Best Lawyers in Australia for Planning and Environmental Law
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Wendy brings more than 25 years of experience in the development industry, first as a town planner and later as a planning and environment lawyer. She advises developers, government agencies and resource sector clients on complex planning and infrastructure matters, with expertise spanning planning litigation, statutory and strategic planning, infrastructure planning and agreements, and cultural heritage. Wendy is recognised for her ability to deliver exceptional planning outcomes through str...
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 ...
Rory has over 10 years’ experience in planning and environmental law and was recognised in 2016 as a “Rising Star” in Planning and Environment, and again in 2018 as a Recommended Town Planning & Development Lawyer in the Doyle’s Guide to the Australian Legal Profession . Rory has a focus on major projects and infrastructure and large scale infill and growth area development projects. He has experience in development approvals across a broad scale, compulsory land a...
Kate is a Principal at Harwood Andrews in the Planning, Environment and Local Government team. She recently joined Harwood Andrews from a national law firm where she was a Senior Associate in the Public Law Group, specialising in planning and environment law. She was admitted to legal practice in 2003 and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Law from Deakin University. Kate acts for both government and private clients in metropolitan and regional Victoria. She regularly appears in a variety of planning m...
Megan Hawley is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Land Use and Zoning Law and Planning and Environmental Law. Megan, who practices law in Sydney, Australia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Megan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
Xander Nguyen-Meachem is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Planning and Environmental Law. Xander, who practices law in Geelong, Australia, has been recognized since 2027. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Xander is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.
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...
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.
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.
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.