Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Planning - London (Bar)

3
Band 3

What the Team is Known For

39 Essex Chambers is notable for its broad geographical reach and its substantial base of both national and international clients, including individual residents, developers, private firms and government departments. The planning team's recent work includes R (Save Stonehenge) v Secretary of State for Transport, a case concerning the construction of a road tunnel to replace the surface level A303 at Stonehenge. One source says: "39 Essex has an excellent spread of skills and experience throughout the chambers." Further respondents state the set provides "exemplary support and advice".

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

1
James Strachan
1
Band 1

James Strachan KC is a tactically and technically minded KC who has won a strong reputation both at the Bar and among his clients for his work on major developments. His infrastructure résumé includes a substantial appointment promoting the HS2 rail project for the government. He is also well versed in the housing, retail, highways and urban design fields. Other notable work relates to the development of prominent heritage sites.

He is always well considered and incisive in his opinion and strategy, and in complex cases he is invaluable.

James is incredibly effective and has a great intellect.

James Strachan is a charming, skilful and highly effective advocate.

Richard Harwood
1
Richard Harwood
1
Band 1

Richard Harwood KC is a silk whose reputation and profile are fast on the rise. He acts for developers and landowners, as well as government authorities. He has also authored a number of standard texts on planning and environmental law. His practice takes in proposals ranging from energy and infrastructure to high-profile residential and commercial developments.

Richard is very approachable, good with clients, on top of the law and a persuasive advocate.

Richard's expertise in planning matters is incredibly strong and he inspires confidence in his clients.

Richard Harwood is an excellent, experienced advocate who has a forensic eye for detail, is very hard-working and is astute at knowing what to say in court.

He is a pleasure to work with and has strong expertise in matters related to historic buildings and CPOs.

1
Victoria Hutton
1
Band 1

Victoria Hutton is a junior noted for her representation of developers, individual objectors and local authorities in varied planning law cases. She appears at inquiries and planning appeals in the High Court and has led cases as sole counsel in the Court of Appeal. Her experience includes advising on Green Belt development matters and planning policy challenges.

Victoria is an absolutely outstanding barrister who is very hard-working and always has a complete grasp of the case.

Victoria is always accessible and provides an impressive level of expertise.

Victoria is an exceptional junior who has strong expertise and skill in planning matters.

She is a very effective and skilled advocate who has a real understanding of complex matters and provides excellent advice to clients.

Victoria is highly responsive, hard-working and always on top things.

James Burton
2
James Burton
2
Band 2

James Burton is recognised for his expertise in compulsory purchase matters and continues to appear in high-profile cases in both the High Court and Court of Appeal. His expertise in environmental law proves useful in a number of the matters he handles.

James is a pleasure to work with and always demonstrates high professional standards, going above and beyond often in short timeframes.

James's technical knowledge and ability to simplify complex legal matters is outstanding.

2
Jonathan Darby
2
Band 2

Jonathan Darby acts in all aspects of planning processes for domestic and international clients, including landowners, developers, third parties and local authorities. He is also well versed in environmental law, and his practice takes in criminal proceedings relating to planning and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. He works in cases involving CPO and regeneration issues.

He is a strong planning specialist who has a great ability to review high volumes of information very quickly and identify the key issues.

Jonathan is a really bright planning lawyer who has strong knowledge and is very approachable.

Jonathan is intellectually talented and always calm under pressure.

2
Thomas Hill
2
Band 2

Thomas Hill KC concentrates his practice on major infrastructure work over a range of sectors. He has expertise in airports, ports and energy projects, including renewables. He is regularly called upon to promote urban regeneration schemes and strategic land developments. His practice takes in sensitive Green Belt proposals.

Thomas is a very charming and smooth advocate.

3
Christiaan Zwart
3
Band 3

Christiaan Zwart has ability and experience in niche areas, including development finance, DCO infrastructure cases and Community Infrastructure Levy matters, in the last of which he has particular expertise. His client base extends internationally and he is a regular advocate in High Court cases as well as the Lands and Tax Chambers. He fields additional expertise in regeneration, housing and matters pertaining to air quality.

Christiaan is an outstanding barrister who provides clear advice.

4
Andrew Tabachnik KC
4
Band 4

Andrew Tabachnik KC has expertise in residential promotion, regeneration and retail development, among other areas. He is a seasoned advocate in inquiry and High Court scenarios that may involve additional considerations, such as Green Belt impact, compensation or listed buildings. He also frequently appears for big-name developers, as well as local authorities and other interested parties.

Andrew is very responsive in a crisis and provides cool, clear direction.

Andrew is a very methodical advocate who provides excellent strategic advice.

He is a communicative, detail-oriented and technically astute barrister who leaves no stone unturned.

4
Celina Colquhoun
4
Band 4

Celina Colquhoun has a practice with infrastructure cases at its core and has handled a number of matters concerning major projects in the transport sector in particular. She undertakes CPO, waste management and local impact matters, among others. She has been instructed in relation to energy projects of national significance.

Celina is helpful and knowledgeable on planning law matters.

She is hugely personable and an excellent team player.

Celina is a very precise and flexible planning law barrister.

4
Daniel Stedman Jones
4
Band 4

Daniel Stedman Jones is an impressive planning junior who has extensive experience in a full range of planning matters. He has knowledge of planning inquiries, judicial reviews and challenges, especially those related to large-scale developments and infrastructure projects. He has appeared at all levels of court including the Supreme Court.

Daniel is consistently strong in complex issues and has a calm and measured way.

Daniel is great at getting his point across and is always available and accessible.

Daniel is a measured, fiercely bright, responsive and thoroughly charming advocate.

4
Juan Lopez
4
Band 4

Juan Lopez has a well-established planning practice. He regularly appears in enforcement proceedings, appeals and judicial reviews. He has experience acting on matters involving development, access and infrastructure issues and regeneration schemes. He is frequently sought after to act as sole counsel.

Juan is a great barrister who really stands behind the client and is very accurate on the technical details of a case.

Juan is insightful, proactive and a pleasure to work with.

4
Peter Village
4
Band 4

Peter Village KC handles large-scale residential and retail development matters or other cases of substantial size and profile. He has acted successfully for objectors, developers and landowners in examinations, inquiries and appeals. His considerable experience includes numerous matters significant enough for him to be called in by the Secretary of State.

Peter is a passionate advocate with a highly commercial approach.

4
Philippa Jackson
4
Band 4

Philippa Jackson is recognised for her diverse practice, which covers a broad range of planning and environmental matters. She has demonstrated particular prowess in handling high-profile judicial reviews and challenges to planning permissions.

Philippa is a terrific public inquiry advocate who provides clear leadership and works well in a team.

Philippa is able to pick up key industry issues quickly and shows both enthusiasm and a keen eye for detail.

4
Richard Wald
4
Band 4

Richard Wald KC has written extensively on his specialisms of planning, environmental, energy and administrative law. He acts for both public and private clients. He is noted for his contributions to legal periodicals on a range of subjects including environmental matters, nuclear energy and highways law. He acts in cases involving infrastructure and energy projects, as well as those relating to residential development.

He is incredible on his feet, a very quick and agile thinker, and an articulate advocate.

Richard Wald is excellent in his ability to communicate with clients as well as other lawyers.

Richard is a calm and effective advocate who is very approachable and strong in cross-examination.

Stephen Tromans
4
Stephen Tromans
4
Band 4

Stephen Tromans KC is a specialist in energy, environment and planning law. He frequently acts in nuisance claims, judicial reviews, appeals and other instances where his specialisms converge. He is also well versed in international cases, particularly those under EU law. He acts for both local government and developers.

Stephen is a go-to environmental planning lawyer with particular expertise in complex environmental and regulatory matters in relation to natural environment, waste and nuclear fields.

Stephen provides specialist advice, and is knowledgeable and wise as well as calm and measured.

5
John Steel KC
5
Band 5

John Steel KC acts in major infrastructure cases, especially those regarding airports. He is also well versed in all aspects of leisure, retail and residential development matters. He has undertaken work relating to local plans.

An outstanding and creative problem solver, he completely immerses himself in a case.

Katherine Barnes
5
Katherine Barnes
5
Band 5

Katherine Barnes is recognised as a growing presence at the London planning Bar and has demonstrated skill in representing local authorities and developers in a range of planning-related challenges.

Katherine Barnes is always very accessible and has a great grasp of matters.

Katherine provides very clear advice that is client-friendly and easy to understand.

Katherine is a very pragmatic barrister who is personable and easy to work with.

She provides excellent communication and advocacy, and an ability to deliver prompt advice and tailored solutions to clients.

5
Ned Helme
5
Band 5

Ned Helme has extensive experience in planning and environmental matters. He is frequently instructed for his knowledge of local planning and he often acts for local authorities. He has expertise in planning challenges that involve housing and airport expansions, among others.

Ned Helme has a quick, stellar brain and is everything you would want in terms of communication skills.

5
Paul Stinchcombe KC
5
Band 5

Paul Stinchcombe KC handles matters ranging from compensation cases and inquiries to judicial reviews. He has extensive experience of both promoting and opposing large-scale development projects. He advises a range of clients including developers, local authorities and local objectors. He has notable experience in major appellate cases relating to the application of planning legislation.

Paul is a strong silk who provides strategic insight on planning matters to clients.

5
Rose Grogan
5
Band 5

Rose Grogan is noted for her work advising on a broad range of planning matters. She has particular expertise acting for clients on Development Consent Orders, as well as on matters related to offshore wind developments, transport and infrastructure, heritage, educational facilities and more.

Rose is a very personable and adaptive barrister who reads situations very well and brings real intelligence to the cases she works on.

Rose is an excellent junior who is extremely experienced in planning.

She grasps new and complex issues quickly and offers real insight and understanding.

U
Daniel Kozelko
U
Up and Coming

Daniel Kozelko is an up-and-coming junior noted for his work on a range of planning matters including challenges to large infrastructure projects and DCO examinations. He regularly appears in the High Court in planning appeals and judicial reviews.

Daniel is extremely bright, has an ability to grasp huge amounts of technical detail and understands where the risk points lie.

Dan is an excellent, well-prepared professional.

Daniel Kozelko is an outstandingly good barrister who is very bright and has a good sense of what the court is interested in.

U
Sam Fowles
U
Up and Coming

Sam Fowles has a very strong public law practice with a particular focus on complex planning cases. Fowles has experience acting at all levels of court as well as in complex inquiries. He has in-depth knowledge of challenges to enforcement notices, planning permission and alterations issues.

Sam represented us to a very high standard, demonstrating his excellent knowledge and advocacy skills. He was also very accessible and amenable.

Sam is very astute and quickly understands issues. He is able to set out quite complicated issues in a manner which is easy to understand.

Ranked Barristers at
39 Essex Chambers

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

Silks (KC)

London (Bar)

Planning

1
James Strachan KC
1
Band 1
Richard Harwood KC
1
Richard Harwood KC
1
Band 1
2
Thomas Hill KC
2
Band 2
4
Andrew Tabachnik KC
4
Band 4
4
Peter Village KC
4
Band 4
4
Richard Wald KC
4
Band 4
Stephen Tromans KC
4
Stephen Tromans KC
4
Band 4
5
John Steel KC
5
Band 5
5
Paul Stinchcombe KC
5
Band 5

Juniors

London (Bar)

Planning

1
Victoria Hutton
1
Band 1
James Burton
2
James Burton
2
Band 2
2
Jonathan Darby
2
Band 2
3
Christiaan Zwart
3
Band 3
4
Celina Colquhoun
4
Band 4
4
Daniel Stedman Jones
4
Band 4
4
Juan Lopez
4
Band 4
4
Philippa Jackson
4
Band 4
Katherine Barnes
5
Katherine Barnes
5
Band 5
5
Ned Helme
5
Band 5
5
Rose Grogan
5
Band 5
20 of 22 results