![Deborah Sharples](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/10/133-Website-Image-Deborah-Sharples-b-hive.jpg)
Planning and environment
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
![Deborah Sharples](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/10/133-Website-Image-Deborah-Sharples-b-hive.jpg)
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
![Jay Mehta](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2021/08/Jay-Mehta-image.png)
Howes Percival LLP
Partner
Jay is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival. He is experienced in all areas of planning law and supports his clients with the delivery of strategic residential development including large urban extensions and allocations, in addition to commercial, agricultural and renewable energy projects. Recommended in the Legal 500, Jay’s clients include national house builders, promoters and local planning authorities who describe him as having “excellent judgement and very good attention to detail”.
Over the years, Jay has accrued significant experience in judicial review and planning appeals. He has defended countless developers and local planning authorities against challenges to planning permissions, with continued success in the High Court, Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. Many of these cases are now considered to be leading authorities on matters such as Environmental Impact Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. Jay is therefore relied on by many applicants and local planning authorities to guide them through the application process to ensure planning permissions may be secured robustly and the development may proceed without delay.
Jay also has considerable experience in drafting complex section 106 agreements and highways agreements for schemes across the country, and provides regular advice on other matters such as enforcement, certificates of lawfulness, compulsory purchase, town and village greens, listed buildings consent and permitted development rights.
![Tom Newcombe](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/133_website_image_Tom-Newcombe-v2-b-hive.png)
![Amy Richardson](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/Amy-Richardson-Planning-Law-Small.jpg)
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
![Jamie Childs](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/10/Jamie-Childs.jpg)
Howes Percival LLP
Jamie is a specialist planning solicitor at Howes Percival, with a particular focus on securing legally robust and deliverable planning permissions for clients.
Described as a “rising star” in the Legal 500 (2022), Jamie’s experience includes advising on a number of significant, high profile and contentious residential development projects. Jamie also regularly advises on a wide range of commercial, energy and retail projects.
Jamie is regularly instructed by national and regional housebuilders, land promoters, investors, landowners and local planning authorities.
Jamie has a proven track record of negotiating complex planning agreements on some of the largest development projects in the region. Jamie also has substantial experience in judicial review matters and in providing specialist advice on Environmental Impact Assessment, permitted development rights, highways matters, rights of way, assets of community value and town and village greens.
Jamie’s experience also covers advising on a range of licensing law matters. Jamie has particular experience in advising clients on applications for new or varied premises licenses. Jamie’s combined expertise in both planning and licensing matters means he often provides valuable practical and strategic advice to developers, owners and operators of licensed premises.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.