England - London • Real estate
3

Planning

Dentons

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The planning team at Dentons has a varied client base, ranging from national and local government to investors, developers, and infrastructure providers. Roy Pinnock leads the team in advising on all aspects of planning law, including large-scale development and housing, in addition to urban and mixed-use regeneration schemes. The group expertly handles various aspects of residential developments, and Rachael Herbert specialises in developments in the elderly care sector. Michele Vas has demonstrable experience in energy and transport-related infrastructure, advising on Transport and Works Act and development consent orders. At the senior associate level, Lucy McDonnell and Katie Scuoler have extensive experience in compulsory purchases, and the addition of Chris Robinson in February 2022 further strengthens the team’s expertise in CPO advice.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Michele Vas and Katie Scuoler are standout lawyers.’

  • ‘A very well organised, efficient, and young team with great sector expertise.’

  • ‘Katie Scuoler is extremely capable, knowledgeable and charismatic, with the confidence to challenge the thinking and drive things forward. A privilege to work with.’

  • 'Their genuinely collaborative approach has made a real difference in progressing a complex strategic development. Their people are responsive and really listen to us as clients, while ensuring they provide objective and realistic advice.'

  • 'Michele Vaz is always solution focused, approachable and collaborative.'

Key clients

  • Anschutz Sports Holdings Limited
  • Bedford Borough Council
  • Peabody Development Limited
  • Places for People Developments Limited
  • Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd
  • South Cambridgeshire District Council
  • Southend on Sea Borough Council
  • Taylor Wimpey UK Limited
  • Telereal Trillium
  • Tide Construction
  • David Wilson Homes
  • Capreon
  • Regal London
  • Royal Borough of Greenwich
  • Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
  • Regal London
  • Bedford Borough Council
  • SSE
  • Keadby
  • Chelmsford City Council
  • Marks and Spencer plc
  • Kier
  • Patrizia

Work highlights

  • Advised Marks and Spencer plc on the forward planning strategy for the landmark Oxford Street store, progressing the application through the public inquiry held in October/ November 2022 after it was called in by the Secretary of State in June 2022.
  • Advising Chelmsford City Council on the new Chelmsford Garden Community, which involves working collaboratively with Ptarmigan, Halley, and Countryside developers on a planning framework agreement.
  • Advising Places for People on the Gilston Park Estate proposal project, which includes up to 8,500 homes and supporting infrastructure, including six primary schools and two secondary schools.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Rachael Herbert
Dentons
Rachael acts for both public and private sector clients and advises on all aspects of planning law, with a particular focus on providing strategic advice on large-scale residential led developments, elder care, negotiating and drafting planning agreements, judicial review, public inquiry work and advising on the Community Infrastructure Levy. Before joined the Firm in 2013, Rachael worked for four and a half years as a lawyer in Australia specializing in planning and environment work. Rachael was listed as a Legal 500 rising star for Planning in 2019 and in the 2020 Newington Communications Women of Influence list for the property, planning and built environment sector.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Roy Pinnock
Dentons
Roy is a partner in the Planning and Public Law team, bringing his experience of working on regeneration projects within local government and as a consultant to his legal practice. He advises on all aspects of contentious and non-contentious planning for complex housing, fracking and mixed-uses development, including environmental assessment, highways law and judicial review. He is also a Solicitor Advocate with higher rights of audience, and a specialist in Community Infrastructure Levy, EIA/ SEA, viability, Local Plans and related hearings and examinations.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Michele Vas
Dentons
Michele is a member of the Planning and Public Law team. She focuses on negotiating and drafting planning and highways agreements, town center regeneration and redevelopment schemes, urban extensions, compulsory purchase orders, road closure orders, highways issues, judicial review, public inquiry work and enforcement issues.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Roy Pinnock

Other key lawyers

Michele Vas, Lucy McDonnell, Rachael Herbert, Katie Scuoler, Chris Robinson

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