planning team offering pragmatic advice and the ability to take things off your desk and run with it.’

‘Michelle Moss, Fiona Barker-Hall and Sarah Wood are all exceptional individuals who stand out because they understand their client and work well with various stakeholders.’

‘Jane Southworth is fantastic. She was recommended to me for environmental and chemicals matters and I can see why. She’s very personable and her legal knowledge and practical experience is second to none; she is the kind of specialist that everybody needs.’

‘Provide a balanced view, considering the sometimes different requirements of complex, interlinked regulations and will advise us of the potential options available to us and any associated risks.’

‘Jane Southworth has taken the time to build relationships with us and get to know us as individuals as well as our business. She explains complex issues in simple and easy-to-understand terms, and is extremely pragmatic, but at the same time provides valuable advice enabling us to take steps to protect our business. She understands and works to our timescales.’

‘Excellent legal support received from Eversheds’ environment practice.’

‘The team have shown great flexibility in reacting to all situations. They have an excellent cross-subject knowledge base with the necessary detail where required.’

‘The team in Manchester is hugely experienced in dealing with controversial and adversarial planning work. It is a well-oiled and efficient machine.’

‘Great ability to position themselves to represent the client’s best interests, with a wide appreciation and understanding of industry best practice and emerging cases.’

‘Michelle Headrige has a wide knowledge of environmental legislation. She has also over the years developed a detailed understanding of our business and the way it operates, and responds with this in mind.’

‘Emily Williams is a hugely experienced lawyer with a national reputation for dealing with planning litigation. She’s a team player with an eye for the fine detail and a calming influence when the pressure is on.’

‘Joanne Holbrook has an amazing ability to absorb volumes of information and identify the key issues and advise accordingly. She is focused on achieving the best outcomes for her clients, and determined to overcome challenges and obstacles. Great to work with.’

‘A hugely acute and tactically astute team of lawyers in the environmental field. This is a complex and tricky area both legally and practically – and the Clyde team are, to use the vernacular, all over it. Their client care seems to me to be second to none in this field.’

‘Rod Hunt is completely on top of his cases. He is never fazed. This is an area of law where even seasoned practitioners can sometimes stumble through the thicket of legislation, but Rod never does. Very impressive indeed.’

‘Outstanding individuals with an exceptional eye for detail and commercial acumen. Together, they work brilliantly as a team and are extremely responsive. I have been extremely impressed with their approach to novel and emerging environmental issues and their desire to be able to keep their clients up to date.’

‘Rod Hunt is extremely alert to issues that are likely to affect clients and provides exceptional advice. Chris Morrison is commercially savvy and excellent tactically, and unafraid to give the right advice. Stephanie Lunt is brilliant, dedicated and always has the necessary detail at her fingertips.’

‘The environmental law team at Clyde & Co is supremely knowledgeable, dynamic and one of the best there is.’

‘Rod Hunt is an environmental law genius. He has a complete mastery of this tricky area of law and boardrooms love his attention to detail. Corporate clients want him fighting their corner. Roger Cartwright is an exceptional young lawyer. He is not out of place in boardrooms and has a relaxed style. Nothing can ruffle his feathers, which is a superbly calm and reassuring feature for clients. Stephanie Lunt is a complete asset to the team: she is calm, focused and on top of the detail of her cases. Corporate clients love working with her.’

‘Sam Grange is a brilliant member of the team. An incredibly committed professional, to the company, projects and the profession itself. Always willing to discuss potential issues and consider the best and most pragmatic solutions to challenges.’

‘Sam Grange and David Mathias are really friendly, available and approachable.’

‘Kathryn Jump is a very focused individual. Careful but forceful when necessary.’

‘The Shoosmiths Manchester team have high-quality practitioners across partner and associate level. They were early pioneers in remote working and digital collaboration pre-pandemic. It is a strong cohesive team, which is exceptionally well led by Kathryn Jump and Lisa Tye, and they have a real strength in depth. A great firm to work with on a long-term, complex and high-value project.’

‘Kathryn Jump is a superb strategic adviser. She has played a pivotal role in leading multi-disciplinary planning and technical teams on behalf of some of the major players in North West land promotion. Brilliantly organised, with a keen eye for practical solutions, she is one of the most impressive partners in the region, and exemplifies best practice nationally. She inspires confidence in clients and in other members of the team.’

‘The team is knowledgeable and skilled in advising on planning issues. They are able to respond within the timescales that are required and advice is pragmatic and given with the client’s needs in mind.’

‘I work with Lisa Tye, who is my go-to contact for section 106 agreements and related matters. Lisa is always responsive and is very approachable and always works as one of the team. Lisa is pragmatic about difficult matters such as fees and is always willing to to have challenging conversations when they arise.’

‘Aaron Hopley has successfully advised on and driven several recent section 106 agreements on my behalf. Aaron is proactive in advising on matters that arise during negotiations and will always chase progress on our behalf. Aaron also instils confidence on technical points and case law where this is necessary.’

‘As planning law and policy becomes ever more complex, the Winckworth Sherwood team are always ahead of the curve in terms of new law and how it affects local planning authorities and the development industry. Importantly, they don’t just tell you what the law is – which is what some lawyers do – they tell you how to apply it and provide a solution.’

‘Colette McCormack, Jo Hannah and Matthew Steinbrecher are proactive and very solutions driven. What makes them stand out from other advisers is their specialist planning knowledge coupled with their understanding of local government law.’

‘Transparent and comprehensive approach to billing which respects clients’ revenue and sales expectations. Planning law expertise across multiple sectors which is available at short notice. Quality service and advice.’

‘Colette McCormack has been an invaluable members of our project team. She has consistently provided commercially focused advice in an efficient and effective manner, with full awareness of our business requirements.’

‘The environmental law team is second to none. They manage to bring together the best of sophisticated City practice with high-street care and attention to clients. Their reactive and attentive relationship with their clients mean that they can adapt their approach to a varied client base, dealing with industrial and agricultural businesses with equal skill.’

‘Keith McKinney is a good solicitor and excellent at the hard graft that goes into the preparation of a case for court. He is realistic in his approach to cases and firm with his clients.’

‘The ability to bring together planning and environmental expertise in such an effective way is rare but is accomplished through the experience and specialist knowledge at Aarons.’

‘Grant Anderson is a very effective litigator, who displays excellent judgement and has a calm and measured approach to solving problems. He was quick to respond to queries.’

‘The practice has exceptional experience in planning law. They are also very well connected to QCs and barristers who are again very experienced.’

‘My main contact in the practice is Grant Anderson. He works efficiently, diligently and in a timely manner. He is always conscious of client requirements, deadlines and priorities.’

‘Excellent, hardworking team with great commercial awareness.’

‘Claire Petricca Riding has fantastic client-facing skills and is a great communicator.’

‘The team has some big hitters, all with different strengths, which makes them a formidable firm.’

‘Claire Petricca-Riding is very client focused and a good tactician. She is good at thinking outside of the box.’

‘Stuart Tym is across every case he does. He really knows his stuff and doesn’t drop the ball.’

‘The Mills & Reeve team are pragmatic, highly knowledgeable, personable and professional.’

‘Melanie Grimshaw is easy to work with. The team have a deep expertise in their field and Melanie is no exception. They are accessible and we value their contribution to our business.’

‘What makes the team stand out is its understanding of the legal process and the quality of its advice.’

‘Debbie Reynolds uses personality and EQ to engage honestly and openly with clients, counsel and professional teams, and in doing so provides sound advice and delivers successful results.’

‘Truly excellent firm of solicitors with a great reputation.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is superb.’

‘The advice provided was second to none, clear and concise. The team’s knowledge of the subject was great and gave our mutual client confidence and support during a stressful time.’

‘Debbie Reynolds provided a very professional service, being available when needed and able to provide clear advice and turn around the necessary documents at short notice.’

‘Very strong environment practice with strength in depth.’

‘Great all-round performance, expertise and very good to deal with.’