Estelle Dehon

Estelle Dehon KC is a public lawyer with a wide-ranging practice, including environment and planning law (with particular expertise in climate and biodiversity matters); data protection, access to information; and election law. In June 2023 she appeared in the Supreme Court in a significant case concerning the climate impact of oil development.

Estelle Dehon KC also appears for developers in local plan examinations and advises local authorities on controversial developments.

Recent work includes:

Appearing before the Supreme Court in R (Finch & Weald Action Group) v Surrey County Council concerning a controversial permission granted for 25 years of oil extraction in Surrey, which will establish the correct approach to considering downstream greenhouse gas emissions. Appearing in the legal challenge to the lawfulness of the UK’s net-zero aviation policy, and advising an international NGO on aviation and shipping emissions under the Paris Agreement; Representing developer, Ashill Land, at three hearing sessions in the Examination in Public of the proposed new Waverley Local Plan Part 2 (LPP2). Appearing in two of the biggest inquiries in 2021: the called-in inquiry on the new coal mine in Cumbria and the 10-week inquiry on the expansion of Bristol Airport; Representing the Appellant in one of five lead cases in the Information Tribunal, determining whether individuals outside the UK can make FOIA requests; Representing the Environment Agency in a challenge to consent for Chiltern Tunnel (HS2 development); Appearing at three national infrastructure inquiries concerning large offshore wind farms.

Roedean School (South Africa); University of the Witwatersrand (1999 BA (Hons) LLB); University of Oxford (2002 BCL, 2003 MPhil international criminal law).