James O'Connor

Practice Areas

James advises infrastructure owners and operators on the consenting, delivery and operation of major infrastructure developments in key sectors including Transport and Energy.

James is a Partner in our National Infrastructure & Consenting Planning team in our London office. James is also enrolled by the UK Parliament authorities as a Roll A Parliamentary Agent and, as such, is qualified to promote and oppose Private and Hybrid Bills in the UK Parliament. He was previously a member of the Rees & Freres Parliamentary team.

James has experience advising the owners and operators of major infrastructure in the Transport and Energy sectors on all aspects of the development and delivery of their strategies to consent to new infrastructure projects. In particular, James' role focuses on helping such owners and operators design and deliver their strategies for securing consent for new major infrastructure projects through the preparation and promotion of TWA Orders, Harbours Orders, Development Consent Orders and Hybrid Bills including advising on the preparation and delivery of cases in support of such developments at public hearings.

In this role, James leads in advising on all aspects issues that are key to consenting major infrastructure projects including compulsory purchase and compensation, environmental issues, highway law, carrying out operational development with the benefit of permitted development rights, listed building and related town and country planning consent issues, open space and other issues affecting the implementation of Transport and Energy infrastructure projects.

James also supports clients on the delivery of secured consents for new major infrastructure projects, therefore, supporting clients through the entire process of designing and delivering these infrastructure projects. James' support continues by helping clients use the statutory powers they have secured in the day-to-day operation of their infrastructure.

In this role, James has acted for major infrastructure operators across the UK including those involved in the development and operation of rail, metro and tramway systems, Port operations and energy generation and transmission systems.

Education