Landmark Chambers

Odette specialises in planning, infrastructure, environmental and public law. She is ranked by Planning Magazine as the sixth top-rated junior planning barrister under 35 in the country.
Odette represents developers, public authorities and interested parties at all stages of the planning process, including in the Courts, section 78 appeals, and DCOs. Her experience includes promoting energy developments, large housing schemes and quarries.

Recent cases include:

• Burcot: acted (unled) for the developer at inquiry, securing permission for a 49.9MW solar farm and battery storage scheme on 57ha best and most versatile agricultural land, the first solar farm found to meet all new Grey Belt NPPF tests at appeal
• Fillongley: currently acting (unled) for the developer at a two-week inquiry for a 40MW solar farm, where issues raised by the Council and Rule 6 Party include impact on heritage, landscape, Grey Belt and best and most versatile agricultural land
• Colestocks: currently acting (unled) for the local planning authority at an inquiry for 86 homes
• Hallow: acted (unled) for the developer at a hearing, securing permission for 40 houses together with costs
• Hatfield Aerodrome: acting for the developer in a multi-week inquiry relating to a proposed sand and gravel quarry in the Green Belt (led by Richard Kimblin KC)
• Gatwick Airport: acting for a community group objecting to the second runway DCO (led by Estelle Dehon KC)
• Bramley [2023] EWHC 2842 (Admin): acted for the developer (led by Thea Osmund-Smith), in a case dealing with amendments at appeal stage and assessment of alternative sites in relation to a solar farm consent.

In terms of environmental law, Odette’s practice includes climate change, water law, environmental assessment and protected sites and species. Since 2021, Odette has been an elected trustee of the UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA).

She has recently been part of international teams of Counsel:

• drafting submissions on behalf of the WWF to the International Court of Justice regarding the request for an Advisory Opinion on States’ climate obligations
• assisting a group of NGOs in ongoing proceedings before the CJEU challenging changes to the EU Taxonomy in respect of investments in shipping and aviation
• drafting submissions on behalf of the Global Strategic Litigation Council to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights on States’ climate and human rights obligations.

Odette has broad public law experience, acting for claimants, defendants and interested parties. She is currently a member of the Attorney General’s “Junior Junior” Panel Scheme. In terms of pro bono work, she was part of the Counsel team that represented the Appellant in the Privy Council in Moss v The King [2023] UKPC 28, a case relating to conspiracy to murder in the Bahamas.

Qualifications

Oxford University, BA Philosophy Politics & Economics, First Class SOAS University of London, MA, Distinction City Law School, GDL, Distinction City Law School, BVS, Outstanding

Awards

Sir John and Sophie Laws Scholarship (Bar European Group) Queen Mother Scholarship (Middle Temple) BVS and GDL Scholarships (City University) 11KBW Prize for Public Law (City University) Major Postgraduate Scholarship (HEFCE/SOAS) Lady Wilson Prize (University College, Oxford) Academic Exhibition (University College, Oxford) Roger Short Scholarship (University College, Oxford)

Memberships

Attorney General’s “Junior Junior” scheme UK Environmental Law Association (UKELA) (Council Member) ixia (Public Art think tank), Associate Board Member Planning and Environmental Bar Association (PEBA) Administrative Law Bar Association (ALBA) National Infrastructure Planning Association (NIPA)