Toni Weston > Gowling WLG > Birmingham, England > Lawyer Profile

With its planning team located within the broader real estate group, Gowling WLG has ‘good integration of its planning specialism with wider real estate capabilities’, offering a full spectrum of planning law advice. The firm is regarded for its strength in commercial developments and counts major housebuilders among its clients in relation to residential projects. Infrastructure is also a key area for the practice, specifically regarding highways and the rail freight interchange market. The practice is led by Birmingham-based partner Toni Weston, who is described as a ‘great lawyer’ offering ‘clear and reliable planning advice’, and who has experience across regeneration projects, highway schemes and both residential and commercial developments. Associates Cairo Nickolls and Richard Thurling are also key supporting members in the team.

Possessing broad expertise in the transport sector, Gowling WLG‘s practice is particularly strong in the rail space, as well as on interface agreements, logistics and roads matters, to name a few. Joint practice head Giles Clifford specialises in infrastructure, while co-lead Dominic Richardson has notable expertise of rail and rail-related development schemes. Richard Green has particular experience of new station developments, alongside advising on construction and engineering contracts; Toni Weston’s strengths lie in compulsory purchase law issues, alongside more niche expertise regarding road, tunnel, bridge and flyover structures; Sarah Riding advises on supply chain and logistics arrangements, as well as more general commercial issues.