Best Lawyers in Australia for Planning and Environmental Law

Fraser Bell leads the group focusing on all aspects of environmental and planning law, climate change, and contaminated land. Fraser has extensive experience in the industrial and commercial property industry and regularly advises on environmental aspects of property acquisitions and disposals. He also advises on major development projects, construction financing, management of property portfolios, and leasing. Fraser focuses on providing pragmatic, solution-oriented, commercial advice on all...

Adrian’s practice is focused on and specialises in causes of action in the Land and Environment Court. Adrian also appears in the Supreme Court and other Courts and Tribunals in New South Wales, Tasmania and the ACT in Land Law causes of action, and also in the New South Wales Court of Appeal in Land Law appeals. A significant component of work undertaken in the Land and Environment Court is in the Administrative Law jurisdiction (Class 4 judicial review). Adrian is regularly briefed in...

Tom has expertise across the firm’s practice areas of property development, town planning, infrastructure and projects, pollution licensing and environmental approvals, water and natural resources, land valuation and compensation for compulsory acquisition, liquor licensing, real property and local government and administrative law. Having spent nearly 15 years practicing exclusively in these areas, Tom is widely recognised as a leader in the field. He has advised on a vast spectrum of ...

16 years of experience at the Bar, and a total of 27 years as a specialist in environmental, planning, mining and associated areas of property law. Listed as either a leading or recommended barrister in the environmental and planning area in the “Doyle’s Guide” for the past nine years. He has also been listed on the Best Lawyers list in the areas on environmental, property and water law, including for the current year 2023- 2024. Complementing his specialist practice in envi...

James is Partner in our Planning and Environment practices with a reputation for exceptional advice across the areas of planning and development approvals, planning litigation and dispute resolution, infrastructure, land valuation and the compulsory acquisition or resumption of land. James has over 20 years’ experience advising developers, local government and State government authorities on all aspects of front-end and litigious planning and environment law including for major property...

Meg is a Partner in the Hall & Wilcox Property and Projects team, specialising in planning and environment law. She has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in the government, retail, residential, health, industrial, water and energy sectors. She advises on environmental and planning approvals, liabilities, and statutory regulation for major infrastructure, property developments and commercial transactions. A significant component of her practice involves working with clients ...

Sarah is a Partner in our Planning and Environment practice and offers extensive experience in the areas of planning approvals, litigation and dispute resolution, together with many years of experience and a keen interest in environmental legislation and policy. Sarah provides front end advisory services, including project scoping, strategic planning advice and due diligence, through to representing stakeholders in planning and environment litigation, and assisting clients with environmental ...

Kate is a Principal at Harwood Andrews in the Planning, Environment and Local Government team. She recently joined Harwood Andrews from a national law firm where she was a Senior Associate in the Public Law Group, specialising in planning and environment law. She was admitted to legal practice in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from Deakin University. Kate acts for both government and private clients in metropolitan and regional Victoria. She regularly appears in a variety of planning m...

Rory has over 10 years’ experience in planning and environmental law and was recognised in 2016 as a “Rising Star” in Planning and Environment, and again in 2018 as a Recommended Town Planning & Development Lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession . Rory has a focus on major projects and infrastructure and large scale infill and growth area development projects. He has experience in development approvals across a broad scale, compulsory land a...

Julius Skinner is one of Western Australia’s leading planning and environment lawyers, advising clients throughout all stages of the planning and environmental approval processes. He has acted for clients across all industry sectors in respect of planning & subdivision approvals, environmental permits, Works Approvals & Licences, land acquisition & compensation, heritage, contaminated sites and all forms of regulatory compliance. He has conducted numerous State Administrativ...

Craig is a planning and environment Partner in our National Property and Development team. He is experienced in all areas of planning, development, environment, contaminated land, heritage, water, pollution, waste, compulsory acquisition, and workplace health and safety law. Craig is also experienced in the preparation and conduct of litigation in the NSW Land & Environment Court and other specialist Courts and Tribunals across Australia. In addition, Craig has significant expertise in AF...

Brendan is an experienced major projects lawyer working in the area of planning, environment, mining and renewable energy. Brendan has acted for a range of resource clients, advising them on matters ranging from approvals for greenfield projects, climate change litigation, mining lease processes, native title and water licensing. Brendan’s practice covers energy and resources projects in both New South Wales and Queensland where he is currently acting in groundbreaking climate change li...

Greg Tobin is a Principal at Harwood Andrews, and practice group leader in the area of Planning, Environment and Local Government. Greg acts for local government, developers and private clients advising on a broad range of commercial, residential and infrastructure projects. Greg’s focus is on the provision of practical and commercial advice concerning the statutory and strategic planning processes. He regularly appears on behalf of his clients before the Planning and Environment List o...

Ashley’s extensive experience is Australia wide and covers mining, oil and gas, extractive industry, electricity, waste management, wine making, brewing, hospitality, the automotive industry, telecommunications, tyre making, petroleum refining, steel making and many other industries, businesses, government and local government bodies. Ashley advises resources and energy companies across Australia on all aspects of project development including regulatory approvals, tenements and environ...

Brin is a leading junior barrister with wide ranging expertise in crime, regulatory proceedings, inquiries and professional disciplinary proceedings. Her clients have included major corporations and executives, federal and state government agencies and directors of prosecutions, professionals and their insurers. Brin acts for corporations and individuals in Class 5 Land and Environment Court proceedings and is listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia for Planning and Environment Law...

Harrison specialises in the areas of commercial law, property law, planning and environmental law, public law, and professional negligence. He regularly appears, led and unled, in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Land and Environment Court. Some of his recent appellate cases include Lahoud v Willoughby Council [2024] HCASL 287 (led by B Walker SC), Lahoud v Willoughby Council [2024] NSWCA 163 (led by A Galasso SC), Narraport Woollahra Holdings Pty Ltd v Ice Box Liquor Pty Ltd [2024...

Katharine is an environment and planning lawyer with experience in development, compliance, local government and administrative law. She acts for both public and private sector clients including the state government, local councils, developers and individuals. Katharine provides pragmatic and strategic advice on matters spanning planning and environmental law. She has carriage of a wide range of litigation in the Land and Environment Court of NSW, regularly appearing as a solicitor advocate, ...

Joanna advises and acts for major Australian companies and individuals in all areas of planning, development, environment, contaminated land, heritage, water, pollution, waste, and compulsory acquisition. She has a wide range of litigation experience acting for both consent authorities and property developers across a range of development matters, dispossessed landowners in compulsory acquisition matters, and in judicial review and civil enforcement matters in the Land and Environment Court a...