Administrative Law or Judicial Review
Licensing
Planning
I am a Queen’s Counsel specialising for the past 20 years in development planning, energy, waste management, environmental law, and judicial review. Based mainly in Belfast, I provide commercially aware advocacy and advice to the development industry throughout the UK and Ireland, my clients including major renewable energy and infrastructure developers, retail, commercial, and industrial interests, airports, ports, waste operators, and house builders. A qualified Mediator, I believe that mediation can perform an important role in resolving planning and environmental disputes, and contribute to public consultation. Areas of work include Renewables, Retail, Industrial, Commercial, Aviation, Transport, Waste, Environment and Public Inquiries.
1987; Bachelor of Laws (1st Class Honours), Queen’s University Belfast
1988; Barrister-at-Law
1998; Law Society/Royal Town Planning Institute Planning Examination
2000; Called to the Bar of Ireland
2006; Queen’s Counsel
2011; SLS Dispute Resolution and Mediation Training
Tutor, Planning Law, Queen’s University, Belfast
Legal Associate of the Royal Town Planning Institute
Affiliate of the Irish Planning Institute
Associate of the Planning & Environment Bar Association, the Specialist Bar Association for Planning, Environment & Local Government
Associate Member and Member of the Planning & Environment Group Committee, NI Renewables Industry Group/Irish Wind Energy
Association Founder Member, past Chair and Committee Member, Environmental and Planning Law Association for Northern Ireland
Chair, Planning Appeals Commission Users Group
Member, Northern Ireland Planning Bar Association
Judicial Review Group Member, UK Environmental Law Association
Various committees of the Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Commercially-aware, specialist advocacy and advice in development planning, energy, waste management and environmental law. Renewable energy development. Energy, infrastructure, aviation, retail, industrial, commercial and residential development. Strategic environmental assessment. Environmental impact assessment. Habitats Directive assessment. Judicial Review. Planning inquiries. Planning appeals. Enforcement appeals. Defending prosecutions. Planning policy analysis. Strategic project direction. Waste management. Environmental licensing and permitting. Regulatory and licensing appeals. Brownfield development and contaminated land. Comprehensive development schemes and urban regeneration. Compulsory purchase and compensation. Recent projects include the all-Ireland North-South Interconnector, wind turbine planning appeals, judicial reviews relating to area plan SEA, Lough Neagh incinerator, John Lewis, Belfast City Airport, Mullaghturk wind farm, & Boucher Place retail.
Judicial Review, Planning and the Environment Planning Online (pending 2014),
Planning and Licensing (pending 2014)
Renewable Energy Update Planning Online 2013
Environmental Assessment Update Planning Online 2011
Environmental Assessment Update Scotland Edition 2011
Planning and Judicial Review SLS Legal Publications (NI) 2009
Planning Appeals Principles Planning Online 2008
Planning Appeals Principles Planning Online 2006
Housing, the Regional Development Strategy and Prematurity: The Commission’s Approach SLS Legal Publications (NI) 2004
Northern Ireland Planning Policy SLS Legal Publications (NI) 2003
Index to Northern Ireland Planning Policy SLS Legal Publications (NI) 2003
The Planning Appeals Commission: Principles of Decision-Making in Appeals, Inquiries and Hearings SLS Legal Publications (NI) 1999