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Planning and environment

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William Fry LLP

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William Fry LLP‘s environment and planning team regularly advises clients on energy transition projects, as well as on infrastructure projects more broadly. Notably, it has recently been assisting with the environmental issues arising from the development of major data centres. Michelle Martin specialises in planning and environment-related judicial reviews and the handling of EPA prosecutions.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘The teamwork is very effective for heavy planning and environmental cases.'

  • 'Kate Abell is extremely bright and takes the initiative in identifying potential grounds of challenge in judicial review.’

  • ‘This team hold their own with other similarly placed planning and environmental law teams operating in the Dublin and Irish market. The team possess a great knowledge of the legal code and, as such, are able to advise clients in a strategic, solution-oriented manner. Their approach to detail is impressive’

  • ‘Michelle Martin is particularly impressive. She understands the system inside out. She brings a practical, no-nonsense approach to litigation and to providing strategic advice to clients. Kate Abell has developed an in-depth knowledge of the planning system and is an innovative thinker and always extremely well prepared in terms of the advice she provides to clients.’

  • ‘The practice has a long history and in-depth experience of construction law which they apply to their planning and environmental practice. This gives them a much greater understanding of projects from inception to completion.'

  • ‘Personal interest shown in client projects and accessibility of the partners on fast-moving projects where time is of the essence.'

Key clients

  • Aughinish Alumina Limited
  • Fingal County Council
  • Diageo
  • Tirlán (formerly Glanbia)
  • Tesco Ireland Limited
  • Uniphar Plc
  • Poundland Limited t/a Dealz
  • Towercom Limited
  • EirGrid Plc
  • EngineNode Limited
  • Digital Realty Trust
  • LCC Group Limited
  • Art Data Centres Limited
  • Mid-Cork Pallets & Packaging Limited

Work highlights

  • Advising EirGrid plc, the Irish state-owned electric power transmission operator, in relation to a proposed emergency development of additional electricity generation capacity to secure supply.
  • Advising Fingal County Council on all planning and environmental law aspects of a major flagship development project, the proposed Swords Cultural Quarter, and acting for the Council in an oral hearing held by An Bord Pleanála in respect of a related CPO.
  • Representing Art Data Centres Limited in the defence of a high-profile judicial review challenge to the granting of permission for the construction of a strategic data centre valued in excess of €1.2 billion.

Lawyers

Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.

Other key lawyers

Kate Abell, Michelle Martin