Andrew advises clients in relation to all aspects of rural property and has acted in the sale and purchase of many large farms and estates, sporting estates and agricultural and residential rural property portfolios.

His particular area of expertise lies in acting for landowners in the grant of options and leases to renewable energy operators. Andrew has acted for landowners in relation to Solar PV and wind farm development agreements, on anaerobic digestion projects and on options and leases of battery storage facilities.

Andrew advises on the grant of and on issues arising from agricultural tenancies, commercial leases, covenants and easements. Andrew routinely acts for landowning clients on complex conditional sale contracts, overage agreements, option agreements and promotion agreements on the sale of rural landholdings for residential or commercial development.

Helen has notable experience in relation to highways law, public rights of way, town and village green, minerals & waste planning law, flooding & drainage, and major infrastructure projects.

Helen also has significant experience advising on of all aspects of minerals and waste planning matters; including large scale quarry and waste development (including Energy from Waste infrastructure), judicial review, review of minerals permissions, planning policy and enforcement matters, in addition to over 10 years experience advising planning committee Members.

Helen has significant experience advising local highway authorities in respect of operational and strategic highway issues, including the drafting and negotiation of associated highways agreements under the Highways Act 1980 and providing in respect of major infrastructure development schemes.

ames is a specialist in planning and infrastructure matters. He has particular expertise in the housebuilder sector and has a successful track record of acting for national and regional housebuilders, registered providers and local authorities.

James practice includes:

• Drafting and negotiating section 106 agreements
• Drafting and negotiating infrastructure agreements 
• Reviewing and advising on planning applications
• Advising on planning appeals
• Advising on applications for judicial review
• Carrying out planning due diligence
• Preparing and submitting applications to stop up / divert highways
• Advising on Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)
• Advising on, and challenging, nominations of assets of community value
• Advising on common land and town or village greens.

Sarah specialises in the environmental and planning aspects of project consenting, regulatory compliance, real estate, commercial and corporate transactions, and wider sustainability and governance. The depth and breadth of her practice has been recognised through the award of both Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv) and Chartered Waste Manager (MCIWM) status.

Her experience in environmental impact and Habitats Regulations assessments for infrastructure projects includes on and offshore wind farms, waste facilities, transport schemes, gas and electricity power, urban development and tourism schemes. Sarah is experienced in working in multi-disciplinary teams and in a variety of roles to deliver client objectives efficiently and effectively.

Sarah specialises in town and country planning law, advising on both contentious and non-contentious matters. Sarah acts for local authorities and developers. Prior to joining WBD Sarah was Lead Legal Specialist and Monitoring Officer for Guildford Borough Council and managed a team of lawyers across a range of disciplines. Sarah also spent a number of years at the London Borough of Hillingdon where she was a Principal Planning Solicitor.

Sarah has been involved in large projects that have required co-ordination and cross working across a range of departments and areas of experience and due to Sarah's extensive local government experience, she is able to offer advice to clients (both private and public) whilst utilising her understanding of the competing priorities, conflicts and political backdrop that is often present in planning and highway matters.

Umi is an Associate and joined the Planning and Infrastructure team in August 2021 and prior to this was working within public sector in-house legal departments where she undertook her legal training and post qualification practice. Her experience includes a varied remit that is typical of an in-house Solicitor with specialist knowledge in all aspects of planning, including enforcement, advising at planning committee, defending judicial review claims, highways agreements, traffic regulation orders and public rights of way.

She has experience of acting for a wide range of clients in both the private and public sector. Umi's practice regularly involves advising on planning due diligence, DCO protective provisions, complex planning agreements and related highway agreements, ad hoc planning advice, highways issues, rights of way and traffic regulation order aspects of major development schemes.