A pre-eminent firm for environmental work, Browne Jacobson LLP‘s planning and environment team acts for major public sector and NGO clients. The environmental expertise is well supported by the public law experience of practice head Richard Barlow, who lends his environmental law, judicial review, and risk management knowledge to local authorities and public bodies. With similar public law experience, Laura Hughes is a key name for nature conservation, while Ben Standing also comes recommended for his experience advising on biodiversity net gain, contaminated land, habitats regulations, and marine matters. Andrew Hopkin leads the criminal compliance and regulatory team, where he handles the prosecution of environmental cases, and Helen Gill leads on biodiversity net gain work.

With an increasing portfolio of instructions across a wide range of mandates, including residential-led urban extensions, residential development sites, industrial projects, and brownfield site regeneration, Freeths LLP‘s team handles all aspects of development planning work, spanning, amongst other things, environmental impact assessments and environmental permitting. At the helm of the practice, Paul Brailsford is a key advisor on large-scale mixed-use proposals, contentious residential developments, and retail-led developments. The team is also comprised of Chris May, who fields a broad-reaching planning practice and is relied upon for his expertise on contentious development proposals; Mark Bassett, who handles land promotion, sustainable urban extension, and residential projects; and Louise Burnett, who focuses on the delivery of affordable housing.

Shakespeare Martineau LLP continues to be a chief point of contact for master developers, land promoters, landowners, housebuilders, and local authorities, amongst others, on a diverse planning offering which spans litigation, development, and the negotiation of planning obligations. Spearheading the practice is Paul Wakefield, who is engaged by local authorities and private clients on a wide range of contentious and non-contentious planning matters. Increasingly specialising in build-to-rent developments, Kylie Wesson also advises on judicial review, appeals, and s.106 agreements, while Julie Russell chiefly focuses on major infrastructure projects, where she is relied upon from conception to decision.

Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP‘s planning and infrastructure consenting practice oversees national and regional development projects, including a number of major projects requiring development consent. Spearheading the Midlands team is Laura-Beth Hutton, who has extensive experience handling major development schemes and infrastructure projects, where she chiefly focuses on DCOs. Working across all aspects of planning and consent instructions, Karen Mutton is recommended for her strategic regeneration and infrastructure consenting expertise, whereas Martin Pinnington has recently seen an uptick in his infrastructure practice, where he assists on DCOs and promotions.

Roythornes Solicitors is sought after by developers, landowners, and local authorities for its proficiency across a wide spectrum of planning and development transactions. Benjamin Arrowsmith ‘provides pragmatic solutions to challenges’ within the practice’s core area of housebuilding, acting for housebuilders on small and large multi-phase developments and frequently advising on planning enforcement issues, drafting of s106 agreements, and judicial review. Working alongside him, Anna Standen oversees planning, development, and highway matters, where she has notable experience drafting and negotiating highway and infrastructure agreements. Louise Clifton departed from the team in December 2024.

Shoosmiths LLP handles a diverse stream of planning instructions, with particularly strong engagement with the logistics and warehousing sector and on compulsory purchase offerings. The team is led by the ‘exceptionally reliable and approachable’ Will Thomas, who brings a blend of strategic planning insight and extensive experience in managing planning appeals and High Court challenges. He is well supported by Chloe Mulhall, who assists with judicial review and statutory challenges. Tim Willis left the firm in April 2024.

Under the leadership of Emma Tattersdill, Bexley Beaumont acts on a range of environmental permitting and regulatory compliance matters, with particular activity in waste management. Tattersdill engages closely with individuals and businesses on all aspects of environmental regulation, water resources, and contamination.

Howes Percival LLP is trusted by a number of national housebuilders, land promoters, and commercial clients for planning appeals, enforcement, high court litigation, and development agreement support. As a dual-qualified solicitor and barrister, Paul Hunt is highly proficient in advising on the granting of planning permission, promotions of SUEs, and handling appeals and litigation in courts. The arrival of Marco Mauro from EMW Law LLP in June 2024 expands the team’s diverse offering, with Mauro taking on property matters relating to care homes and housing associations.