Rory O'Connor

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 acquisition, due diligence and risk advice, retail planning, land fill, geotechnical and contaminated land matters, prosecutions, enforcement and water law.

Rory primarily acts for private developers and institutional clients, but more recently has worked closely with state government clients and authorities on a number of large scale infrastructure, transport and housing projects. He is passionate about planning and environmental issues in his community and he works closely with his clients to develop strategies that mitigate risk; save them time and money; and achieve outstanding results. Rory provides timely, strategic, commercially-minded advice with a focus on practical outcomes and solutions.

Rory is a skilled advocate and he regularly appears in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), before Planning Panels Victoria and in prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Court of Victoria. Rory has demonstrated ability in effectively engaging with parties to resolve disputes quickly and efficiently to achieve the best outcome for his clients.