Karen Hamilton > Brodies LLP > Glasgow, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile
Brodies LLP Offices

110 QUEEN STREET
GLASGOW
G1 3BX
United Kingdom
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Karen Hamilton

Work Department
Planning.
Position
Karen is a recognised expert in compulsory purchase and compensation. She has significant experience of consenting and land assembly implications for major infrastructure projects in the transport and energy sectors, frequently leading or collaborating within multi-disciplinary teams. She has also advised on a number of high-profile city centre projects, including purpose built student accommodation (PBSA); build to rent (BTR) and hotel developments, and has significant experience in the aquaculture sector.
Karen advises clients on consenting risk and strategy; procedure; EIA; planning obligations; appeals and inquiries. Having worked in local government for 5 years at the start of her career, Karen has a good understanding of the public sector landscape and advises a number of planning authorities and other regulators, as well as developers, funders and major landowners.
Career
Trained Cunninghame District Council (now North Ayrshire); qualified 1997; remained with Council’s litigation team for a further three years; property litigation at McClure Naismith 2000-04; joined Brodies LLP 2004, made partner 2008.
Memberships
Law Society of Scotland.
Lawyer Rankings
Scotland > Real estate > Planning
(Leading partners)Brodies LLP is renowned for its expertise in the renewables and living sectors, often playing a key role in major Scottish infrastructure projects, particularly those in environmentally sensitive areas. Neil Collar, praised for his ‘unrivalled knowledge’ of planning law, handles complex issues including land purchases, listed buildings, and conservation areas. He co-leads the practice with Elaine Farquharson-Black, who is highly respected for her expertise in housebuilding. Additionally, Karen Hamilton advises local authorities on significant infrastructure projects and has a strong presence in the transport, build-to-rent, and renewables industries.
Scotland > Transport
(Leading partners)Brodies LLP has a ‘leading Scottish market presence and knowledge’, often receiving instructions from the foremost publicly-owned companies and public authorities in the transport space. Rail and maritime mandates continue to be a key component of the team’s work, overseeing commercial agreements, procurements, and IT and software issues and complex, highly sensitive claims. ‘Technically excellent‘ team head Duncan MacLean is a ‘very experienced shipping lawyer who knows the market and industry very well’, specialising in investigatory work and port developments. Co-head Karen Hamilton is a go-to name for road mandates, acting for local authorities, developers and landowners, while co-lead Robert Ross specialises in the rail sector and is equally equipped at handling corporate, commercial and IT projects. Malcolm Gunnyeon has notable expertise in substantial contractual and delictual claims regarding rail accidents. Victoria Anderson carries out investigatory, regulatory and criminal inquiries for clients across the shipping, transport and construction spaces, while Fehmida Hanif excels in contentious work. Roger Cotton and Jackie McGuire retired in December 2023.
Lawyer Rankings
- Leading partners Scotland > Transport
- Leading partners Scotland > Real estate > Planning
- Planning Scotland > Real estate
- Transport Scotland
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Private client > Agriculture and estates
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation
- Real estate > Commercial property: Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Real estate > Commercial property: elsewhere in Scotland
- Real estate > Construction
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in Scotland
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate tax
- Crime, fraud and licensing > Crime: fraud
- Dispute resolution > Debt recovery
- Public sector > Education
- Employment > Employment
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Energy (excluding oil and gas)
- Corporate and commercial > EU and competition
- Private client > Family
- Employment > Health and safety
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- Finance > Investment funds
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Public sector > Local government
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Media and entertainment
- Projects, energy and natural resources > Oil and gas
- Public sector > Parliamentary and public affairs
- Insurance > Personal injury: defender
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and executries
- Real estate > Planning
- Insurance > Professional negligence
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Transport