‘Emily Williams is the standout planning partner. If you have any JR procedure issue or need a quick assessment on merits she is the simply the best. She is absolutely great to work with as part of a large or small team and her judgment is exemplary. If I could involve her in all my planning JR cases I would. She has a great attitude and a credit to AG.’

‘Rachael Tattersall was a standout associate in a complex regulatory issue of which there is limited information. She was tactile, pragmatic and straight to the point.’

‘A comprehensive understanding of the sector and our business; Charlotte Scrivens is particularly standout.’

‘Guided by partner Emily Williams, the planning team in Manchester work incredibly effectively together as unit.’

‘Emily Williams is an outstanding planning lawyer who is highly adept at focusing on the optimum outcome for the client to any planning problem.’

‘A really personable, friendly, efficient team. Great sector knowledge and experience of dealing with development schemes.’

‘People are what makes Addleshaw Goddard the excellent law firm that it is. Stuart Wardlaw is very reliable, knowledgeable and approachable. Having worked with Stuart for over 15 years on various projects, I have developed a high level of trust in his work and wouldn’t hesitate to recommend him and his team.’

‘Emily Williams and Matthew Henshaw go above and beyond. They are diligent and hardworking. In this day and age where we might find ourselves struggling with accountability, yet need performance, this team are the exception and will not disappoint.’

‘Richard is personable, friendly and extremely experienced. He deals with complex matters with ease and calmness. Fundamentally it’s a mixture of results achieved and dealing with good people that sets them apart.’

‘Michelle Moss and her team are very well-organised and in many respects provide a very holistic service. Case-specific advice and strategic advice is always provided and the team always work extraordinarily hard to ensure that the best case is put forward on our behalf. The team is phenomenally efficient.’

‘Richard Lloyd and Michelle Moss are both outstanding. Their knowledge is exceptional and their patience is much appreciated.’

‘Excellent and consistent service across the whole planning sector. Eversheds Sutherland are our standout advisors for complex planning advice.’

‘Hayley Gore doesn’t always give me the advice I want to hear – but she always give me the advice I need to hear. Hayley takes on board different views and opinions and then provides the appropriate advice. Extremely helpful and client-friendly.’

‘To channel Tina Turner, Richard Lloyd is ‘simply the best’. That is not only in his primary practice area of planning but also in relation to other tangential areas such as CPO. I would unhesitatingly recommend Richard for any of jobs in which I am currently instructed.’

‘Exceptional experience, particularly with the local authorities relevant to our business. Practical and commercial advice. Keeps the wider strategic picture in view. In addition, Richard’s team is as good as he is.’

‘Richard Lloyd is an exceptionally experienced adviser with a personable approach. He maintains the strategic view whilst ensuring the detail is well-covered. Hayley Gore is a diligent lawyer who responds to pressing demands and difficult challenges exceptionally well. Thoroughly dependable. Clemmie Edgeworth is both sharp on the detail and commercial in her approach to problem solving.’

‘Lisa Tye and Kathryn Jump are both very highly regarded in the North West and beyond. Their service is very personable and proactive.’

‘Shoosmiths consistently provide first-rate advice on all planning matters. They are a company you would want in the trenches with you.’

‘Kathryn Jump and Lisa Tye are both equally fantastic and client friendly. Lisa and Kathryn have the ability to provide complex advice in a client friendly way. Alex Jones provides well thought-out, clear advice in a straightforward manner.’

‘Lisa Tye and Kathryn Jump are both stand-out practitioners with particular knowledge and expertise in compulsory purchase matters.’

‘An extremely strong CPO and CPO compensation practice; calm, clever partners who are cool under pressure even in the midst of very difficult litigation.’

‘Lisa Tye is a standout partner for me – a real pleasure to work with, clients listen to her and she brings the incisive mind and practical pragmatism needed to navigate complex matters.’

‘This is the leading planning team in the North West – providing an outstanding offering in planning and compulsory purchase projects.’

‘Kathryn Jump is a complete star – she has a complete understanding of site promotion and broader plan-making context. She is highly efficient, manages her team well and is superb with clients. She has represented one for the major landowners in the North West in many major applications and transactions.’

‘This team leads in the field; they are hugely experienced, knowledgeable and efficient.’

‘David Harries is a standout partner. He is very practical and commercially aware whilst Olivia Slade is always on top of the case, efficient and effective.’

‘The team has excellent communication skills, always provides high-quality and reliable legal advice, and are comfortable collaborating with a wide-range of different technical consultants on a range of matters.’

‘Mark Turner is a highly competent and very knowledgeable planning lawyer. He gives robust, clear legal advice in a commercial and strategic way. He is a pleasure to work with and I have found him to be excellent at communicating often complex legal issues in a manner that can be understood and acted upon.’

‘Mark Turner is especially standout within the firm. Mark is knowledgeable, very organised and his work is done in a timely manner to a professional standard.’

‘David Harries is tactically astute and knows how the courts work. He inspires confidence that litigation will be conducted efficiently and effectively. Bryony Chambers-Towers is hard working, with an eye for detail.’

‘David Harries is noted for his intelligence and the care and precision with which he provides legal advice.’

‘David Harries stands out – his passion, enthusiasm and overall client care is first-rate. He is technically brilliant and a master tactician in litigation.’

‘The team is led by the very committed and capable Claire Petricca-Riding, and has grown steadily under her leadership. With Claire in charge it will be able to deal with the most substantial matters and will be highly client-focused.’

‘Keith Davidson is one of the most renowned and respected advisers on contaminated land in the country.’

‘Pamela Chesterman and Victoria Tague are both excellent, very good to deal with and very responsive.’

‘Keith Davidson is the number one lawyer amongst all those that I have come across. There is nothing that he doesn’t know and he is a very safe pair of hands in providing advice.’

‘Standout personnel includes Victoria Tague; good at consulting on tax, competition and planning.’

‘Both Claire Petricca-Riding and Keith Davidson are standout individuals. Both have a passion for their practice area, and work well together to create a team full of energy and drive to support clients across their respective practice areas. Claire has created an enviable team in Manchester.’

‘Excellent company and people.’

‘Keith Davidson went above and beyond what was asked from him. He was courteous and polite and very professional.’

‘We found them to be professional, extremely knowledgeable and valued their guidance and advice on our position. They met all deadlines and helped us form a brilliant team of advisers keeping in regular contact so we always knew what was happening and when.’

‘The team were brilliant. I think what makes the individuals stand out is their straightforward and approachable attitude and their dedication to ensuring we were able to put forward the best case possible. They were extremely professional and kept in regular touch with us and updated us at all key points of our case.’

‘Responsiveness and quality of advice.’

‘Alex Round provides direct and clear advice on complex planning and highways matters.’

‘The approachability of this team sets it apart from other firms. The lawyers are friendly and easy to deal whilst also being excellent lawyers.’

‘Melanie Grimshaw is able to grasp the issue at hand every quickly is also responsive.’

‘A strong team of planning specialists who work well together and who are responsive, friendly and always willing to help out. The team will go the extra mile to turn things around in short timescales.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is a fantastic asset to the team. Her knowledge is second-to-none. I have always found Debbie to be professional, decisive, friendly and dedicated.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is very creative and very knowledgeable.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is a very experienced solicitor, particular in compulsory purchase and compensation work.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is an exceptional partner handling a heavy and varied case load with skill and flair. She knows when to give and when to push back, has a great strategic sense and is very organised and supportive during litigation. She cultivates excellent client relationships by giving realistic, thought-out advice, pressing opponents for the best deal possible.’

‘An excellent, female-led team. They are very good at collaborating with large project teams and their technical knowledge is brilliant. They are prompt and responsive.’

‘Debbie Reynolds is very knowledgeable, patient, and firm when she needs to be and always thinking a few steps ahead. She works well within large project teams – people sit up and take notice when she speaks.’

‘Exceptional understanding of planning and compulsory purchase law with standout solicitors in the team. The advice we receive is clear, concise and delivered in an efficient manner. We have real confidence that the advice received on often complex and contentious matters is best in class.’

‘The team is ethically-focused and close-knit. What makes them stand out is their ethos that they want to ensure their clients get the best results by doing the right thing. The team always goes the extra mile and provides the kind of supportive service not normally associated with bigger firms.’

‘Great regional presence and great clients.’

‘Simon Colvin provides a superb level of service. He is sharp and insightful and he quickly gets to the core of the issue and provides a comprehensive solution.’

‘Colette McCormack shows strong team leadership and desire to get the best for her clients.’

‘Colette McCormack is invaluable to the work we do. The act collaboratively and provide legal advice across the business on many matters.’

‘Winckworth Sherwood is committed to understanding the unique objectives and challenges of each client, ensuring personalised service and attention-to-detail. They prioritise building strong lasting relationships with their clients, offering proactive advice and strategic guidance to help them achieve their goals.’

‘Colette McCormack is terrific – she offers intelligent and thoughtful advice within carefully crafted strategies and are hugely valuable at such an uncertain time.’

‘The individuals who work with us are business-facing professionals who are well-connected in the industry and provide us with commercially-focused professional advice. Colette McCormack is a highly trusted and supremely competent professional.’

‘Colette is the best planning lawyer I have worked with over 25 years of practice, and has a depth of knowledge I haven’t seen elsewhere.’

‘The world of planning is becoming ever more complex but the Winckworth team led by Colette are always ahead of the curve and over the detail of the brief. What sets them above other teams is their understanding of the development industry and local authority and public law decision making and the ability to think outside of the box to find the right the solution in sometimes very challenging projects.’

‘Colette McCormack is collegiate and calm under pressure. Colette is very solutions-driven and is very good at bringing all the parties together to find a way to unlock difficult situations and allow delivery to continue. She is pragmatic and commercial and understands all parties perspectives in terms of delivery and will work with all parties and she drives an apt solution forward.’

‘Expertise and know-how on large projects with detailed, pragmatic advice. Hands-on advice to help with critical business projects and a track-record of success.’

‘Sophie Stewart has proved invaluable on several occasions, with her exceptional legal knowledge and intuitive strategy advice in relation to CPOs. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Sophie to anybody about to embark on the CPO process.’

‘Knowledgeable in their field specialism.’

‘Very approachable and knowledgeable as a team.’