Planning Unplugged

Adam is a solicitor in our Planning and Infrastructure team. He joined the team in September 2022 having trained and qualified with the firm. During his training, Adam has gained a breadth of commercial experience having completed a secondment with a global retailer. 

During training in the Planning and Infrastructure team, Adam assisted with the drafting of numerous section 106 agreements, carried out planning due diligence for small and large projects across the country, researched into niche areas of planning law including Bio Diversity Net Gain, Marine Net Gain, Community Infrastructure Levy's, Town and Village Greens, Scheduled Monument Consent and Consecrated Land. Adam also gained experience working on Transport and Works Act Orders and assisted the team with large scale Development Consent Orders.

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.

Dana is a solicitor in our Planning and Infrastructure team. She joined the team in September 2023 having trained and qualified with the firm.

During her training, Dana has had experience working on secondment for a public sector client, assisting their in house legal team.

Dana supports the Planning & Infrastructure Team advising clients (private and public sector) on regeneration projects, compulsory purchase orders (CPOs), planning applications, planning agreements and Transport and Works Act Order matters.

She also supports the wider Real Estate team by carrying out planning due diligence when required as part of property transactions.

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.

Lorrae has extensive experience in the UK advising clients in relation to contentious, transactional and advisory planning and environmental matters from within the public and private sectors in the UK. Prior to that Lorrae, who is also qualified in Australia, worked on a number of contentious planning and environmental matters for developer and local authority clients in Brisbane, Australia.

Lorrae has in-depth expertise in advising clients on the promotion of infrastructure projects with a particular focus on the transport sector. Lorrae also advises clients on a range of other matters including planning and environmental liabilities during real estate transactions, compulsory acquisition, complex section 106 agreements and highway agreements. 

Nicola advises developer and local authority clients on a range of infrastructure planning matters including highways and renewable energy projects in England, Scotland and Wales. She has worked on a number of Development Consent Orders, advised on aspects of Developments of National Significance and also has experience of costs claims in the context of Compulsory Purchase Orders. Nicola regularly advises on statutory planning agreements (s38, s104, s278) as well as on s106 agreements. She has a particular interest in heritage-related matters and specialises in advising on issues relating to good design.

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.

Tom drafts, negotiates and advises in relation to site acquisition documents including conditional and un-conditional purchases; development agreements; and joint venture arrangements. He advises developers, investors and registered providers as to suitability of development sites. Tom specialises in the acquisition of residential and mixed used development sites for private sector developers; large-scale investors, major national PLC house builders; and registered providers. He regularly advises on complex reports on title and site assembly matters. Tom regularly deals with planning conditional contracts; joint venture and development agreements.

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.