Cornerstone Barristers

Planning and public law

Leading planning and public law barrister appointed King’s Counsel in 2017. His work typically entails leading multi-disciplinary teams of experts in relation to development and infrastructure projects as well as providing early tactical advice and written/oral advocacy at inquiries or in court. Tom aims to add value to his clients’ work and deliver a very high quality service drawing on his extensive experience across a range of sectors.

Tom provides an unstuffy approach that understands his clients and their needs, providing them with clear and comprehensible advice. He has extensive experience of planning inquiries and related high court statutory challenges. Tom acts for both private clients (including several of the leading housing developers) and planning authorities. He has recently been involved in major planning inquiries concerning residential schemes in England and advising private clients on strategic planning in the context of emerging local plans and infrastructure projects.

Tom is regularly instructed in relation to major proposals concerning heritage assets and large scale commercial developments. He has a wealth of experience of large scale renewable energy proposals and of promoting and resisting development proposals in countryside areas of outstanding natural beauty, national parks and the green belt. Tom regularly appears in the higher courts.

Editor and co-author of Cornerstone on the Planning Court.

Called 1994, Inner Temple. Appointed Silk in 2017 Appointed as Joint Head of Chambers at Cornerstone Barristers since 2020

Vice-Chair Planning and Environment Bar Association (PEBA) (2022-) Barrister Governing Bencher of the Inner Temple (2020-) Member of Bar Standards Board Professional Conduct Committee (2013-2017) Administrative and Constitutional Law Bar Association (ALBA)

St Edwards School; Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge (1993 BA Hons Law; 1997 MA); Evan Lewis-Thomas Law Scholar 1993.

Golf, fly-fishing, cricket, painting.