Sarah Dunlop > Carson McDowell > Belfast, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Carson McDowell
MURRAY HOUSE
MURRAY STREET
BELFAST
BT1 6DN
United Kingdom

Work Department

Planning and Environmental Law Team

Position

Sarah is a Senior Associate at Carson McDowell and specialises exclusively in the Planning and Environmental Law team.

Career

Sarah obtained her law degree (LLB (Honours) 1st) from Queens University, Belfast in 2009 and subsequently obtained her Certificate of Professional Legal Studies from the Institute of Professional Legal Studies. She qualified as a solicitor in September 2011 and joined the Planning and Environmental Law Team in Carson McDowell in January 2012. Sarah is one of the few solicitors in this jurisdiction who specialises exclusively in Planning and Environmental law. Sarah was made an Associate in May 2017.

Sarah’s experience includes assisting in the instigation and defence of judicial reviews of planning and environmental decisions; assisting with the co-ordination of planning inquiries for regionally significant applications; advising on the form, content and lawfulness of Environmental Statements; advising on planning conditions; advising generally on the legal framework set out in the Planning Act (NI) 2011 and subordinate legislation; providing planning due diligence support for the acquisition, disposal and financing of renewable energy developments in Northern Ireland; providing general planning and environmental law advices.

Memberships

Member of the Law Society of Northern Ireland.

Committee Member of the Environmental and Planning Law Association of Northern Ireland.

Member of the UK Environmental Law Association.

Education

Queen’s University, Belfast 2009: Law degree (LLB (Honours) 1st)

The Institute of Professional Legal Studies: Certificate of Professional Legal Studies

Lawyer Rankings

Northern Ireland > Real estate > Planning and environment

(Rising stars)

Sarah DunlopCarson McDowell

Carson McDowell fields a large team of planning specialists, with experience in planning applications, judicial reviews, and public enquiries for a broad range of major planning and environmental matters. Team lead Gary McGhee, who has almost 30 years’ experience, and initially founded the department in 1994, is a recognised expert in the field, and covers both contentious and non-contentious matters. Grant McBurney is a key name for waste and contaminated land matters. Also prominent within the team are senior associate Sarah Dunlop, who has experience in infrastructure developments, and senior associate Faye Phillips, who specialises in renewable energy.