Browne Jacobson LLP is a market-leading planning and environment firm. Laura Hughes has deep specialist knowledge of nature conservation and is an experienced planning advocate in the Magistrates Court. Richard Barlow has advised local authorities and public bodies on planning law, environmental law, and risk management issues, while Ben Standing is well versed in negotiating complex Section 106 agreements and applications for major development projects, acting for public and private sector clients. Andrew Hopkin handles criminal compliance and regulatory matters, actively prosecuting environmental cases and defending prosecutions brought by the Environmental Agency.

Freeths LLP fields a robust planning and environmental offering, consisting of lawyers, planning consultants, and advocates. The team’s broad expertise includes advising on all aspects of development planning work, from applications to appeals, and environmental permitting issues. Paul Brailsford is the national head of the planning and environment department and has advised on numerous high-profile schemes across the UK, while Chris May, who joined the team in January 2024 from Howes Percival LLP, has expertise in town and country planning law. Louise Burnett is active in judicial review proceedings and has a focus on affordable housing work.

The planning team at Shakespeare Martineau LLP is renowned for its strength in depth and ability to manage projects from allocation through to planning obligations. The team has a strong track record in complex Section 106 agreements, acting for both residential and commercial clients. Paul Wakefield‘s purview includes contentious matters and the management of planning obligations, as well as other infrastructure agreements, while Kylie Wesson has knowledge of judicial reviews, statutory challenges, injunctions, appeals, and enforcement issues. Julie Russell is noted for her work on infrastructure projects.

Roythornes Solicitors regularly advises large developers, landowners, and local authorities, focusing on the housebuilding sector, and also assists with strategic site promotions and planning consent issues. Ben Arrowsmith provides ‘consistently excellent advice’ concerning small and large-scale multi-phase developments, acting for both national and local housebuilding clients. Enforcement work, infrastructure issues, and Section 106 planning agreements are all elements of Louise Clifton’s workload. Shruti Trivedi departed from the practice in January 2024.

The East Midlands Shoosmiths LLP planning team routinely assists large national housebuilders with the full spectrum of planning issues, ranging from planning applications to advising on potential risks of legal challenges. Will Thomas leads the team and is a well-regarded planning solicitor who can assist with appeals, CPOs, and site promotions. Tim Willis has niche planning litigation expertise, and has recently brought cases before the Court of Appeal.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP advises on significant infrastructure developments and complex schemes. Team head Paul Maile has considerable expertise in planning applications concerning infrastructure in the water and energy sectors, while Laura-Beth Hutton handles Development of Consent Orders, and Karen Mutton’s varied practice centres on the renewable energy sector. Duncan Williams and Kate Radford are also key members of the team.

Howes Percival LLP handles work for national housebuilders, land promoters, and various corporate commercial clients, and Paul Hunt is known for securing planning permissions, promoting major SUEs, and handling High Court cases. Robert Starr specialises in health and safety matters, advising fire consultancies nationwide. Chris May departed in January 2024.