Environment & Planning
Asia-Pacific Guide 2025 : Australia
Band 2
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
+61 2 9230 4000About
Provided by Allens
Allens advises on all aspects of compliance with and enforcement of environment and planning laws. We support clients from front-end project and approvals related advice through to representation at all stages of the dispute resolution process.
Our environment and planning team works closely with other areas of the firm including resources, property, energy, finance, corporate, litigation, native title and infrastructure as well as clients' environmental consultants and planners to ensure a seamless approach to preparation of applications and appeals. This is highly valued by our clients, who rely on our environment and planning practice to service their needs from both within our group, and by drawing on the skills of other teams.
Over the past year, we have been involved in some of the country's most significant infrastructure projects in the project development phase (both greenfield sites and expansions) and operational phase. This means we regularly work alongside other teams in helping major project proponents to navigate environmental and planning approval pathways, land access arrangements and regulatory compliance matters as well as any procurement process. Our clients involved us in their most strategic projects as we continue to provide proven strategies for pollution, licensing, contaminated land, waste management and environmental degradation issues. We regularly act for land acquisition disputes and contamination matters, including EPA enforcement action.
Chambers Review
The Allens practice coordinates expertise from across the firm to support a comprehensive range of planning and environment requirements relevant to high-profile energy, mining, infrastructure and residential projects. The firm also stands out for its representation of blue-chip national and international clients and governmental agencies and for its cutting-edge climate change expertise. Allen's team is frequently called upon to advise on substantial environment disputes as well as to assist on advisory matters.
Work Highlights
- Allens advised and represented Melbourne Water in relation to its role as a determining referral authority and floodplain catchment authority in the context of a merits appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Allens have a mature team of highly-skilled planning and environment lawyers. They are incredibly easy to deal with and are particularly good at advising on novel or unusual issues."
"Allens work is precise, factual and timely with respect to the matters being conducted. They get matters dealt with correctly first time, every time."
"Allens have a mature team of highly-skilled planning and environment lawyers. They are incredibly easy to deal with and are particularly good at advising on novel or unusual issues."
"Allens work is precise, factual and timely with respect to the matters being conducted. They get matters dealt with correctly first time, every time."
Notable Practitioners
Bill McCredie is based in Brisbane, where he is recognised for his ability to handle both contentious and advisory environment and planning mandates for clients engaged in resources and infrastructure projects.
"Bill is a commercially-minded advisor, who provides great insight into the complex web of approval processes."
Felicity Rourke is based in Sydney and often acts for corporate clients in environmental disputes arising from project developments or upgrade works.
Jillian Button regularly acts for energy and resources sector clients on both advisory and dispute-related mandates, and is also active on climate change issues. She is based in Melbourne.
Rosanne Meurling is based in Brisbane and maintains a busy practice, largely focused on the provision of advice to public and private sector players involved in urban and infrastructure development projects in Queensland. Her expertise covers both advisory and contentious briefs.
"Rosanne has great industry insight and knowledge, and gives very thorough advice."
"She is a highly astute legal services professional and a pleasure to deal with."
Rebecca Pleming is a partner in Allen's Sydney office, where she advises on development consents and planning appeals for large infrastructure and real estate projects.
"Her technical knowledge of environment and planning law is very impressive but I am most drawn to working with Rebecca because of her way of working."