Environment and planning in South East

B P Collins LLP boasts one of the leading environment and planning practices in the South East and Thames Valley area, especially in the waste management sphere. The five-partner strong team is regularly engaged by an array of leading renewable energy players, recyclers, and other waste disposal companies on high-value transactions, commercial matters, and litigation. Practice head Alex Zachary is a seasoned transactional lawyer who also regularly advises on procurement strategies and new technologies for recycling sector clients. David Smellie also handles both corporate and commercial mandates, while Craig Williams heads up the  team’s dispute resolution practice - acting in regulatory prosecutions, judicial reviews, and litigation at the High Court. Simon Carroll is another key contact for commercial and regulatory disputes in the recycling arena, and is a regular point of contact for several of the firm’s panel appointment clients. Alison Taylor is a highly experienced commercial lawyer who concentrates on portfolio management and commercial lease transactions for landlords and tenants. Jonothan Moss focuses on environmental breach litigation up to the Supreme Court, while Phil Hind handles environmental property disputes. All named lawyers are based in Gerrards Cross.

Blake Morgan LLP’s highly-regarded practice is recognised for its broad contentious and non-contentious capabilities. The team handles a range of complex development matters for various key public sector players and high-profile corporates, increasingly in the area of marine planning and national infrastructure projects. Urban regeneration schemes, mixed-use developments, and highway agreements are also core competencies. The team is led by London-based legal director Anita Kasseean, formerly the head of planning and environment at Howard Kennedy LLP. Kasseean’s practice encompasses an array of major transport and renewable power infrastructure projects, focusing on environmental liability and mitigation.  Keith Lancaster works between the firm’s London, Reading, and Southampton offices, handling a mix of contentious and non-contentious planning matters - including enforcements -  for public sector investors, developers, and high-net-worth individuals. Also based in London,  Sadie Pitman is noted for her experience in highway planning negotiations and Section 106 agreements. Australian-qualified Julian Wolfgramm-King, who specialises in sustainable development sector work, is a further key addition to the team.

Blandy & Blandy LLP regularly handles a mix of planning strategy and development matters for a number of private and public sector entities, including major landowners, local authorities, universities, not-for-profits, institutional lenders and owner-managed businesses. Practice head Karen Jones, who specialises in strategic planning advice and nature conservation law, is a veteran figure in the market, with significant public sector experience.

Cripps Pemberton Greenish ’s expertise in the residential development sector is reflected in their notable roster of national housebuilder clients and key regional panel appointments. Beyond housebuilding, the team is highly capable in the mixed-use and commercial planning sphere, acting for a range of retailers, leisure groups, and utilities providers. Department head Jason Towell brings almost three decades of market experience to bear on an array of major urban extension projects and commercial development schemes. Beth Gascoyne is a specialist planning lawyer with a significant private and public sector presence, handling Section 106 agreements, redevelopments and infrastructure matters with equal fluency. All named lawyers are based in Tunbridge Wells.

DMH Stallard LLP’s environment and planning group is equally adept at providing contentious and non-contentious support to clients, most notably in the residential and leisure development sectors. The team’s planning litigation offering is helmed by practice head Heidi Copland who, in addition to handling a significant volume of Section 106 agreements for major urban regenerations, also acts for clients in enforcement appeals and CPO claims brought about by national infrastructure projects. Chloe Karamian advises private developers and local authorities on a range of planning matters, and is experienced in both planning and environmental litigations. The team also boasts a deep bench of chartered town planners: Peter Rainier, a veteran practitioner who serves as the principal director of planning, acts for developers and landowners on commercial and residential ventures, while Katie Lamb concentrates on major housing schemes. Daniel Frisby specialises in environmental assessment work on behalf of sport organisations and harbour authorities. All named lawyers are based in Gatwick.

Irwin Mitchell works closely with its national network of offices on various planning, environmental, highways and compulsory purchase matters. A diverse roster of leading regional clients - including housebuilders, local authorities, and higher education institutes - regularly turn to the team for assistance on regenerations, strategic site developments, and complex judicial reviews. Contentious planning matters and major retirement complex constructions are further key work streams. Nicola Gooch is the firm’s southern lead for environment and planning matters, handling mixed-use regeneration schemes for a wide variety of private sector entities. James Pavey chiefly focuses on disputes for clients involved in rural planning, and boasts a strong track record at the Supreme Court and High Court. Sejal Patel concentrates on strategic land and housing site developments, focusing particularly on retirement and care home living. All named lawyers are based in Gatwick.

Shoosmiths LLP’ separate planning and environment teams regularly operate in conjunction with one another on a broad range of commercial and contentious instructions. Karen Howard oversees the planning offering from the firm’s London office, where she regularly takes the lead on strategic site acquisitions and planning applications for major residential and care home developments. Compulsory Purchase Order issues are also a significant driver of new work. Milton Keynes-based Charles Arrand is an experienced regulatory crime solicitor who heads up the environmental team, acting on behalf of clients in environmental pollution proceedings where reputational damage is on the line. In the Reading office, Joanne Sear’s deep knowledge of regulatory criminal law and environmental enforcement make her indispensable to a number of the firm’s leading waste management and retail sector clients. Milton Keynes-based Matthew Stimson is noted for his broad residential development experience and CIL advice.

The team at BDB Pitmans regularly advises on mixed-use projects, highway agreements and planning appeals for key regional developers, heritage organisations, and local authorities. Practice head Cristina Daniels handles residential and mixed-use developments for various national housebuilders, and is an experienced adviser on highway rights of way, village greens, and assets of community value. Chris Holmes is noted for his broad experience in residential, mixed-use, and infrastructure work. All named lawyers are based in Reading.

The environment and planning team at Clarke Willmott LLP is regularly engaged by public and private sector entities, including property groups, developers, housing trusts, retailers, and local authorities. Recent highlights include a number of high-value Section 106 agreements, environmental scope-outs, and complex planning mandates, subject to multi-party stakeholder approval. Practice head Neil Baker is recommended for his varied planning experience, while Caroline Waller - who divides her time between Southampton and Taunton - frequently acts for developers and local planning authorities on highways agreements. All named lawyers are based in Southampton unless otherwise noted.

Stevens & Bolton LLP’s specialist environmental liabilities practice covers areas including land and soil contaminations, water pollution, and damage to natural resources, as well as the subsequent insurance implications. In order to strengthen its offering, the team has partnered with Town Legal LLP, the boutique London planning law firm. Guildford-based Valerie Fogleman is a highly experienced practitioner whose recent areas of focus include waste management, climate change law, and the environmental implications of Brexit, with an increasing proportion of the environment team’s time devoted to European Commission-directed projects.

Lester Aldridge LLP’s planning team is noted for its housing capabilities, acting for a range of developers on residential and residential-led mixed-use developments - most notably in the retirement sector. The team also boasts niche regulatory expertise in port and harbour authority work. Practice head Tom Alder is a seasoned non-contentious practitioner who provides wide-reaching planning advisory services, including Section 106 agreements, ecological mitigation, and community infrastructure levies.  Rebecca Humm handles planning and infrastructure negotiations, and has experience representing clients in appeals and High Court challenges. All named lawyers are based in Southampton.