Planning
UK Bar Guide 2025 : London (Bar)
Band 4
Email address
[email protected]Contact number
(020) 7797 8400Chambers Review
Six Pump Court is well regarded for planning work in both advisory and litigation contexts, with an affinity for matters that overlap with related disciplines such as regulatory and environmental law. Barristers at the set represent all manner of clients in the planning world, including private entities, such as developers, infrastructure providers and landowners, and public bodies, such as a number of London boroughs and other local authorities. An interviewee states: "The set has a very broad range of barristers with experience of planning, health and safety and environmental law matters." Another source adds: "The set has no difficulty handling matters of great complexity in planning, environmental and general public law matters." This year, a work highlight for the set is appearing for Christ Hospital School in a planning inquiry related to the provision of sports facilities.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"The clerks are highly professional and responsive."
"The clerks are very personable and efficient in their role."
"The clerks are very responsive and engage proactively with instructing solicitors."
"First junior clerk Ryan Barrow always ensures that we are well supported and also makes you feel very welcome when visiting chambers."
"The clerks are highly professional and responsive."
"The clerks are very personable and efficient in their role."
"The clerks are very responsive and engage proactively with instructing solicitors."
"First junior clerk Ryan Barrow always ensures that we are well supported and also makes you feel very welcome when visiting chambers."
Notable Practitioners
Anne Williams receives praise for her consistently high-quality client service as well as her keen legal skills. As a barrister, qualified planner and regular inspector at village green inquiries, she is able to apply her extensive experience to high-profile and complex cases of all types. She represents developers and public authorities and has experience in cases that involve sensitive issues surrounding government and local government policy.
"Anne is an exceptional senior junior barrister whose knowledge and expertise are extensive at every stage of the process."
"Anne impresses with her grasp of the facts and how she gets to grips with the cases."
Mark Beard is known for his holistic planning practice that covers residential, retail and leisure development, as well as matters of enforcement and planning policy. He has experience with diverse technical cases in the sector, including those involving housing supply, mixed-use schemes and development management issues. He also has substantial expertise in bringing legal challenges to the High Court and the Court of Appeal and is recognised for his aptitude in the use of injunctions.
"Mark does the job really well in a fair and objective way. He is reasonable and gets the result he wants as a consequence."
"Mark is very industrious and is a hard-working individual."
Giles Atkinson is recognised for his work for local authorities, covering both advice on planning matters and representation in public inquiries. He can draw on a decade of experience working as a town planner and has represented councils in numerous cases relating to urban regeneration projects. He has specialist expertise in planning enforcement, including associated POCA issues.
"Giles gets right to the heart of the key issues and his advice and support help to prepare a robust case."
"Giles is extremely approachable and, most importantly, proficient in how he executes his task."
"Giles is very well prepared and advocates effectively."
"Giles is very effective in cross-examination, demonstrates detailed knowledge of the case and methodically picks the case apart."
Megan Thomas KC makes regular appearances in complex judicial reviews and planning inquiries. She frequently advises on Local Plans, as well as compulsory purchase matters and has additional expertise in planning enforcement cases.
"Megan is really incisive. She thinks about things carefully and she is a joy to work with."
"Megan is very calm and knowledgeable; you feel comfortable ringing them up to ask for advice."
William Upton KC leads the chambers' planning group. He has over 20 years of experience in the field at his command. He represents both developers and local authorities and also frequently engages with planning policy. He is called upon by LPAs to advise on core strategies and also has the technical nous to handle niche cases, especially those with environmental overlap.
"William has demonstrated that he has expert knowledge in Local Planning issues."