Best Lawyers in Australia for Planning and Environmental Law
Select a location from the list below to find the best legal talent for your needs.
Cities
Michael Astill is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Construction / Infrastructure Law, Government Practice, Litigation, Planning and Environmental Law and Real Property Law. Michael, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Greg Tobin is a Principal at Harwood Andrews, and practice group leader in the area of Planning, Environment and Local Government. Greg acts for local government, developers and private clients advising on a broad range of commercial, residential and infrastructure projects. Greg’s focus is on the provision of practical and commercial advice concerning the statutory and strategic planning processes. He regularly appears on behalf of his clients before the Planning and Environment List o...
Craig is a planning and environment Partner in our National Property and Development team. He is experienced in all areas of planning, development, environment, contaminated land, heritage, water, pollution, waste, compulsory acquisition, and workplace health and safety law. Craig is also experienced in the preparation and conduct of litigation in the NSW Land & Environment Court and other specialist Courts and Tribunals across Australia. In addition, Craig has significant expertise in AF...
Meg is a Partner in the Hall & Wilcox Property and Projects team, specialising in planning and environment law. She has over 20 years’ experience advising clients in the government, retail, residential, health, industrial, water and energy sectors. She advises on environmental and planning approvals, liabilities, and statutory regulation for major infrastructure, property developments and commercial transactions. A significant component of her practice involves working with clients ...
Brin is a leading junior barrister with wide ranging expertise in crime, regulatory proceedings, inquiries and professional disciplinary proceedings. Her clients have included major corporations and executives, federal and state government agencies and directors of prosecutions, professionals and their insurers. Brin acts for corporations and individuals in Class 5 Land and Environment Court proceedings and is listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in Australia for Planning and Environment Law...
Anna Sinclair is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Planning and Environmental Law. Anna, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Anna is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Harrison specialises in the areas of commercial law, property law, planning and environmental law, public law, and professional negligence. He regularly appears, led and unled, in the NSW Court of Appeal, Supreme Court, and Land and Environment Court. Some of his recent appellate cases include Lahoud v Willoughby Council [2024] HCASL 287 (led by B Walker SC), Lahoud v Willoughby Council [2024] NSWCA 163 (led by A Galasso SC), Narraport Woollahra Holdings Pty Ltd v Ice Box Liquor Pty Ltd [2024...
Katharine is an environment and planning lawyer with experience in development, compliance, local government and administrative law. She acts for both public and private sector clients including the state government, local councils, developers and individuals. Katharine provides pragmatic and strategic advice on matters spanning planning and environmental law. She has carriage of a wide range of litigation in the Land and Environment Court of NSW, regularly appearing as a solicitor advocate, ...
Katherine Mortimer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Planning and Environmental Law. Katherine, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Katherine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Jessica is a NSW Law Society accredited specialist in planning and environment law, with extensive experience advising and acting for government and private clients. Jessica has built a career advising on complex environmental and planning matters, including development pathways, compulsory acquisition, contamination, and environmental controls. Jessica practices mainly in the Class 1, 3, and 5 jurisdictions of the NSW Land and Environment Court, and regularly provides expert guidance on navi...
Matt Harker is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Planning and Environmental Law. Matt, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Matt is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Aaron Shrimpton is a top attorney recognised by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Planning and Environmental Law. Aaron, who practices law in Geelong, Australia, has been recognised since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Aaron is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
Amara is a Senior Associate in the Planning and Environment, Local Government and Public Sector Team at Harwood Andrews. Amara specialises in statutory planning, strategic planning, environment protection, heritage, and transport planning matters, and regularly acts for both public and private sector clients. Amara has legal advocacy experience in a wide range of matters before the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, Planning Panels Victoria, Advisory Committees, and the Supreme Cour...
Our Methodology
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Our methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical area and legal practice area.
The Process
Best Lawyers employs a sophisticated, conscientious, rational, and transparent survey process designed to elicit meaningful and substantive evaluations of the quality of legal services. Our belief has always been that the quality of a peer review survey is directly related to the quality of the voters.