Expertise

Advises on projects including development, finance and management, development control and environmental advice, infrastructure, port development, operation, regulation and renewable projects particularly in relation to marine, coastal and other sensitive locations.

Experience

• Acting for the port authorities in the promotion of statutory harbour revision orders, for works including advice on stakeholder consultation programmes
• Acting alongside a UK port from inception to inquiry in connection with the formulation and planning policy applicable to all future operation and expansion in the emerging development plan
• Advising in relation to various projects on the development control regimes and statutory order procedures under the Transport and Works Act, Harbours Act and private/local Acts of Parliament and the interrelationship with permitted development rights, nature conservation designations and environmental assessment requirements
• Advising a municipal port authority in connection with a proposal for the appointment of a private sector operator
• Advised consultants to an overseas government on the tender for and proposed development by way of a BOT concession of a container terminal on a greenfield site as an extension to existing port facilities
• Advised a port authority on the proposed development by way of a concession of a ro-ro freight and passenger terminal, involving the preparation and negotiation of interlinked, multi-party development, leasing, operating and marine agreements
• Advised a UK port on the management and expansion of its substantial estate, comprising close to 1,000 hectares of industrial accommodation, including dealing with all lettings, developments, acquisitions and advising in relation to zoning and environmental matters, rent review, dilapidations, forfeiture and other management issues and dispute resolution
• Acted for the purchaser on the privatisation of a former naval base and its development as a commercial port, including substantial due diligence and devising contractual arrangements to meet the requirements of government claw back
• Advised a port authority on the implemention arrangements for the establishment of the first UK prison vessel of modern times
• Prepared and negotiated agreements for the establishment of a towage and ancillary harbour services provider at a UK commercial port
• Advised on the establishment under a concession of a bunkering facility, involving Crown land acquisition and related leasehold interests
• Acted in connection with the establishment of a new cable laying base at a UK port, including construction/development agreements, lease and storage arrangements and connected commercial agreements
• Advised a major UK port in relation to a £30 million rail link to connect the port's dock facilities to the national rail network assisted, in part, by a record-breaking freight facilities grant of £15.5 million awarded by the Government
• Advised the developer in an appeal against the refusal of planning permission for an extension to a major UK port through a public inquiry involving significant economic, environmental, planning policy and technical issues and evidence and multiple planning obligations and conditions
• Advised a large privately owned waste business on the development of a £100m energy from waste plant including construction/engineering documents; complex land leasing structures; waste and renewables agreements; equity and project debt arrangements; and planning and environmental issues
• Advised a developer on the development and other consents needed for the installation of wind turbines on industrial premises, producing power for both on-site use and supply to the grid
• Advised the landlord on development and letting of a gas-fired power station, including agreements with operator, statutory undertakers and other landowners and complex site assembly issues
• Mounted statutory challenges (judicial review) to the adoption of local development (zoning) plans including consideration of zoning policy, Green Belt issues and local authority jurisdiction, instigating proceedings and achieving a successful settlement
• Instigated the judicial review of the UK Government's interpretation of a EU Environmental Directive and achieved a reference to the European Court of Justice, involving the consideration of the interpretation of the Directive, the assessment of extensive zoning, environmental and other applicable regulatory regimes.  Continued liaison with KMG throughout the process and implementation of the directive
• Advised a leading professional services organisation on the pre-let of new London headquarters building to be situated next to the new GLA building on the banks of the Thames adjacent to Tower Bridge and significant Birmingham office relocation including connected exit arrangements and new turnkey accommodation by way of a pre-let
• Advised the borrower on all aspects of an £65 million refinancing for a UK industrial, including 'evergreen' term loan and revolving facilities, fixed and floating security over assets and income and the provision of a certificate on title for a large and valuable real estate portfolio

Professional

Stephenson Harwood, lawyer, 1989-1997
Landwell, 1997-2000, partner 1998
Tite & Lewis, partner, 2000- 2004
LG, partner 2004 to date